Bird lore - Project Puffin

Snapping the Back-yard Birds i6s
Goldfinches to reach, the Brewer's Blackbirds had little trouble in standing
on the ground and taking their refreshment as the drops came from the iron.
I allowed it to run just a few drops at a time so I could amuse myself watching
the birds reach up for the water. As a matter of fact they seemed to enjoy this
method of getting a drink about as well as any. There were three similar
hydrants in the yard, so I had to keep two of them dry in order to get the birds
in front of the one where the camera was located. It didn't take long for them
to get into the habit of coming here, however, for they soon made this their
Coney Island even when the others were running and in spite of the camera
which stood only three feet away. The Blackbirds certainly valued fresh water,
even insisted upon having it, for they utterly disregarded a pan of water stand-
ing below the hydrant—chose rather to crane their necks and catch the drops
as they dripped from the pipe. These birds were just a little wary of the kodak
and would edge up to the hydrant, get a drink, and scurry away when they
heard the snapping of the shutter.
GOLDFINCH