Editorials
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A Bi-monthly Magazine Devoted to the study and Protection of Birds
OFFICIAL means or tur. AUDUEON SOCIETIES
Edited by FRANK M. CHAPMAN Published by THE MAchLLAN COMPANY
Published June 1. 1902
Vol. IV
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Eird-Lore's Motto,
'Ih Tum in the Hand.
A Bird in the Rush 1': W
WE published this month an article by Prof. Francis H. Herrick, whose book ‘The Home Life of Wild Birds, A New Method or the Study and Photography of Birds’—now in its second edition;has aroused much interest among bird students,
Professor Herrick‘s “new method" con- sists largely in what he has termed "control of the nesting site," that is, when a nest is so situated that it cannot be photographed to advantage, he removes it, with the limb on which it is placed, and erects it within a few feet of a tent designed to conceal him- self and his camera. “This sudden dis- placement of the nesting bough," Professor Herrick remarks, " is of no special impor- tance to either old or young, provided certain precautions are taken.” "With some species," he adds, “ it is possible to make the necessary change without cvil consequences when there are eggs in the nest: with others we must wait-until the young are from four to nine days old, . . . If we know little of the habits of the birds in question it is safest to wait until the seventh to the ninth day after the young are hatched," . , . In effect, however, this method of bird study and bird photography appears to be largely limited to the pzriod covering the latter part of the nest~life of the yotlng, At this time
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the parental instinct is sufficiently strong to bring the adult bird to the nest in spite of its changed surroundings “If very shy," Professor Herrick writes, "like most Cate birds, they will sometimes skirmish about the tent for two hours or more before touch- ing the nestr The ice is usually broken, however, in from twenty minutes to an hour, . . ."
There is clearly much to say both for and against the method thus briefly described, That its practice permits one readily to secure an unlimited number of photographs of young birds and their parents at the nest and to observe their habits at short range, Professor Herrick‘s illustrations and test prove beyond question; that it may he attended by fatal results to the young is equally undeniable, as Professor Herrick frankly admits,
in cutting the knot of the difficulties imposed by situation, nest-life photography and study is so greatly simplified that lit- tle need be said in favor of this manner of controlling the he, mg site. We turn, therefore, to its Objections. These are: (1) Change in the character of the nest producing artificial condi— tions; (2) possihle death of young follow- ing; to) exposure to elements; (b) lack of food while the parents are becoming accus- tomed to the nest in its new situation; (I) exposure to attack from bird enemies,
Premising that Professor Herrick’s method is restricted almost entirely to the habits of young birds and their parents at the nest after the former are several days old, and not to a record of nesting site, nest-building, or incubation, we see no reason to doubt
surroundings,
that when the parents become accustomed to their new surroundings the life of the nest It is true that the pictures secured do not possess the charm and interest attached to those made under wholly natural conditions where the skill and ingenuity of the photographer add not a little to the pleasure with which wt: regard the results of his labors. This, however, is not the scientific point of view, and it should be clearly understood that Professor Hetrick’s studies are eminently scientific. His aim has not been to secure pleasing
progresses as before.
