The Whip-poor—will
By RETT E. OLMSTEAD
u uh phtitugranhs 1mm nature in wt- 3mm
Schools-Hook. Robert Hegner. and myself drove from Decorah,
Iowa. down the Upper Iowa river eight miles for a day's outing. It was a delightful day and the birds were astir everywhere. With note— book in hand. the different species which we had actually identified during the day numbered fifty-two. Where we Camped for the
IT was June 25. 1903. that Mr. Toplifl. County Superintendent of
day we discovered
a Yellow - bellied
Saprsueker's nest
in the top of one
of the tallest trees.
WHIP-POOR~WILL'S EGGS AND NEST
some 75 feet high. I had never before seen this bird nesting so high. and made a note of it. After our noon lunch we were walking up the river. some ten rods dis- tant from the Stream. when we nearly stepped upon an old Whip-poor-will. No sooner had she
Nequ HATCHED “HIP. Point-“ILLS
wahhled away. feigning lameness. than we discovered two eggsi For a few minutes she flew about within a very few feet of us. but soon a little farther. and finally disappeared. The sun was bright. but the foliage upon the trees did not permit of a snapshot with the camera: consequently the camera was placed a few feet from the nest and focused properly, a string was attached to the shutter and I Climbed a tree four rods away to await the return of the old bird. An hour passed. and no return Mr. Hegner then relieved me and waited two hours without her returning. We then made several exposures of the nest and eggs. one of which. made with a raylilter. is here shown.
(54l
