Photographing a Bluebird's Nest by Reflected Light By ROBERT W. HEGNER With photographs from nature hy the author BLUEBIRDS are so numerous that, dur- ing the breeding season, almost every abandoned Woodpecker nest-hole or weather- worn cavity hides within its walls one of their nests. It is therefore no difficult task to find one suitable for studying and photographing the home- life of its tenants. The Bluebird shown in Fig. i built its nest in a cavity in a plum tree, — probably the last year's home of a Downy Wood- pecker. It was only four feet from the ground and NEST AND EGGS OF BLUEBIRD. SHOWING OLD METHOD OF PHOTOGRAPHING BY RE- MOVING PART OF THE TREE. BLUEBIRD AT ENTRANCE TO NEST easily within reach of the camera on its tripod. The Bluebird's fearless confidence in man makes his study a work of considerable interest. No dummy camera, artificial brush heap or tree is necessary in order to take his photo- graph. This fearlessness is delightful after the many exhausting waits in photographing other birds. He pays little attention to the camera placed near his nest, but often uses it as a convenient perch before entering his home, and very quickly forms the habit of resting on it a moment on every trip to the nest. Several times, when my camera has been in place before a Vesper Sparrow's nest in the (92)
