File:Birds of the water, wood and waste (1910) (14750381775).jpg

Identifier: birdsofwaterwood00guth (find matches)
Title: Birds of the water, wood & waste
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Guthrie-Smith, H. (Herbert), 1861-1940
Subjects: Birds Photography of birds
Publisher: Wellington, N. Z. : Whitcombe & Tombs
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ood successfully andattempted a second. Harriers sit very closeand though I almost stumbled on the bird,I barely allowed myself a glance at thenest, and came away at once. Indeed, Ibelieve that with shy species, unless youhave actually exchanged glances with thesitting bird and she knows you have hersecret, it is judicious to gradually wanderoff as if still unenlightened. Birds see somuch and notice everything. At long intervals the briefest of glimpseswere taken at this second nest, and it wasnot until the 9th of December, when theyoung, two in number were sitting up—baby Harriers spend a great part of theirtime in this attitude—and. about fifteen orseventeen days old, that siege operationswere begun. The nest, supported on densemasses of dry, dead raupo, was by thistime flattened into a broad stage by thetraffic of the old birds and the movementsof the nestlings. The latter were denselyclothed in very short, pale, furry-lookingdown, and when sitting up, much resembled PLATE XXVI
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\ouiig Harriers Quarrelling. WOOD AND WASTE 103 teddy bears, formidably mouthed and beaked. On the 10th manuka poles, hidden by thetall reeds, were erected a few yards fromthe nest, and cross pieces lashed to them.Next day raupo, in an upright, naturalposition, was thickly fastened on to these,and finally the sham camera put intoposition. So far all had gone well, and throughoutthese various operations the Harrier con-tinued to sit. We now had to clear theraupo between the lens and nest. This was done as quickly as possible, andafter finding the focus and fixing up thereal camera, an instant retreat was made.All was now ready, and about eight thefollowing morning I took up my positionin the raupo shell, but after severalhours bootless waiting, had to give it up,and came away, thinking the birds extra-ordinarily shy certainly, but suspectingnothing more. I believed then that the Harriers must befeeding their young late in the evening orearly in the morning, while yet there wasnot light

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