File:Birds of the water, wood and waste (1910) (14750393995).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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d others seen 132 BIRDS OF THE WATER dsij by day, whilst at work on the nestsof other species. Fantails breed at least during six monthsof the year, for during this 1909-1910season I have noted in my diary the earliestnest in August, the latest in February. The birds sit so close that not infrequentlythey can be stroked on their nests, andwhen on one occasion this season the sittingbird had to be moved, she suffered herselfto be lifted off, clutching her tiny clawsinto the nest and holding on like a broodyhen. Sometimes almost no notice seems to betaken of the camera; at other times thebirds are more suspicious, in this, as inother matters, each pair having its ownparticular idiocyncrasies. Sometimes thebranch holding the nest has to be cut downand lowered—afterwards, of course, to becarefully replaced. On one occasion, whenthis had been done, one of the birdsreturned, and not finding the nest in itsproper place, began to show all the signsof violent rage, scolding, and creaking and
Text Appearing After Image:
Fantail. WOOD AND WASTE 133 tearing and tugging at the manuka like avery termagant. In this particular case, as a matter offact, she again took to her nest, where thefull brood was hatched out and reared, butI have since wondered if I then witnessed,though perhaps in a minor degree, one ofthose fits of blind passion or jealousy thatcause a bird to throw out and destroy itsown eggs. The early nests are built with comparativeleisure, but the late in very great haste andfinished in a day or two. A nest discoveredlate in January, with only the rudiments ofits base begun at 10 a.m., was practicallycomplete by the afternoon of the followingday, the Fantails then putting on thefinishing touches and binding the edgeswith web. This nest contained but a singleegg. Probably the Fantail rears onoccasion three broods, for little time isallowed to elapse between the abandonmentof the grown brood and the construction ofanother nest, and I have seen members ofthe former brood still supplicating foodf

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