File:Birds of the water, wood and waste (1910) (14770284943).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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e branchesand the excision of others. The pigeon ismost particular to guard against any riskof this sort, and always selects a site inopen shade and where the sunlight isfiltered through many layers of leaf. The bird incubates indeed in almostcomplete shade, for even at noon hardly achink of direct light falls on her. During August, when the mated birds,clad in kings raiment of purple and goldand green, seem on their lichened kowhaisconscious only of the joy of springreturned, perhaps really they are planningtheir future nests. There can be no greatererror than to believe that any spot is goodenough for a bird to build, and I believem3^self that the nestling site is only chosenafter long deliberation. This year three times I chanced upon apair thus deep in thought, each time uponthe same branch, and within a yard of thespot finally chosen for the nest—a nestfrom which, unluckily, the egg was blownor tumbled out. I have often admired thecare with which the details have been PLATE LXV
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Hen Pigeon and young. WOOD AND WASTE 171 studied out, the shadow of each leaf audgrowiug leaf, the sway of branches dancingin the breeze or lashed and swaying in thegale, the course of the water runnels thatcling and linger on the wet boughs base,the ceiling of leaves that overlap like scales,and are fit to deflect even the huge dropsof thunder rain. The Pigeon, nevertheless, in his choiceof a site, does not seem always to quiteallow for the force of gales in spring, andpossibly a few nestlings and eggs are blownfrom their spillikin platforms. I havementioned the egg found broken beneaththe nest, and *Pidgy, after a violentstorm, was found beneath his nest, unhurt,however, and serene on a bed of swampfern. Evidently he had been fed and tendedthere by the old birds. In his case, how-ever, alterations had been made in thesurrounding branches; several saplings hadbeen cut and other boughs fastened back. My second attempt was on the Racecoursenest, which was reached at 3.20, for on thisoc

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