Lower coast gazette., 1913-08-02
PHOTOGRAPHIC THE ELUSIVE
klLLDEES.
Bv S. Louise Patteson.

~ ,. LOUISE TossSSS"
"It's impossible to catch those kill
dees: they leave the nest as soon as
thew are hatched." / was told this
so positively that Immediately made
I'D my mind to accomplish the impos-
sible.
For three weeks the killdee mother
had been btooding on her eggs In a
little hollow lined with pebbles and
roots in the potato field. With frantic
outcries, wild contortions, and nervous
Fittings to and fro, she had announced
the fact to the farmer c%ultivating the
field. and had won his sympathy and
support. Evidently she appreciated
this courtesy, for when he next Guilt
waited the field she stayed quietly on
her nest until he came within three
burrows of her on each side.
On this occasion there was a deep
scratch round the big end OF the
four gray and black speckled eggs-a
hint from the elders to their little
prisoners that it was time to burst
their shells and come forth. Already
the chicks were calling n to another,
Zip, bip, bip, bip!!"
The next morning one chick was
Matched, and l camped for the day be-
hind a tree about eight feet away, to
watch developments. Meanwhile my
camera was within six feet OF the
nest, focused upon it, and l held the
end Of a string attached to the shut
ter. But the parent killdees SHE'D sc
long at the innovation that twice dur
ing the first hour / removed the cam
era to let them 60 to the youngstel
with food. AS for the eggs, the SUI
was warm enough to finish the Worl
= Of brooding them.
When | had set up the camera TO
X the third time, the killdees at las
~ dared it. I did not pull the string tn
- first time they got within range, no
IS the second, for fear the click woul
w brighten them. But once they wer
y assured that the object was harmless
W thew came and went unabashed.
- I had placed a row of stones on tn
- far side of the nest, to mark the are
within which the parent birds Woul
~ be in focus; it would have been in
possible to Judge this at the distanc
~ was from them. After every exp
=. sure / delayed going to the Gamer
" to put in a new plate until the biz
AZ finished her work and flew away
VI her own accord. Each time l set tt
IT. camera a few inches nearer the mes
until it was within three feet. B
cause it was less conspicuous | ust
ne a green focusing cloth, instead of tt
usual black one.
on When the little first-born was on
a few hours old, he took a run doV
- the nearest furrow. l followed hi
. and would have lost him had he y
run up against a clod Of earth, Viii
threw him backward, and gave me
chance to catch him. / put him ba
into the nest, and after seve1
promptings, he stayed, submissive,
unwilling.
Before long, two other eggs We
Matched, and fortunately, the II
chick emerged in time for me to ia
a picture while the light was $
strong enough for an exposure OF 0
twenty-ffth Of a second. It was n
five o'clock on a July afternoon,
Mother Killdee graciously came VI
the Gene just at the o%pportune
ment.
At sunrise the next morning / fo1
that my informant had told the TT
the nest was empty. Even ev
vestige, Of shell had been remo'
and only the grass round abol
grown tall because the kind far
forhoro IN cultivate near the ne,