Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1953)

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95 77 "W^ CENTRAL in bird sequences are these closeups of nested eggs, followed in time by the everlasting hunger of the gaping youngsters. Egg scenes (here of red-winged blackbird) are made with normal lens aided by positive diopter; clamoring towhees were filmed with 3x telephoto on remotecontrolled camera 3' away. Like to film our feathered friends? The Ten Best producer of "Backyard Birding" tells in detail how to get started judgment), a remote control operating device, a pair of good binoculars (preferably six to eight power), and at least one telephoto lens. For 8mm. cameras the l1/^ inch lens is a good choice; for 16mm. cameras the 3 inch lens should be selected. Both objectives create a 3x magnification on their appropriate cameras. Stronger magnification may be obtained by using a 3 inch lens for 8mm. filming and a 6 inch lens for 16mm. filming — for a 6x enlargement. With such lenses, screen-filling head and shoulder portraits of birds are easy. Choose telephoto lenses with a focusing mount, to permit filming as close as 3 to 5 feet from the subject. Their maximum aperture should be at least //3.5 or faster, to allow picture making in the poor light often encountered in filming birdlife. THE NESTS ARE HIDDEN Another problem that continually confronts the beginning bird filmer is that of locating the nests of birds. Birds exhibit remarkable cunning in choosing out-of-theway spots for their nests, often building them in places not only physically inaccessible to the average filmer but equally unsuitable for photographic work. From the bird's point of view, such locations shelter the nest from prowling marauders that threaten the very lives of their young. From the photographer's point of view, however, the bird's inherent cunning can be downright exasperating, so much so that the beginner at bird filming will be wise to confine his first efforts to many of the more common song birds. Robins, bluebirds, blue jays and flickers are all colorful film subjects, yet they frequently nest low in a bush or tree. Also, those birds which habitually nest on the ground are equally good for the beginner to try filming. Among these may be listed the meadowlark, the towhee and the killdeer, as well as many of the sparrows. WAIT-AND-WATCH SYSTEM One technique that turns up more nesting sites than any other is the simple wait-and-watch system. With a pair of binoculars, you survey a likely-looking nesting territory. Here a good bird book will be of assistance in describing the type of terrain and cover favored for nest building by each species of bird. For example, meadowlarks are field-dwelling birds that build nests on the ground so cleverly camouflaged that the chance of finding one by searching at random through the grass is practically nil. Yet by patiently searching a meadow with binoculars it's easy to spot a parent meadowlark, for her bill full of insects gives her secret away. Watch her and she will lead you to her nest. Not directly, though, for it is the habit of the meadowlark never to land directly at her nest; but rather she will alight in the grass several yards from it. Here she will cautiously look about for danger: then, convinced that everything is safe, she will walk through concealed pathways in the grass that lead to her nest. Thus, by watching her come and go several times, it's possible to calculate pretty closely just where she had hidden her home. Walk towards that spot and the meadowlark will flush directly from her nest, thus revealing its exact location. Such a system of nest hunting works equally well with birds nesting in trees and [Continued on page 107] COMPLETE equipment used by the author for ultra-closeup filming on 8mm. camera include an electromagnetic shutter trip, 3 inch 16mm. telephoto for 6x magnification, accessory viewflnder to show 6x field area. With it such closeups as the bluebird at left are routine.