July 15, 1962 - Photography in a Tern Colony
Photography in a Tern Colony
Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Judd Bennett of East Marion.
Focus on Nature
I thought for a change that
instead of writing about, a par-
ticular bird or or some pati-
cular phase of nature I would
talk a bit about photography and
perhaps a trip on one of in
photographic journeys.
To those of you who area in-
terested in photography
those who are interested in just
how one goes about photograph-
ing birds and wild life in gener
al, this article is written. Per-
haps before we go-on our little
b i r d i n g trip we should know
something about the equipment
used. Of course first and most
important would be the camera.
I've always used a 35 mm reflex
camera. First because it is small
and secondly because 'the end re-
sult the negative is easily pro-
jected. Other resasons such as
the famous reflex principle which
enables one to compose and fo-
cus directly through the lens,
make this camera a
le of letting me. This principle of letting
you see exactly what you're taking,
cannot be over emphasized. Also
the 35 mm reflex that I use is
adaptable to many different len-
ses, thereby giving you the effect
of many cameras in one.
In my particular work I find
the standard 50 mm lens with
180 and 300 mm telephotos cover
just about everything necessary.
Naturally when working wit h
the telephoto lenses a tripod is
a must and I have one of the
many folding . aluminum types
that are on the market today. All
too many good pictures are lost
by noA supporting the camera
properly. A cable release to ac-
tivate the shutter will also help
cut down movement. outside of
a close -up attachment, exposure
meter and a few other simple
accessories, this is all'.the equip-
ment I use.
My film is Kodachrome II or
if the light is poor, high speed
Ektachrome, the only disadvan-
tage in - the latter being in
bright beach scenes it is almost
impossible to cut down the f stop
great enough.
Most of my bird photography
is taken' from a blind or a hide.
as the English say, such as the
one pictured above. Two types
a r e best, one made of heavy
cloth which can be anything like
an old awning or couch cover,
or the more air - conditioned type
made of burlap bags. These are
sewed together- to make an ap-
proximate size of 4x4x5 foot high
with various slots cut in the fab-
to accommodate the camera
The entire blind is draped over
four poles that can be pre -cut or
you .could just use dead limbs or
drift wood that are nearby. But
enough of the equipment, now
let's get on our field trip out to
one of the many islands along
the south shore. A few hasty tele-
phone calls and the trip is set,
by Poul Stoutenburgh, Cutchogue
I fin burlap blind especi-
ally good on the hot beaches
where, I would be photographing
terns, gulls, etc for here the
heat reflected from the sand is
often unbearable. The thatched
roof effect such as found in the
�w,... ..i —tas works well here.
,andwiches are packed, a can-
teen of water is thrown in, a
spotting scope is added to the
camera equipment, the canoe is
put on top of the car and the
little 3 hp motor is stowed away
inside. Peter; my boy, and I
rendezvous with Judd Bennett
and are -off to meet Gil Raynor
at one of the many fishing sta-
tions where we will launch the
canoe. .
Gil is going to band young
terns while Judd is collecting in-
formation for sketches and arti-
cles to come. All the equipment
is stowed in 'the canoe and we're
off through a maze of weekend
fishervnen each giving us his own
disgruntled look. Off in the dis-
tance we can see the low sandy
island that is our destination.
Around the north edge is a rim
of green spagmites or pamus
grass as some call it. This un-
wanted immigrant is pushing its
way into all our lowlands and
taking over wherever it can.
As we headed across the bay
we could see terns also heading
for the, island with their catch of
small fish. These would be peace
offerings to a nesting female or
if the young were hatched, as we
had hoped, a tempting tidbit
for them.
All of us had• bare feet and we
could feel the water tempera-
ture change as we headed around
the island through the inlet where
the cold ocean water met the
bay. The water from the ocean
seemed sparkling clean compar-
ed to the murky. bay water. All
along Gil and Judd were busy
with their glasses, 'telling "me that
off the flats, they could see an
American Egrzt and two or three
great Blues. Black Skimmers
were now showing up, gliding
gracefully along the water's edge
with an occasional dip of the bill
As the concentration of terns
increased, we could pick out the
occasional Roseate Terns with
their exceptionally long t a i 1 s,
and whiter white color. Later we
found many of these terns nest-
ing in the more grassy areas
and found their call to be a more
positive means of indentification.
When our intention to land Was
picked up by a scout tern, we
were immediately announced to
the whole populous. Then when we
actually landed it seemed all the
able- bodied 'terns mustered for
attack. Down they would dive
screaming with alarm, hostilities
It didn't take Gil long to get
his banding equipment together
and start out on his trek with
Peter close at his heels. Today
Peter was going to be busy for
he was to collect the young
binds and bring them to Gil for
banding. How his eyes shone
and how excited he was. One
would have thought it was Christ-
mas Eve!
As they moved across the sand
there was a continual barrage of
birds bombarding them and any-
time furing the day if I wanted
to know where they were I mere-
ly had to look for a concentra-
tion of excited birds to find them.
Judd treaded out . for the flats
with his scope and I gathered
my camera, blind, etc and head-
ed for the main nesting area.
How 'these birds 'did scream as
I cautiously walked across their
private territories and cautious
I had to be for nests were every-
where some with young, some
without, but all with screaming
diving guards. Most would mere-
ly dive and scream but once in
a while a few overpatrio'tic souls
would actually hit my hat. From
previous trips to such islands,
I was all too well aware of head
protection. Judd later informed
me that one actually hit his hand
as he held it over his head in
place of a hat. I't drew blood and
Tom then on you could always
see hi•m holding a stick or piece
of wood over his head for protec-
tion. '
Finding a location for pictures
was not too difficult for as I
mentioned before, nests were
everywhere. My, only problem
was to find a location that would
afford shots of both common and
Roseate terns. This, I soon found
and set up my blind. Terns are
so anxious to return to their
nesting sites once disturbed that
all I would have to do would be
get in the blind and wait a few
mi�r utes for their return. If I
m'J'de some unfamiliar movement
or, sound, they would rise up only
to alight again.
I was fascinated at the birds
as I watched through my peep
holes. Within six or eight feet
terns were sitting an their eggs
without the slightest regard for
my blind. Hours seemed to fl Y
by and my stomach growling re-
minded me that the others would
be gathering for lunch. Back on
the beach we swapped 'tales of
the mornings exploits - each bub
bling : with his own excitement
and eager to tell of his experi-
ences.
It is trips like this that we
have taken throughout the year
that have given us a deeper and
fuller understanding of the world
about us - a world ti+a•t so few,
are privileged to know.
Please send any comments to
aul Stoutenburgh. c% The
Sundav Review, P 0 B o x 720