. Department circular. Agriculture. 38 contrasts. A dull dead-leaf color, like that of the shooting coats ordinarily sold to sportsmen, is good at any time. In spring and summer green is very good. Certain grays and browns harmonize with natural objects. The vision of most birds is far superior to our own, or that of mammals; it is nearly, if not absolutely, perfect. Therefore, it is necessary in approaching shy birds, such as waterfowl or hawks, to use as cover, trees, shrubs, or grasses. Often one can advance only on hands and knees, or crawl prone like a serpent. Frequently I have approache
. Department circular. Agriculture. 38 contrasts. A dull dead-leaf color, like that of the shooting coats ordinarily sold to sportsmen, is good at any time. In spring and summer green is very good. Certain grays and browns harmonize with natural objects. The vision of most birds is far superior to our own, or that of mammals; it is nearly, if not absolutely, perfect. Therefore, it is necessary in approaching shy birds, such as waterfowl or hawks, to use as cover, trees, shrubs, or grasses. Often one can advance only on hands and knees, or crawl prone like a serpent. Frequently I have approached wild fowl by creeping in the paths made by raccoons, hares, opossums and other animals under grasses and low shrubbery. At other times I have been obliged to creep or wriggle through short grass, in mud and water, to reach some desired point of observation. In such cases, when within sight of the birds, a screen of vegetation must be kept always before the face, or the birds will take alarm and be off at once. Birds so wild that they will not allow a man on foot to come within half a mile may be ap- proached noiselessly in this way within twenty or thirty yards, but the labor and discomfort are The approach a la serpent. When nearing shy birds in this manner, keep under cover and do not raise the head. If it becomes necessary to take an ob- servation, the head must be raised but little, and both raised and lowered so slowly that the motion will be imperceptible. Always approach against the wind if possible, for the birds are then less likely to hear you. Do not allow the sun to strike on any metallic or glass object, for the reflection or flash will give the alarm. Many people will not take such pains in approaching birds. Others cannot, but must either decoy the birds within reach, watch them with long-range glasses from wooded shores, or get. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability -
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpubl, booksubjectagriculture
