In an August blog post here on Exploring Minnesota’s Natural History we shared the images of a group of young Chickadees perched on top of a stump. These obviously posed images were taken at Brook Lodge near Lake City, Minnesota in June of 1903. I originally assumed that the entire affair was orchestrated and implemented by Thomas Sadler Roberts, the photographer. However, new evidence has come to light that gives us a behind the scenes look at this 1903 bird photo session and reveals that Roberts had accomplices.


– Setting up the Chickadee picture, Brook Lodge, June 1903