Stills from Nathan Leopold's Warbler Footage shot in 1923

In the summer of 1923 Nathan Leopold discovered a nest of Kirtland Warblers, a bird thought to have been almost extinct. He found the nest while on an ornotholigical expedition in Northern Michigan. The above stills are from a motion picture reel, shot at that time by James MacGillivray, a member of the Michigan Conservation Commision. Later Nathan would travel to Boston and give a lecture on a paper he'd written, entitled "the Kirtland's Warbler in its Summer Home" at the annual meeting of the American Ornithological Union. It was during this time that Leopold and Loeb had a fight, resulting in the "cocksucker" letter.

(where did I put that image!)

Left. Contents for the Auk featuring Leopold's Kirtland Warbler article. Below, back page of the Auk, showing dates and cities for meetings. Bottom meeting occured Oct 8-12th, 1923, in Cambridge, MA, and was at this meeting that Leopold gave his warbler presentation. It was before leaving for this meeting that Leopold and Loeb had their fight that resulted in the "cocksucker letter", in which Leopold asks Loeb to reply before he leaves. (dated Oct 9, 1923) Now, Dick,. I am going to make a request to which I have perhaps no right, and yet which I dare to make also for "Auld Lang Syne." Will you, if not too inconvenient, let me know your answer (before I leave tomorrow) on the last count? This, to which I have no right, would greatly help my peace of mind in the next few days when it is most neccessary to me. You can if you will merely call up my home before 12 noon and leave a message saying "Dick says yes," if you wish our relations to continue as before, and "Dick says no," if not.

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Loeb replied, and Leopold sent another letter, the "forgiveness letter", that he wrote on the train, dated Oct 10, 1923. P.S. Excuse scrawl. Train is moving. Your spelling, young man, is abominable, and I for one should advocate that Tomeie-boy be taken away from your instruction in the subject.