Getting Close to birds

In the Art of Bird Photography Arthur Morris explains that you can do very well by moving slow, so the birds will get used to your presence and do not see a threat in you, this is particularly useful in area's where birds are used to people, or in places (like the Falkland Islands) where the birds don't see any danger in humans, the birds in this place are used to big animals like sea lions, and at least in the Falklands, people are one of the most rarest species.

Another good way to get close to birds is by moving towards the bird by getting as low as possible, of course, you are not going to do this in all of the places, but on the beach, through the mud (you don't like it, but your results could be great, do clean everything after doing this), in Grasslands, early in the morning on Golf courses for example.

I can tell you these methods do work, you could have a 1200 mm 5.6, but even if you have such a long telephoto lens (if you are the millionaire who reads this), even then you do need these tactics to get close enough to take the shot you want; (a hummingbird at 20 meters away, completely filled in the picture).

As you can see I just bought a new portable hide. For those of you living in the US or Canada, I have seen a lot of hides for sale in your country, In you Search Engine, Excite, Altavista or Yahoo or whatever, simply type in "Bird Hide" and you get numerous results. The one you see here is the large dome hide from wildlifewatching supplies at www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk . When you buy one, do note that there are a lot of hides available which are not very compact and are build for people who drive a car, not wanting to walk for more than a hundred metres with it, hides which have a packed volume of 1 meter by 20 cm and weigh about 7 kg. These tents are very good when you do not walk for more than 500 metres because they do stand very well, you have some room in it as well, also good when you photograph birds in a storm. For everybody else, taking the hide with them on your bird trips, walking with them for more than 500 metres, till about twenty kilometres, or cycling with them (like me), I advise you to buy a hide, like I have or a pocket blind, a cheap frameless hide, where you can hide yourself in, but don't move to much or you will scare the birds.

Don't expect wonders if you buy a hide though, because you still have to put up the hide; the birds in the area on the moment will notice but there are good ways to be very successful.

1. Get into the hide with someone else, and stay in the hide for yourself; BIRDS CANNOT COUNT. If the birds see him/her leaving the hide, they think it is safe again. And could get very close to the hide, especially the curios one's.
2. Put up the hide when the birds are still sleeping (very early in the morning when it is still dark).
3. Put up the hide when the birds are not there yet, in coastal swamps, when the tide gets lower for example and being there early enough is a very good way, I have seen lot's of people doing that in Holland in the "Waddenzee" in the north of the country.

I am sorry to end the tips section for the moment, don't worry though, as I said earlier I enjoy updating this site, coming up next is photographing birds with a flashlight, I don't know much about it yet because I didn't try it yet but I will in a short time. Also, if you think I know something you don't, whatever it is about bird photography, feel free to send me an email via the contact button at the top of this page. I will answer you very soon, when I am not on holiday, or my computer didn't crash.

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