 I'm fascinated by the reciprocal nature of #birdwatching. Birds are every bit as much watching us as we are watching them. In my photography I try to capture bidirectional interaction in my photography. I photograph birds watching me, but only when they can freely approach, and freely depart. I'm interested in their curiosity, not their fear. This is a wild bird that approached me. 38 comments
During nesting season, birds don't have the option of freely approaching and freely departing. If you approach a nest, you are moving into their space and creating intense stress. I'm discouraged by how many #birders—who should know better—ignore this. We, of all people, have to do better. Below, a fledgling Anna's hummingbird that left the nest only hours before. My shots were taken with an 800mm lens from a distant concealed location. But then other birders arrived, standing 2 meters away from the bird, using loud mechanical shutters. The mother panicked and stopped feeding. I protested. One argued "they eat from my hand in my yard!" and stepped back to 3 meters. Useless. #Photographers, respect your subjects. Learn their behavior. Your shots are not worth a bird's life.  @ct_bergstrom Great photos and thank you for the thought! What distance you consider save? I get it that better with electronic shutter. @marcelcosta I wish I could give you a general answer but it varies so much across species and, critically, situations. Distances that would be no problem for most of the year can be intensely stressful during nesting season. It's all about knowing the species you are photographing and assessing the behavior. Here, I was laying on the ground and concealed in the grass with only the lens protruding. Mother was unconcerned with my presence and feeding normally until the other birders arrived. @ct_bergstrom Thanks! Usually real answers are not simple 😁. Guess I'll have to observe that its behavior doesn't change. @ct_bergstrom 👏 👏 👏 @ct_bergstrom Thank you for sharing your specific take on your work and the importance of letting nature meet #birders where we are, rather than disrupt. In the spirit of your work, here’s a humble phone snap of a lesser goldfinch that left our porch feeders at dusk, flew 20 feet over to the window where I was sitting, hovered at it, landed, then tried to perch on the glass and peck the glass until I came over. We had a few moments together before he was satisfied and called it a night.    @ct_bergstrom Like this? Who's in that lens? This raven flew in, chasing off the birds I was photographing. Then it walked in closer for a face shot. Ravens are my favorite bird subject. @ct_bergstrom 👏👏 I agree with you completely. So many times I've watched "birders" and "wildlife photographers" chase down birds to get their shot. Their pictures show a frightened/agitated bird. And because they know nothing about the subject they're shooting, they don't recognize the fearful expressions. All you need to do is sit down a safe distance away and wait 10 minutes. They get used to your presence, and you can get the most remarkable shots, with no fear or agitation in their eyes. @ct_bergstrom @ct_bergstrom I haven't seen it yet, but read a positive review of it. @timetunnel wow that looks really amazing. And I see some friends on camera human and feathered.  @ct_bergstrom I was chatting with a bird earlier via whistling. I think he thought I wasn't very bright. @ct_bergstrom the chickadees are so friendly and I swear the tufted titmouse is flirting with my roommate. I’ve been giving daily nut snacks to my neighborhood crows for a few years. There are a couple crows who strut around me like a dance partner, but most are more cautious. Facing away for a few seconds works and they also understand when I say, “It’s OK.” @ct_bergstrom @ct_bergstrom this lovely hawk watched me walk around it for about 30 minutes. It was really the first time I thought about it. Now I can’t unsee it… 😂 @ct_bergstrom I know the #crows only hang out with me because I have an Bag of Holding full of peanuts, but every now and then I'm surprised. This one walked past the peanuts and cat food to examine me closer. It got pretty close. I've had one follow me for blocks, even though I was tossing peanuts the whole way. Was it trying to figure out my "migration" patterns? @ct_bergstrom They will look in the living room window and yell if the birdbath is frozen over, or needs more water. They totally interact.  @ct_bergstrom that is an amazing image. You downplay it but you have some real skill with a camera @ct_bergstrom Absolutely! The birds in my yard seem to be fascinated about everything I'm doing. It's like having 100 supervisors every time I go out to work in the garden. I love them. 🥰 @ct_bergstrom Passerines often stick to their location but try to put a tree trunk or branch between me & them. I think the ones I DON"T see already saw me 1st & flew away. This is different behavior. @ct_bergstrom Our chickadees here are pretty much exhibitionists, flipping and flapping wildly as they bump and grind their bird parts together mid-flight, just about bouncing off my head in the process. @ct_bergstrom Actually reading The wake of Crows (https://www.thomvandooren.org/publications/books/wake/) and it is very good! @ct_bergstrom A really cool thing I read about is the parrots of Central and South America. They aren't "domesticated" per se, as in they weren't intentionally bred like dogs or livestock, but in urban areas, especially places straddling a city and the forest, these wild animals seem to just "know" how to interact with humans, they'll perch near you to ask for food and can recognize who feeds them most, and will preferentially go to the people who feed them as well as tourists who do so as well. |
Gregory's Server
Beautiful and fascinating photo!