Algarve Great Bustard (Grote Trap) 70 meter sun D300 Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR TC-20 III equivalent 900mm standard camouflage.
This is workshop page: 7 Birding
Birding and bird photography
Bird photography requires birding. In order to recognise birds timely in the field and absolutely never disturb or chase them and possibly create pictures of specific bird activities and behaviour one needs to develop:
- A certain amount of skills like using optimal camouflage, moving inconspiciously, listening, observing and using the right equipment and – this is essential – settings thereof.
- Good knowledge about general characteristics, behaviour, migration, breeding biology and feeding of bird species.
Birding is by nature a lightweight activity because one has to move silently and often in difficult territory like swallow rivers, wadi’s, bushes, scrub, rocks, desert, etcetera.
Birds can be extremely shy and you may easily disturb them, without realising that you are doing this, if you did not notice them at all!
If you honestly want to timely recognise shy or rare birds like Bustards (Trappen), Shrikes (Klauwieren), Bee-eaters (Bijeneters), Kingfishers (IJsvogels), some Owls (Uilen), Woodpeckers (Spechten) and the like, you definitely need to have sufficient knowledge about these birds. Best sources are other birders, birder groups, trips, guides, books, blogs, magazines and trip reports. By the way as soon as you start recognizing birds, their sounds and behaviour, you will definitely start enjoying your birding more and probably, if you wish so, create better opportunities for attractive photography.
And last but not least: wherever birds may be, always use appropiate camouflage: Camouflage. A rare or shy bird may be close by anytime! If possible use natural coverage wherever you are. Move slowly, halt from time to time, listen, look around you and from time to time behind you. Be extra careful near ditches, bush, walls, big trees, water, etcetera. Some exceptionally shy birds like Woodcock (Houtsnip) or Sandgrouse (Zandhoen) will even not fly until you almost step on them.
Next page workshop at: 8 RAW workflow
