Introduction
Many aspiring bird photographers will focus on this topic before any other aspect of the craft. At some locations and with certain birds, it can be easy to get close, but as a rule, it is quite difficult. These techniques for getting within shooting range in the field include advice for those just getting started with bird photography. Keep in mind that for many species, individuals, and locations, it is just not possible to approach close enough for good images; sometimes photographers need to look for other opportunities.
The Importance of Patience
Birds respond best when photographers are patient. Approaching birds slowly over time and allowing them to become accustomed to human presence and movements is perhaps the most important technique for getting close while they continue to behave naturally. When birds are given time to get used to photographers, they can be remarkably confiding.
The power of patience cannot be overstated. Some photographers have experienced extraordinary encounters—a Savannah Sparrow in Alaska landing on a photographer’s hat brim, singing several times before departing. These remarkable moments don’t happen because of special technique or equipment—they result from spending extended time moving slowly and predictably in a bird’s territory until human presence becomes unremarkable.
Photographing this Sage Thrasher in Wyoming required being there in early breeding season when males are actively and conspicuously singing from the tops of sagebrush, observing the bird to identify its favored song perches in its territory, setting up a blind near one of those perches, and waiting for the bird to make its rounds and return. 500mm with 1.4 teleconverter, 1/500 second at f/8, ISO 400
Patience operates on multiple timescales. Within a single encounter, moving slowly over minutes or hours allows birds to assess and accept a photographer’s presence. Across days or weeks of visiting the same location, birds learn that particular humans aren’t threats. Some photographers spend entire seasons building trust with specific individuals, resulting in intimate access impossible to achieve quickly.
When a bird appears to be easily tolerating approach, the temptation to rush things becomes dangerous. More often than not, with just one wrong move, the bird will be gone. The moment when everything seems perfect—the bird is relaxed, the light is beautiful, the background is clean—is exactly when impatience leads to mistakes. Photographers must move even more slowly at these critical moments, remembering that one great image from a patient approach beats dozens of failed attempts from rushing.
Removing Variables That Alarm Birds
Meticulous attention to limiting variables helps ensure birds have the fewest possible stimuli to pay attention to or potentially be alarmed by. Before approaching, photographers should assess situations and identify any variables that can be eliminated.
The presence of another person represents the most common variable. If accompanied by someone else, that person shouldn’t do anything that the bird will also have to pay attention to, including staring at it from a distance. Companions should remain on the same line of approach—directly behind the photographer—so the bird isn’t feeling pressure from more than one direction. A bird monitoring multiple potential threats divides its attention and maintains higher vigilance than one focused on a single, predictable presence.
Physical variables demand equal attention. Any clothing or straps that might blow in the wind should be tucked in. Camera straps flapping in breeze create unpredictable movement that makes birds nervous. Velcro fasteners that might suddenly separate, zippers that could jingle, or loose lens caps that might fall—all these seemingly minor details can destroy carefully developed trust in an instant.
Environmental variables affect approach success dramatically. Wind represents an uncontrollable variable, and birds are often much more difficult to approach in windy conditions. When a bird’s senses are highly stimulated by moving vegetation, sounds, and ruffled feathers, it tends to be less comfortable and likely to flush from farther away. On windy days, photographers should seek sheltered locations where birds might also retreat from uncomfortable conditions.
The goal is for the photographer to be the only thing the bird has to get used to—a single, predictable element that gradually becomes part of its environment rather than multiple unpredictable stimuli competing for attention.
Dressing to Blend In Effectively
Bird and wildlife photographers generally fall into two camps when it comes to donning camouflage clothing—they either wear it all the time and swear by it or never wear it at all. This divide reflects different philosophies about concealment versus habituation.
Advocates of camouflage say it helps minimize a bird’s perception of movements and makes the human form look smaller and less imposing. Both of these effects are likely true, and camouflage can provide an edge in some situations. Breaking up the human outline, particularly the distinctive head-shoulders silhouette that many animals recognize as predator-like, likely reduces initial alarm responses.
For many photographers, whatever benefit camouflage provides is outweighed by social considerations in public places. These photographers choose not to wear camouflage and use blinds when concealment is necessary. Their philosophy is that birds should know humans are present, become accustomed to them, and get used to their movements.
However, wearing drab earth tones and avoiding bright colors and whites remains important. Neutral colors like olive, brown, and gray blend with natural environments without drawing unwanted human attention. White particularly should be avoided—it creates strong contrast that draws avian attention and in many bird species signals alarm or aggression.
That said, camouflage becomes essential when working with extremely skittish species or in areas where birds have become extra vigilant due to human persecution. Sometimes the only way to get close is for the bird to have no idea a human is present. These situations might include photographing hunted species during or after hunting season, working in areas where birds are regularly harassed, or approaching species that are naturally extremely wary regardless of experience with humans.
Avoiding Predator-Like Behavior
Whether walking, crawling, or slithering toward a bird, photographers should employ two key techniques to avoid appearing predatory. These methods acknowledge that birds have evolved to recognize and respond to predator behavior patterns developed over millions of years.
First, photographers should avoid looking directly at birds and shouldn’t stare unless birds are clearly comfortable. Direct eye contact in the animal world often signals predatory interest or aggression. Getting in position by glancing at the bird from time to time or using peripheral vision proves more effective. Keeping the head behind camera and tripod makes photographers appear smaller and conceals faces as much as possible.
Second, approaching birds at an angle rather than moving directly at them reduces threat perception. Many birds are easier to approach if they perceive photographers to be moving past them rather than directly at them. This can be accomplished either by approaching in wide zigzags or at an angle that gradually brings photographers closer while giving the impression of moving alongside.
These indirect approaches mimic the behavior of non-threatening animals that share birds’ habitats. Grazing animals, for instance, rarely move in straight lines toward specific targets. By adopting similar movement patterns, photographers appear less predatory and more like neutral elements in the environment.
Minimizing Movements and Sounds
Birds don’t like things that move quickly or suddenly. All movements should be slow, gentle, and contained. No arms waving, cameras swinging on straps, or standing up or squatting down quickly. In general, the longer photographers spend with birds and the more comfortable birds become, the looser movements can be—as long as they remain slow and calm. Again, one wrong move and birds fly away.
Maintaining quiet is equally important. This includes not speaking loudly, which remains surprisingly common in the field despite its obvious negative impact. Birds are easily startled by sudden or unfamiliar sounds like twigs snapping. Every footfall should be deliberate and controlled, avoiding loose rocks, dry leaves, or brittle branches that might create unexpected noise.
One sound that can’t be avoided is the clicking of camera shutters. Many birds will not tolerate a camera’s shutter noise at close range, especially if presented suddenly. Depending on the camera and how loud it is (and some, like the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II shooting 14 frames per second, are very loud), photographers should start introducing shutter sounds before reaching shooting range.
Beginning with single images, then perhaps some short bursts as the bird gets used to it while moving closer, helps acclimate birds gradually. Most birds quickly become accustomed to both loud shutters and flash if introduced gently and from a distance. Photographers shouldn’t underestimate their shutter’s ability to scare off birds, and should only shoot in bursts when necessary. For some birds, silent shutter functions become essential. All of this applies when working from blinds as well.
Reading Bird Comfort Levels
Birds often give behavioral cues that indicate how comfortable they are with human presence and how likely they are to depart. By paying attention to these cues, photographers can manage approaches and know when it’s time to freeze and wait versus when it’s okay to proceed.
A slow, patient, nonthreatening approach is key to making birds comfortable with your presence. For this image the photographer put themself in the right position and let the cranes make the final approach. Whooping Cranes, South Dakota. 600mm with 1.4x teleconverter, 1/3200 second at f/5.6, ISO 400
Signs that a bird is alarmed or more vigilant include standing more erect, stopping what they’re doing, and alarm calling. Some birds like raptors will lean forward and expel waste prior to departing a perch. In addition to these more obvious signals, there are subtler clues that different species give that photographers learn only through experience and observation.
Comfortable birds exhibit relaxed postures, continue normal activities like feeding or preening, and might even approach photographers out of curiosity. A foraging shorebird that continues probing while a photographer approaches shows acceptance. A songbird that resumes singing after initially going quiet indicates growing comfort. These positive signs suggest approach can continue, albeit slowly.
Awareness of other species nearby that may spook or flush target birds proves crucial. Hypervigilant birds like yellowlegs, stilts, and some ducks and geese can make it impossible to approach the bird being photographed. In general, the more birds around the target, the greater the chance that one species or individual will send the whole group flying. Approaching isolated birds when possible increases success rates.
The ability to read these comfort cues develops through experience with different species. What alarms a warbler might not bother a gull. Urban birds of the same species often tolerate closer approach than their rural counterparts. Individual personality also plays a role—within a flock, some individuals consistently show more tolerance than others. Recognizing and adapting to these variations separates successful photographers from those who consistently flush their subjects.