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Bird and Nature PhotographyBritish Columbia, Canada |
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| Photo Blog 2009-05-27 The ongoing photo series have been keeping me busy when I get the chance to go out. I have also spent the last couple of Sunday’s out at Reifel. I was setting up my camera at a respectful distance from the Hummingbird nest so people could watch from there and lessen the crowd in front. I don’t think the Live View feature of my camera has seen this kind of use since I got it. In spite of what must be overwhelming attention at times, the female Hummingbird and chicks are doing well.
The Ospreys are still sitting on the nest with no new arrivals yet.
The Bald Eagle chicks are growing like crazy.
I have managed a few shot not related to the photo series. Cedar Waxwings are all over the place now.
Still seeing some Cinnamon Teal …
… and Blue-winged Teal around.
While watching the Hummingbird nest a juvenile and adult Brown Creeper were working the tree line right beside me.
It can be quite challenging trying to get photos of these birds. I managed to turn the camera and get a couple of shots before they moved on. | Home | 2009-05-16 When I started this blog it was to share the enjoyment I get, the challenges encountered and to add a little context to the photos being added to the galleries. It is disheartening that I feel the need to discuss ethical bird photography, in particular as it relates to nesting birds. Anyone who has been doing bird photography for any length of time knows this is a hot issue. The last thing I want is for a nest to be abandoned or fail which could be attributed to my actions around it. I will forgo any photos to this end. The following is how I went about photographing the Hummingbird nest. After being told of the Hummingbird nest by a friend and finding it the following day I stood back and observed it for a while. I wanted to establish a routine for the female who was incubating eggs and ascertain what normal behaviour was for her. With this information I should be able to tell if anything I may subsequently do was having a negative impact on this. I also checked for the vantage spot I would want to use and set up my tripod and camera ahead of time to avoid having to do this or any other unnecessary movement when in close proximity of the nest. When ready to photograph I waited until she was off the nest and moved in to place my camera and check exposure. Once she returned I would take some photos and then back out slowly to a respectful distance again. Once the chicks arrived I would follow this same routine always limiting my time in front of the nest so as not to stress her. Unfortunately for this bird and nest it is only about fifteen feet off a main trail at the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. After first photographing the nest I commented to staff on its vulnerability and the problems that may occur once it became common knowledge. Bird and nature photography is very popular these days and it would only be a matter of time before this nesting site would be besieged. It is sad commentary when the first thing that comes to my mind is how irresponsible some bird photographers are. It was not long after that staff commented to me about photographers misbehaving with some actually going off the trail to get closer. As if fifteen feet was not close enough! And other photographers describing to me the “gong show” they encountered when going to see and photograph the nest. Staff eventually had to put out cones and place a sign advising everyone to stay on the trail. I live close to Reifel and am there regularly. It was not until yesterday that I witnessed some of this first hand. On my way to see the nest I bumped into some photographers I know who commented on all the people around the nest. They mentioned how they felt the bird’s behaviour had changed and left as a result. While discussing photographing nests with these people I could see that a few were still set up right in front of the nest and not moving. They were still there when I eventually approached the nest and had been joined by another person who had gone past the sign and cones and was sitting below the trail. I asked this person to return to the trail and suggested to all of them they consider limiting their time in front of the nest and perhaps back off for a while. While the one person moved back on to the trail, they all remained right in front of the nest, most of the time not even taking photos but checking ones they had taken and adjusting equipment. Several minutes later I suggested to them again they should consider backing off at which point one packed up and left but the others continued for well over half an hour. While I could go easy on some and think they just don’t know any better, I suspect with others their priority may be the photo ahead of the welfare of the nesting bird. Little wonder why bird photographers get a bad rap at times. | Home | 2009-05-14 The female Rufous Hummingbird was observed feeding new arrivals yesterday, but they were still too tiny to see. It was not until today that I managed a brief glimpse of a chick she was feeding.
Unfortunately I have been informed of and observed some unacceptable behaviour on the part of some photographers that could jeopardize the well being of the nest. I will have some more comments on this in my next post. | Home | 2009-05-10 With photo series on the brain I decided to check again for a pair of Osprey I had observed and photographed a couple of years ago, but they had not returned when I last checked. This time I found they were back and already nesting.
| Home | 2009-05-08 The other day there was a report of a Black-necked Stilt out at Iona Island in Richmond. This is an uncommon visitor for this area usually only being sighted every couple of years. As luck would have it there was no sign of the bird when I managed to get out there. There was one small consolation while watching for the Stilt though.
Several cooperative Wilson’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the area.
The Yellow-headed Blackbirds are also back at Iona.
So there were still some interesting birds and photos to be had. | Home | 2009-05-01 Carrying on from where I left off last month I have posted photo series for both the Bald Eagle and Rufous Hummingbird nests. Bald Eagle Nest Photo Series 1 Rufous Hummingbird Nest Photo Series 1 | Home | Previous Photo Blogs | 2010-01
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© Jim Martin |
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