Finally, if you have any doubt about the impact which you will have on the
birds, leave them alone!
[Note the photographs referenced in this text are not yet available] How often
have you seen a beautiful photograph of a nesting bird in a magazine? Have you
ever wished that you had such a photo in your collection? Most of us, myself
included, would be tempted by the opportunity to photograph a bird on its nest.
In many instances this is one of the few times that you can easily get close
enough to a bird to use a short telephoto or zoom lens and get a satisfactory
image. Since this is also one of the most critical times in the life of a bird it
is also very easy to upset and harm them.
Our interference with the normal routine of the nest can be limited by
adhering to some simple rules. The question which many of us fail to ask is what
the consequences of displaying and/or publishing a nest photograph may be for
other birds. I have tabulated some guidelines for photographing nesting birds and
some suggestions for the display and publication of their photographs.
First, before approaching any nest site, study the adults and determine what
their behavior is in an undisturbed condition.This will give you a means of
gauging when you have entered their tolerance zone (caused them anxiety). In most
cases this means studying the pair from cover with binoculars. Time how long they
are away from the nest foraging in the morning, mid-day and afternoon hours.
Record the average temperature at these times of day. Three quarters of this
interval is the longest time that you should spend inside the adult's tolerance
zone. This time will vary depending upon the temperature and time of day; it may
mean that you will have only two or three minutes in the morning, 10 minutes at
noon and five minutes at 5:00 pm. Your approaches to the nest should be limited
to three per day at the most; if the adults do not return within twice your time
within the tolerance zone leave the nest alone for the rest of the day! Also it
is almost always better to remain outside the tolerance zone and use a telephoto
lens than to disturb the nest. Be warned though that the mere action of pointing
a lens at a nest can increase the limits of the tolerance zone -- lenses and
firearms look a lot alike to a gun wary bird (or any other animal).
Events at the nest can also alter the tolerance zone. Consider the following
example: the series of photos of the two nesting Osprey were made at the limits
of their tolerance zone; approximately 40 yards. Their eggs are not yet laid and
the time away from the nest was about an hour or so on the first day. By the
second day it is almost certain that there is an egg in the nest. The time away
from the nest is down to the few minutes (5 or less) that the female spends on
the branches at the edge of the nest. The male's tolerance zone has now expanded
to over 100 yards -- any closer than that and he takes up station overhead ready
to defend his family. An approach to 40 yards was permitted but the female began
to appear agitated at 35 yards distance. I returned to 40 yards for 5 minutes.
The male settled down and I was afforded a 15 minute period to photograph them
together. My total time inside his 100 yard tolerance zone was 30 minutes --
exactly 2/3 of the 45 minute average time he spent away from the nest. The mere
fact that on the second day there are eggs in the nest has caused a significant
alteration in the bird's behavior and in the tolerance zone for the male (in the
event that the young have left the nest and are on the ground you should also
expect a behavioral change on the part of the adults).
The location of the nest will also have quite a bit to do with the tolerance
zone. The normally shy yellow crowned night heron in the picture has a nest at
the edge a wildlife refuge road. With so much traffic the birds have become quite
tame and showed no signs of distress at a distance of less than 10 feet. Since
the birds and their nest were best viewed from a distance (due to branches and
leaves obstructing the view) these photos were taken using a 400 mm telephoto
lens at 15 -- 30 feet. Remember that closer is not always better! Also, if anyone
is familiar with the yellow crowned night heron, they may note that the adult in
the second picture has raised his crest in alarm. For that shot I waited until
the resident red-shouldered hawk flew past. Birds are generally active animals
and don't usually need our stimulation for an interesting photograph -- don't
harass them with sticks, stones,hand claps or car horns. Also, as with any
wildlife photography, patience pays off. I had been waiting for an opportunity to
photograph a night her on for 2 years when I happened across this nest. I had
seen other nests but the tolerance zone was a formidable 40 - 50 yards even in
mangrove forests. Rather than attempt to get a photo from one of these
"sensitive" nests I elected to wait. Last month the waiting paid off!
Remember also that the more people you attract to the nest the more you will
disturb it. Groups of people tend to surround things to get a better view. The
surrounding of any animal will cause it anxiety. Last year I witnessed an
incident in Denali where a group of people surrounded a Caribou. It panicked and
ran through a crowd of senior citizens at a bus stop. No one was injured but luck
and the caribou had more to do with that than the would-be photographer who
circled behind the animal and caused the panic (he didn't get his photo since the
animal departed so abruptly). In this case he was told by others at the scene not
to go behind the caribou but elected to ignore their advice. He received a
humiliating lecture by a ranger and a warning for his actions there. The lesson
in this is plain: since you can not control the actions of others, you should
never disclose the location of a nest. It only takes one inconsiderate or
ignorant person to cause unnecessary stress and possible failure of the nest.
The limits and guidelines above are derived from ordinary common sense. More
concrete rules are: never touch the nest, never disturb young in or out of the
nest, don't touch eggs and do not ever bend, remove, trim or otherwise alter the
trees,branches or whatever which are providing cover or support for the nest.
Removal of one limb to obtain better illumination or a better angle can cause the
young or the eggs to literally fry in the sun! If one or more of the chicks looks
like it is starving to death it may well be doing just that! In many species this
is a normal occurrence; three or four eggs may be laid and hatch but the
strongest one or two survive -- it isn't nice but it is natural. Interfering with
this process will endanger the remaining nestlings and probably (almost
certainly) not save the starving one. The net result of this interference is the
possible loss of all of the young. Leave"rescue" missions to the biologists and
authorities.
Finally, if you have any doubt about the impact which you will have on the
birds, leave them alone!
When (and if) you publish your photographs make certain that the captions of
each photograph with a nest in evidence includes the following information: are
there eggs in the nest, are the young fledged, is this photograph taken from a
blind, are any special precautions to prevent the disturbance of the birds being
taken? Never disclose the location of the nest since many species return for
their entire adult lifespans to the same area to nest. If the magazine editors
have a problem with this try to explain your reasons for it. If they still have a
problem with it sell your photograph to another magazine with a more sympathetic
editor. Stock agencies should also be able to follow this procedure; I am certain
that the better agencies would have few problems with this request. If they do,
explain the consequences to them. Their objection may only be due to a desire not
to have to stock an additional explanation for each nest shot. A simple caption
on a 2X2 (slide sized) card affixed to the image with a piece of tape should
overcome this objection. The reasons for the publication rules are simple; people
try to imitate. If they try to imitate and don't understand the conditions under
which the photographs they are imitating were obtained they are likely to damage
the health of their subjects.For this reason always attempt to place your
photographs in an ethical setting. Indicate that you used a 600 mm f4 EDIF with a
doubler or a blind erected at night to get the shot. Detail the signs of
agitation for the birds in the photo that delineate the tolerance zone in the
accompanying text. With any luck you will have just saved an entire generation
from ignorant harassment. To summarize:
- Observe from a position outside of the tolerance one with binoculars.
- Time the birds absence from the nest as a function of the time of day
and/or temperature.
- Determine the tolerance zone by establishing a distance at which the birds
begin to show signs of agitation.
- Use the tolerance zone limit for routine photography of the nest.
- Enter the tolerance zone only once on each morning and afternoon.
- Each venture into the tolerance zone should last for only 3/4 as long as
the average absence from the nest at that time of day.
- Always indicate in the captions that the photographs were taken ethically
-- no trimmed limbs or disturbed nests.
I realize that in many cases people are going to disturb a nest to get a "great"
photo no matter what you and I may publish. All we can do is try to eliminate
their most common excuses. As a final word; always try to get a copy of the rules
of any Park or Refuge in which you are planning a photographic trip. The rules
are usually there for a reason. If any of them seem unreasonable take the time to
inquire. A polite inquiry can often make you a valuable acquaintance at the park
(and sometimes even an exception to the written rule in question). Also, if you
witness an action by another individual which is either unethical or illegal by
all means take a photograph of the event and person(s) involved and report the
incident to the authorities.With any luck this will inhibit the unnecessary
disturbance of any wildlife. Remember; when we photograph wildlife we are in
their world and present at their sufferance. Be a polite visitor!
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