The Monday Bird Report

We’ve used this Piping Plover photo often. Photographer Bob MacDonnell took it from far across the mudflats at Milford Point, giving the recently-hatched bird plenty of room.

June 8, 2020 — Photographers, June is a crucial time of year for nesting birds. Getting too close to a nest or to just-hatched chicks puts vulnerable birds at greater risk.

If your proximity to a nest causes the incubating bird to flee, it exposes the eggs to heat that could damage its viability. It leaves an opening for predators like crows or falcons to swoop in and take the eggs or nearby young birds.

Over the past week or so, the staff that monitors nests at the Milford Point Coastal Center has had to ask photographers to keep a greater distance from baby birds. Yesterday a kayaker paddled too close to the Osprey platform in the marsh. The female Osprey fled the nest. The kayaker was photographing her on the wing, keeping her off the nest for 10 minutes, ignoring shouted instructions to move away. (Or perhaps he didn’t hear or understand them.)

The nest’s one baby, which had hatched on Saturday, was exposed to the mid-day sun.

The popularity of bird photography has increased tremendously, and that’s a good thing. But many photographers are new to birding and aren’t yet familiar with proper etiquette.

Connecticut Audubon often uses photos of baby birds on its websites, in emails, and in other publications. They’re are taken by professional photographers who specialize in bird photos. They have the experience to know how close they can get to the birds without causing stress. They have the equipment to take shots from a proper distance.  

In some cases, the photos are taken by conservation staff whose job it is to monitor the nests and whose job sometimes requires them to get closer to the birds and their nests than is advisable for the general public. They are also keenly aware of keeping a proper distance.

Here are links to three websites with excellent guidelines.

Audubon’s Guide to Ethical Bird Photography

The Photographers Guide to Ethical Wildlife Photography. Format.com

World Nomads. How to Photograph Wildlife Ethically

Osprey News
One egg in the Coastal Center nest hatched over the weekend. Others are on their way. Here’s our Osprey Cam.

If you like watching birds online, you ought to see our YouTube channel.