While birding at parks, I find people to be most annoying with birds. But as a photographer, I am thrilled. It's a fight between my human side and my naturalist side. The above shot displays child curiosity at its best, but the birder in me wants to snap at people for purposely chasing these poor birds around. Our policy while birding is never to disturb a bird.....if we can avoid it.
But some people, either for the photo opportunity or because they plain ol' don't care, purposely walk through a group of birds. I think when I looked at this pic closer, the woman appears to be smiling.
The photographer in me likes it all and as Kathie puts it....."You are getting your flight shots."
But the birder in me doesn't like it one bit. For example, in the shot above of the Killdeer. I could get closer but I don't want to spook the bird into flight.
I'm a regular Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. What about you?
Posts
Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThe lady walking through the birds reminds me of the kind of people who stand in front of you when you are trying to take landscape shots - I also "love" the other photographers who stand in front of you because they are too lazy to look for compositions themselves!
ReplyDeleteThere - I've got that off my chest and feel better!
Stewart M - Melbourne
The old "how close is close enough" debate is a difficult one. I must admit to feeling a bit guilty when I flush a bird that I am trying to get close to.
ReplyDeleteNice pictures.
Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW - Stewart M - Melbourne
Great shots, Chris! I love the Killdeer, they are so cute. Awesome shots of the egret in flight. I try my best not to spook the birds and I do get upset when I see children chasing them. Happy birding and have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting on all three of my posts:) Appreciate it!
You are getting good flight shots,something I'm not good at at all. When I see a bird in the distance, I also try not to disturb it by keeping my distance, just in case I don't even get the chance of a still shot.All too often I've moved that little bit too near, only to lose the shot, so I've learnt a good lesson.
I also have soap box days!!!
The photos today are especially nice Chris!
ReplyDeleteIt is a little annoying but you can't help smiling when you see young children enjoying nature hey Chris.
ReplyDeleteKeep getting them to fly, really great birds Chris.
ReplyDeletethankfully i have to contend with only me - and my dogs - most times.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the birds and the 'creature' scaring them away.
ReplyDeleteLove your hummer header image, Chris ~:)
ReplyDeleteMe Chris ? Well i'm a miserable old sod, who would rather see people on the sidewalk !! :-) ( dont get me started on dog walkers!)
ReplyDeleteNie znoszę jak ludzie tak robią i nie raz już zwróciłam uwagę. Ostatnie zdjęcie cudne. Pozdrawiam.
ReplyDeleteI hate how people do and not once have I paid attention. Latest photo wonderful. Yours.
We don't get many unusual birds here mostly just seagulls, crows and magpies and they sort of rule the roost.
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures - especially the in flight ones.
Aren't the tips of those wings amazing? I love all these shots. Very special!
ReplyDeleteAll the shots are amazing, and the last one is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI'll take a many bird shots with probably more posing than flying but only due to my own inadequacies. There's a contrast between children running down the beach chasing the gulls rather than throwing rocks. A bit of joy to it all.
ReplyDeleteAh, your blog header shot has been updated... new attitude for the new year? This bejewelled, iridescent hummingbird looks: gorgeous, confident, pointing in a new direction, glint of determination in that round, black eye! You know what they say, a picture's worth a thousand words :)
ReplyDeleteThere are birders --and there are people... AND--they don't see birds the same way!!!!!! ha ha
ReplyDeleteGuess you/we just need to relax and keep on getting the best shots we can---no matter who else is around.. You obviously get great shots --so the people aren't bothering you very much...
Merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Betsy
I love your angst as a birder but in this particular situation, I think "you have your cake and eat it" :D
ReplyDelete