By Vanessa Mallory Kotz
Part of the joy of spring is the sound of bird song and the bright flash of a colorful wing or the surprise of red on a robin’s breast. Yesterday, I had to run an errand at a government building, one of those things we all dread but must do. As I was about to enter, I saw a duckling on the sidewalk. The awkward juvenile was no longer yellow and tiny, but the little guy/gal was still fluffy and vulnerable. It waddled back and forth and in small circles, quacking anxiously. A man, who clearly worked there, barred it from entering the door in a little dance with the creature.
“I think Mom and Dad went to the lake and lost count,” he said as I stopped to watch, feeling an intensely maternal concern for the bird. “I’ve been watching them for a week, and the mother duck is very protective.” We were joined by another woman, and our trio of concerned citizens cooed and clucked over its plight. Eventually, the man sashayed the duckling toward the bushes and safety. For a moment I had forgotten my grim errand. I also forgot to take a picture. What a missed opportunity! I was close enough to see the details of the webbing on its little flippers and the gleam in its worried eyes. So, I wondered, if I had the chance again, how could I best capture the moment on camera?
1. Choose Your Time to Shoot Carefully
Early morning and just before sunset is the best time to capture birds when they are most active and when the lighting is best. Direct early sunshine will make brightly colored feathers luminous, while the violets and pinks of sunset soften the mood.
2. Camera Settings
Setting your camera to a fast shutter speed is crucial to capturing that one great photo in an entire morning of bird watching. Birds move fast, and their behavior changes constantly. Planning your shot after studying your subject is important. Then hit the shutter on high speed to keep out the blur and give you choices for the best pic.
3. Wait for the Birds to Come to You
This takes patience, and it is part of the fun. Get down on the ground in your back garden or out in a wildlife sanctuary and wait. Watch your subject’s behavior and plan your compositions accordingly.
4. Select your Background
Whether it’s a hint of an ocean wave behind a seagull or a blossoming branch on which a wood thrush perches in song, context tells a story.
5. Fill the Frame
Zoom in on your subject—whether it’s a hawk in flight or ducklings marching single file—giving it the majority of your camera’s scope.
