Responsible Bird Photography
Bird photography is a wonderful hobby that often leads to a better understanding and increased appreciation of birds and their behavior. Photographers should take care to ensure their efforts do not have a negative impact on their subject and that they respect the property of others.
The American Birding Association's Principles of Birding Ethics provides guidelines that are appropriate for bird photographers.
Photographers can also reference The North American Nature Photography Association’s “Principles of Ethical Field Practices.”
Taking photographs of nesting birds is of special concern. When photographing nests or around a known nesting location please take extra care.
- Do not alter vegetation around a nest site for a better photographic view.
- Quietly retreat from a nest area if the parents become agitated and start alarm-calling.
- Avoid playing songs and calls of birds during the nesting season. This includes using tapes of screech-owl calls or other sounds meant to attract attention.
- Do not disturb the eggs or young in any way. Remember, it is illegal to possess nests, eggs or even feathers of most native bird species.
Questions and Answers
Q. Does the use of one or more photographic flash units harm the eyes of the birds?
A. There is no scientific evidence, one way or the other, that the use of one or more flash units creates a significant problem for the bird. Presumably the effect would be similar to what it is for humans, but no one knows for sure.
Photographers have been using multiple flash arrays since the late 1940s to document the entire nesting cycles of birds such as Great Horned Owls and various songbirds and hummingbirds. The process does not have a record of causing the birds to abandon the nest or of individual birds disappearing. Greater care should be taken when photographing birds that are actively feeding at night.