Animal Behaviour For Photographers

ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS PART 1 - PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE

By Tracy Munson, MPA

FROM BACKYARD BIRDING TO HEART-POUNDING SIGHTINGS OF APEX PREDATORS, PHOTOGRAPHING WILDLIFE IS AN EXCITING AND REWARDING PASTIME THAT MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS ENJOY. MOST LEARN QUICKLY THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO CREATING A GREAT WILDLIFE IMAGE THAN OWNING A TELEPHOTO LENS! UNDERSTANDING THE BEHAVIOURS OF THE ANIMALS WE SEEK TO PHOTOGRAPH IS ESSENTIAL, NOT ONLY IN FINDING SUBJECTS, BUT IN ENSURING THEIR SAFETY (AND OURS). BEING ABLE TO PREDICT WILDLIFE BEHAVIOUR WILL HELP US TO CAPTURE MORE INTERESTING AND ENGAGING IMAGES DURING THOSE ENCOUNTERS.

PHOTOGRAPHING BIRDS

If you feed them, they will come... As a general rule, feeding wildlife is a bad idea that almost always has negative consequences for the animal. Backyard bird feeders can be an exception (although having native plants and flowers in your garden is even better). The types of birds that frequent feeders don’t tend to be prone to aggressive or nuisance behaviours, making it reasonably safe to attract them to our yards, with a few precautions. • Seed-eating birds, like finches, carry a fatal disease called Trichomoniasis that can be spread by congregation at bird feeders. This is especially prevalent in the Atlantic provinces, where it is important to remove seed feeders altogether once warmer temperatures arrive. • Hummingbird feeders must be washed every couple of days to avoid the growth of fungus that can kill them. Use a solution of 4 parts water to 1 part white sugar. Never use honey, brown sugar, or add red food colouring. Early Spring is the best time to feed and photograph songbirds, when there is minimal foliage to get in the way. Hummingbirds, in particular, tend to be very popular and impressive to viewers, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. They are actually one of the easier birds to photograph. If you have a feeder or hanging basket that the birds frequent, you can just set up and wait. Hummingbirds will fly into the feeder or flower, drink, then back up a few inches

and hover for a moment. This is your chance for a quick burst, and you’ll have a clean shot without having to include the feeder. Some popular birds that enjoy suet and/or seed feeders are nuthatches, chickadees, jays, finches, cardinals, and grosbeaks. Smear suet directly onto the tree trunk or branches, to capture images on a more natural-looking surface. Orioles also love oranges and blossoming fruit trees. Many of the colourful warblers that pass through during spring migration prefer insects and won’t usually be attracted to feeders, but you may attract them with a plate of mealworms. If a backyard feeder is not an option, you’ll have to go to where the food is! Knowing what type of bird you’re looking for, and what they eat will help you know where to find them. • Look for hawks and harriers flying low over fields and meadows, as they look for rodents. • Look for Bald Eagles, herons, and other fishing birds near rivers and marshes. Eagles tend to have favourite perching areas where they can often be found reliably, again and again. • Some birds can become extremely aggressive if you get too close to their nests (geese, swans, red-winged blackbirds), or may be stressed to the point where they abandon it altogether. Always maintain a safe distance. • Causing an owl to take flight during daylight hours can have extreme consequences, since other birds like ravens and crows will attack and sometimes even kill it. If the bird is staring at you, you are too close. • Birds often “lighten the load” right before they take off in flight, so when you see them back up and poop, be ready for the action shot that’s about to happen!

PHOTOGRAPHING MAMMALS

Photographing wild mammals can be even more exciting than photographing birds, but it can also be more dangerous to both the photographer and the subject. Always remember that fed = dead, and you never want to be the reason that an animal decided it was a good idea to approach people or roadways looking for food. Look for animals during the right season, and at the right time of day. Early mornings are the best times for many mammals that are most active in early morning and evening hours. Animals that eat grass, like moose, deer, and black bears are more likely to be seen at the side of the road in early spring, when grass is growing in ditches, but not yet deeper in the forest. Stay in the car, it’s safer and acts as a blind. Wild animals by roadsides are very accustomed to seeing cars and tolerate their presence much better than they will a human outside of a car.

Many people don’t realize that even deer can be quite dangerous (and not just when you hit them with your car). More people are killed by deer every year than by sharks. Avoid feeding them, even though they may seem harmless, they can become aggressive towards pets, and people if they are too accustomed. Prey animals like deer and rabbits often leave their babies unattended for extended periods of time, and they should never be removed. Your presence may be the very thing that is keeping the parent from returning. Be aware of mating seasons and behaviour. Animals like coyotes are not normally aggressive towards humans, but can be if their den is threatened. Moose are infamously aggressive during the rutting season in fall. (But this is also when they look their most impressive, with a full rack). You’ll want to be aware of hunting season, which is not a good time to be walking around in the woods, wearing camo!

Some animals will perceive your lens as a very threatening giant eye. I once found my car surrounded by free roaming bison in Grasslands National Park, SK, but I only got off one or two shots while they were in close proximity, because every time I lifted my big camera, the big male started snorting and stomping his feet. He relaxed and went about his business as soon as I lowered it. Next time you head out to photograph wildlife, do a little research first. It will almost certainly result in better images, and a deeper enjoyment of nature!

Tracy Munson, MPA

Tracy Munson is an international award-winning photographer, specializing in pets, wildlife, and landscapes. Before moving to New Brunswick to pursue photography full time, Tracy enjoyed a 25 year career as a Veterinary Technician, working in busy animal shelters and veterinary clinics in Toronto. This experience brought her into contact with dozens of species of wild and domestic animals. She credits the animal behaviour insights she gained during her first career with her success in photographing animals today.

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