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‘perfect shots’ of birds. Now I feel, if iv. Relate Your Observation With
you really want to be a professional MOST OF THE Your Knowledge - If you really want

bird photographer, at first you have PROFESSIONAL to be a bird watcher, rather than a
to be a good bird watcher, you have bird photographer, never visit fi elds
to know the ethics of wildlife, bird WILDLIFE for just clicking some colorful bird
photography. I am a learner; I still PHOTOGRAPHERS photos with blank mind. Try to
don’t know much about wild birds. ARE WELL TRAINED, observe what and why those wild
I am learning something new every THEY DO A GOOD birds are doing in their habitat. Then,
day about these mysterious fl ying HOMEWORK relate your observations with the

creatures in fields. I am going to BEFORE TRYING lines that you have read in books, and
share my thoughts about ‘how to be TO PHOTOGRAPH then try to make your own thoughts.
a good bird watcher’, which I have
learned throughout my bird watching NESTING BIRDS. v. Be a part of nature - Many bird pho-
journey. tographers create artifi cial environ-
ment for ‘perfect shots’. Some of them
HOW TO BE A GOOD BIRD another, until bird leaves the ground intentionally scare birds for fl ight
WATCHER? in fear and disturbance. Instead of shots, some people give food to wild
i. Read Books - Try to spend time that, I can give you a suggestion – birds, make false bird calls in fi elds
with some books about wildlife, birds, stay calm in field, don’t disturb birds, to find birds easily. Don’t do such

Ethology, Ecology etc. You don’t need and just observe them from a safe acts. Try to observe their wild natu-
to be an Ecologist or Wildlife biologist, distance. You may see some amazing ral behaviour in their own habitat. Be
but you have to know at least some moments of nature that you would silent and camouflaged in the wild,

basics about wildlife before visiting a never forget in your life. don’t try to be dominant over those
wildlife habitat. Without knowledge, wild organisms; if they recognize you
you would never become a good iii. Birds Are Not Just Your Subject as a friendly visitor, they can give
bird watcher or professional bird - Birds are living organisms just like you some amazing behaviour photo-
photographer. you! They can feel happiness, they graphs, which you can never take by
can feel sadness, and even sometimes doing those ugly manipulations.
they suffer from depression. When
we visit their habitat, they get
disturbed because of our appearance.
Try to minimize disturbance; respect
them and their emotions.

Bonding behavior [courtship feeding] of Orange-
headed Thrush during their courtship display. Paddyfi eld Pipit in it's wild habitat
ii. Observe Birds - Don’t run behind vi. Don’t Do Nesting Photography
the ‘prefect shot’; ‘Perfect shot’ is a - Most of the professional wildlife
myth! So many amateurs never get photographers are well trained, they
satisfied with their bird shots. They do a good homework before trying to

constantly click photos one after A beautiful Rock Pigeon couple photograph nesting birds. They take

OCTOBER 2020 • VOL. XIII • ISSUE 9 • NOIDA | Creature Companion 37