What not to do when you photograph nesting birds

Most bird photographers going after nesting birds do much the same thing. Some inadvertently so, others deliberately, occasionally going way beyond the norms of civilised behaviour. More than four decades ago, when I had just gotten interested in birds, a pair of black kites had built a nest on the peepal tree around 200m away from our apartment, but clearly visible from the verandah. The moment I pointed my camera at them (especially since the eldest chick was attempting to murder its sibling), the mom would slip off the nest, go round the corner of the building, gain height and then swoop down at me in a screaming dive, talons extended. I got the message very quickly and immediately warned others to stay away from the spot. Here in Delhi, a purple sunbird built its jhuggi-jhompri just outside our front door, dangling from a hanging plant, so that was the first thing you saw when you opened the door. I sneaked one photograph from inside the house, and decided not to take any more. The nest alas, just disappeared one morning, brought down either by cats or monkeys.

By and large, I think nest photography should be avoided as far as possible or only permitted under license. Do remember, a nesting is at its most stressed, vulnerable and overworked, trying to feed and bring up its brood. The last thing it needs is an interfering photographer sticking a huge glass lens in its babies’ faces, and clearing away leaves and twigs and undergrowth, which hid the nest from predators. And often one interfering moron makes way for more. Some completely amoral, will take their oh-so-exclusive photographs and then go and destroy the nest, eggs and fledglings so that others can’t get the same photographs, and claim the glory.

Thanks to the availability of disposable incomes and prime lenses, bird (and nature) photography has shot up in popularity in the last couple of decades. With it has come a cutthroat game of one-upmanship, which has boded ill for the subjects. Ah, you may argue, if we do not photograph or video birds, how do we find out how they live their lives? The more we know about them, the better we can protect them. And all those documentaries on BBC Wildlife and other channels, use tiny hidden cameras inside the nests of birds and the birds seem fine with them. Well, I sometimes wonder about that too, though generally abroad they do seem to be more careful and professional because if word got around (which is so easy with social media) that the birds deserted or were upset – that’s not going to go down at all well with the viewing public.

If you must photograph nesting birds, there are a few commonsense things to remember. Firstly, the interests of the bird (and her family) come first, certainly before your prize-winning photo. Stay as far away as possible (not difficult with long telephoto lenses) and visit the site for a very short period every few days. Or if you are deadly serious and have weeks to spare, over a period of time set up a camouflaged hide. Know the habits of the bird: is it a sensitive species or does it build its nest in your hair (like pigeons might!)? If the parents leave the nest when you turn up, are they gone for long (and hopefully not forever!) Remember they are leaving their nestlings exposed to heat or cold or predators during this time. Avoid using flash. Do not share the precise location of the nest on social media – there will be many less concerned about the bird’s well-being than you may be.

Happily, there are places where even nesting birds – especially water-birds – may be used to the bird paparazzi. The painted storks and egrets at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, for example (and other similar places), and the breeding water-birds at the Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur are not very bothered by the visiting hordes because they are kept at a safe distance away from them. But, remember, even common garden birds can be extraordinarily sensitive about their nesting sites and will nervously flit from perch to perch, as they approach their nests before diving in, hoping that you haven’t spotted them doing so. This puts huge stress on them especially if they have a “deliverable” to make: a juicy caterpillar for instance; which is the case most of the time! Do not investigate further – they don’t want you to know their address – just leave them be. If you snoop around too much, you can be sure, the local cats and monkeys and crows will have their beady eyes on you and when you leave…

Thankfully, nest-photography has been banned in most photo-competitions and now birding groups on social media, too, are following suit, prohibiting such pictures. While you may get your kicks when your picture of say a paradise flycatcher feeding its babies gets a thousand “likes”, if that paradise-flycatcher dislikes what you’ve done, which it mostly will, you stand condemned! Just as you would condemn the damn paparazzi if they dared to do the same thing to you and your spouse and beloved fledgling family!

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