The other day I may have taken some pretty good photographs of Greater Flamingos in flight but I would much have preferred it if they hadn’t taken off.
“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.”
Robert Lynd 1879-1949
These photographs were the direct result of someone trying to get close to take a photograph. Not the first time we’ve observed this happen and I do understand the urge to photograph these amazing birds. However the other day the behaviour of one person in particular made me cross because they did it purposely twice, approaching and seeing off first one group and then another.
I know sometimes disturbing the birds cannot be avoided, but if you want to take photographs then can I make a small plea. Take a moment to think about how you appear and sound to them and watch the birds closely as you approach. If you notice they have stopped what they were doing, begun to move or are watching you, then you are already too close. At this point your options are to stop talking, to sit down, to hide behind a bush or best of all to back off and return another day with a better camera! If you continue to move towards them you will disturb them. At best your behaviour will simply spoil it for other birders, but at worst you could be impacting on the birds well-being. So please think before you step as I’d much prefer to still be observing the Flamingos than have these photographs.