SANDERLING

ON ONE OF MY FIRST outings to photograph birds, my friend Chris and I stopped along the Whidbey Island shore. We’d seen a group of ducks on one of the ponds inland from the beach. A mound of dirt and rocks shielded the pond on one side. As soon as we parked, I ran up behind the mound, crouching, wagering I’d be hidden from their view and, if I acted quickly, I could grab some pictures. But of course, they reacted to my swift movements and flew off. “I think you might need to work on your approach technique,” Chris said. Indeed.

I’ve never used a blind, as some hunters and photographers do. I do occasionally take advantage of natural barriers to make myself less conspicuous. I move into better positions on beaches when ducks, loons, and grebes dive underwater. Once I shimmied on my belly up a berm next to a lake only to discover I was lying in a field of stinging nettles. But what I’ve mainly learned over time is that it’s extremely difficult to make yourself invisible to birds. Instead, I focus on making myself non-threatening. I tread lightly. Often, that means just sitting quietly for a time before raising the camera. Other times, and with certain birds, I just expect that they will fly away when I approach, and I quietly wait to see if they will return once they’ve gotten used to me. They frequently do, especially if there is a food source or nest nearby.

Sanderlings, like this one, are tiny shorebirds that feed in groups. If one gets spooked, the whole group may fly off, usually down the shore. Though this picture was taken in the winter of the first year I photographed birds, I’d already learned the lesson of greater patience. It was cold and windy, which is why the birds head is tucked. I approached gently and laid down on the stones to make myself smaller and to get a better angle. Right away, they flew off anyway. But I stayed where I was and, soon enough, they returned. Birds are finely trained over eons of evolution to detect threats while conserving the energy necessary to avoid them. And as you can see, I’m not hidden. The little sanderling is looking right at me.

Nikon D500, 300mm lens, 1/1250 sec @ f9, ISO 640

Preorder the second edition of Aves until February 15 and get over fifty percent off the retail price. Books and prints will ship at the end of February. The Sanderling photo above is Aves.

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