Bird is the word: why the perfect time to start bird photography is right now

It seems like everyone has been getting into bird-watching and bird photography lately.

“Wow! I recently decided to become a bird nerd, and I am so happy I did!” says a comment on an Audubon article. 

“I think I’ve caught the birding bug?” says a Facebook post with a slew with bird photos. 

So what’s the deal with birds? Why do humans find so much joy in watching and photographing these little dinosaurs? To find the answer, we have to travel back to the beginning.

How did it all begin?

Back in the Victorian era, birding used to be about hunting and obtaining skins, feathers, and eggs, identifying and photographing the bird after it’s been shot. It was mostly a hobby reserved for wealthy collectors, a way for them to gather and document as many species as possible and understand more about taxonomy and natural history. 

But things started changing in the late 19th century to early 20th century.

First, the advancement of optics and field guides made watching live birds more popular and accessible. The earliest field guide in the US was “Birds through an Opera Glass”, published in 1889 by Florence Bailey. But the boom in birding was largely credited to the development of binoculars in World War II, as well as Roger Tory Peterson’s field guide in 1934, which used colored plates and grouped similar species together.

Second, faster photography emulsions and quicker shutters developed in the late 1800s, allowing bird photographers to work in the field. In fact, bird photography was the first form of wildlife photography, where the oldest surviving photograph of a wild animal is of a white stork on its nest in Strasbourg in 1870, photographed by Charles A Hewins.

Birding in the early 1800’s was mostly about collecting and cataloguing as many skins, feathers, and eggs of exotic birds as possible. Illustration by Henry Seebohm Illustration from Eggs of British Birds 1896

Third, organizations like Audubon (US) and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (UK) started rallying for the protection of birds in the late 19th century, pushing people to observe and photograph live birds. This was a big turning point for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts, as it introduced the element of science-based conservation

As a result of these three changes, birding was no longer just a numbers game, no longer an elite group of wealthy people comparing how many birds they have in their collection. It now included millions of people who are passionate about natural history, photography, and conservation, united into a national network.

And the birding community keeps growing and diversifying, even to today. The development of superzoom cameras and smaller binoculars resulted in the rise of the casual backyard birder and the bird-loving family. The birth of platforms like eBird and iNaturalist created the passionate citizen scientist. The proliferation of social media has generated a hub for young teenage birders. Even more recently, black birders have been rising up, leading initiatives like #BlackBirdersWeek in response to recent events with Christian Cooper in Central Park and the #BlackLivesMatter movement (although there are still many barriers that minorities face in birding and photography, but that’s another blog).

American Oystercatcher and chick. Photo by Denise Ippolito

Present day

One reason, especially today, that resonates with a lot of people is the ever-growing conversation of birding’s mental and physical health benefits. And this has led to the most recent explosion of new birders and photographers during this pandemic.

For example, there’s a concept in the birding world called a “bird sit”, which is like an outdoor meditation but with a focus on birds. This Audubon article details how to do a bird sit, but essentially, it requires you to sit, breath, immerse yourself into the birds you hear and see around you, and ask questions about why birds are doing what they do.

Doing something like a bird sit can help those starting out with photography. Melissa Groo, renowned wildlife photographer and contributor to Audubon Magazine, comments: “I will spend time in sit spots because, as a wildlife photographer, it’s a wonderful way to figure out whether a location is a good spot for me to return to with my camera. For instance, are there particular species of birds there that I’m interested in, that seem to be on territory? How does the light fall on the scene as the position of the sun changes? It’s fun to visit your sit spot during different seasons so you can track the changes in the habits, species composition, and appearance of the wild animals there, as well as the changes in the vegetation.”

Denise Ippolito, award-winning bird photographer and GWC partner, also speaks to the importance of understanding behaviour when photographing birds. “You don’t want to intimidate or frighten the birds. You will need to approach slowly and quietly. Every bird, animal and even human will have their own buffer zone—a space around them that is their own safe space that no other can invade.”

Snowy Egret. Photo by Melissa Groo

However, a bird sit also goes beyond that, “Spending time in a thoughtfully-chosen sit spot is a great strategy for anyone who wants to really become enmeshed in a natural scene. It’s terrific for bird lovers, wildlife watchers, photographers. And, really, for anyone seeking the serenity and purity of nature.” says Melissa.

Birding is for anyone seeking serenity and purity of nature.

That is the key message. Birds reconnect us back to nature, reconnects us to the living breathing lives that surround us, reconnects us to the world beyond our cluttered brains. That is, deep down, why birding has been such a popular and long-standing activity. And why it’s something that everyone and anyone can be a part of.

Great Horned Owl mother and chick. Photo by Melissa Groo

Want to start birding?

If you want to jump on the birding bandwagon, here are a couple ways to do so. 

First, watch and photograph birds in your backyard! Melissa Groo’s new bird photography course for beginners is a perfect place to start, as well as Denise Ippolito’s Ebook on bird photography. 

Second, practice your birding, photography, and mindfulness. Practice everyday. Get to know the birds, camera, and your surroundings.

And finally, do a bird sit. Learn about bird behaviour, and most importantly, build empathy for the subjects around you, and welcome them as friends.

So try it out! And who knows, maybe you’ll turn into a birder.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin. Photo by Denise Ippolito.

Written by Alice Sun 

Growing up, Alice’s dream was to become a National Geographic photographer. This passion led her to spend much of her high school years photographing and sharing stories of wildlife in her own backyard, which earned her a spot in the 2016 NANPA High School Scholarship Program. She then went on to pursue a degree in environmental biology and a graduate certificate in environmental visual communication, sharpening her skills and building a foundation for a career in visual storytelling. Today, she is a freelance science communicator and conservation storyteller based in Vancouver, Canada. Inspiring young people to pursue the same dream she had is something that Alice is passionate about, and why she’s extremely be on the Girls Who Click team! Visit Alice’s website (alicesun.ca) to see the stories she has told over the years. 

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