{"id":45738,"date":"2017-03-24T06:02:28","date_gmt":"2017-03-24T12:02:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=45738"},"modified":"2025-10-08T13:03:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T18:03:18","slug":"spring-means-nesting-birds-and-chicks-please-give-them-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/03\/24\/spring-means-nesting-birds-and-chicks-please-give-them-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Means Nesting Birds and Chicks – Please Give Them Space"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"NestingNesting American Coot at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Spring means birds are getting ready to find mates, breed, nesting and raising their young. Spring also means there will be a flood of “cute” images of chicks in their nests and chicks up close on the internet.<\/p>\n

Photos that people will “oh” and “ah” over get tons of likes and “great shot” comments on social media.<\/p>\n

But please know this, not all of those cute little chick images are wonderful because some of the people have gotten way too close to the chicks or the nests.<\/p>\n

Some of those people have knowingly or unknowingly stressed the adults or the chicks or both.<\/p>\n

Some of those people didn’t use a long lens to get those shots, they used a point and shoot, their cell phone or a landscape lens.<\/p>\n

Some of those people have spent too long a period of time trying to “get the money shot” and have prevented the adults from taking care of their young.<\/p>\n

Some are amateur photographers and some are pros.<\/p>\n

Spring is also a time when I look at some of those “cute” chick images and cringe because of my concern for the well being of the birds.<\/p>\n

\"FerruginousFerruginous Hawk chicks in their nest, Madison County, Montana
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

For me, my own personal ethics dictate that the image is never<\/em><\/strong> as important as the well being and safety of my subject.<\/p>\n

Never. Ever.<\/p>\n

If something happened to one of my subjects because of me I would have to sell all of my gear and stop photographing birds. That is how strongly I feel about this matter.<\/p>\n

I use long lenses when I do photograph birds in their nests and even then I will take the images from far away and then in post processing take huge crops to bring the chicks closer in the photo.<\/p>\n

I don’t stay long at nests. And most of the time I avoid nesting birds unless I know can take images without interrupting the their normal habits.<\/p>\n

Why? Because the image is never<\/em><\/strong> as important as the well being and safety of my subject, especially when it comes to nests and chicks.<\/p>\n

\"OystercatcherAmerican Oystercatcher on nest with eggs, Fort De Soto County Park, Pinellas County, Florida
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Ethics on photographing nesting birds:<\/strong><\/p>\n