Bird flash photography

[CEP]

Hello

I have noticed the thread on bird photography (related to handling of ringed birds). Does anyone have any experience of using the flash whilst taking photos? I personally think it may startle the birds and should not be used if it can be avoided (if the photo has to be taken). Does anyone else have an opinion/experience of this??

Thanks

[Doug Greenberg]

Do you mean using flash to photograph ringed/banded birds, or using flash generally for bird photography? Certainly lots of people use flash/fill flash for their bird photos. There is not necessarily a consensus here, but most people feel that the use of flash does not harm birds. There are "urban myths" about owls that become blinded by flashes, etc., but there is no substance to these, as far as I know.

An electric flash burst might startle some birds the first times they experience it, and so I would agree that it should be used judiciously. The truth is that bird photography generally has a tendency to stress birds, what with a big, long, gun-like thing pointed their way. If the birds are close to the photographer they invariably hear the "click" and that in itself is startling.

The whole issue of the intrusiveness of photographers (particularly for nesting birds) and the potential to stress the birds is one that deserves real consideration. But on the other hand, overall the effect on the birds (again, save for nesting situations) is very likely minor. People should use good sense and exhibit some compassion for their feathered subjects.

[tjsimonsen]

Hi,

I've taken quite a few bird photos with flash - with variable results. Here are a couple of the more successful:
http://www.pbase.com/tjsimonsen/image/86783574
http://www.pbase.com/tjsimonsen/image/88439686
http://www.pbase.com/tjsimonsen/image/87451935

In my experience the bird doesn't care about the flash at all. With one strange exception: Superb Lyrebird in Australia let out a loud yell, jumped app. 0.5 meter into the air, ran a couple of meters away and then continued what ever it had been doing! But apart from that, the birds never react to the flash.

Thomas

[crabplover]

Hi,


In my experience the bird doesn't care about the flash at all. With one strange exception: Superb Lyrebird in Australia let out a loud yell, jumped app. 0.5 meter into the air, ran a couple of meters away and then continued what ever it had been doing! But apart from that, the birds never react to the flash.

Thomas

Perhaps your Lyrebird had been struck by lightning in a previous life? o:D

[CEP]

Hello

Thanks for all your replies. I was referring mainly to photography of ringed birds in the hand. Obviously in these circumstances it is likely that the camera will be reasonably close to the bird and therefore the flash will be brighter and more likely to startle the bird. I guess the reaction probably varies between species and individuals.

[Corvus Corax]

This thread set me thinking about the record shots in the hand I took of all the birds I ringed so I had a trawl of my archives this afternoon.

From what I found, I don't think I used flash on a single shot but I do use fill in flash when taking shots at feeding stations or in the garden and I cannot say I have ever noticed a bird spooked when the flash has fired.

I agree that close up flash is probably not in the best interests and when I resume ringing later this year (after a layoff of several years) will consciously avaoid flash photography.