Birding ethics and bird photography etiquette: nests, playback and rare birds

TUREFF• •0

Birdwatching and bird photography put us close to wild animals, and the closer we get the easier it is to harm them without meaning to. A disturbed bird uses energy it needs to survive, may abandon a nest, or may be pushed off a feeding site at a crucial time. Birding organisations such as the American Birding Association publish codes of ethics, and they share one principle: the welfare of the bird comes before the sighting or the photograph.

Put the bird first

The simple test is whether the bird is changing its behaviour because of you. Signs of stress include:

repeated alarm calls
the bird stopping feeding to watch you
flushing, or moving away and coming back again and again
adults circling or refusing to return to a nest

If you see any of these, you are too close. Back off slowly and watch from further away. A good pair of binoculars or a longer lens is the answer, not a closer approach.

Nests

The breeding season is when birds are most vulnerable.

Keep well away from active nests, nesting colonies, roosts and display sites.
Do not move branches or vegetation to get a clearer view or a better photograph. That cover hides the nest from predators.
Do not linger. Predators such as crows and some mammals learn to follow human scent and activity to nests.
Leave fledglings alone. Young birds that have just left the nest often sit on the ground while parents feed them nearby.

In many countries the law also protects nests. In Great Britain, for example, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to take or destroy the nest of a wild bird while it is in use or being built, and it gives extra protection to certain listed rare species, for which even disturbing them at or near the nest is an offence without a licence. Check what applies where you live.

Playback of songs and calls

Playing a recording of a bird's song can bring it into view, because the bird thinks a rival has entered its territory. It also costs the bird time and energy, and repeated playback can disrupt breeding. Most codes of ethics ask birders to limit the use of recordings and other sound lures, and to be especially careful:

in heavily birded places, where many visitors may play the same bird
with rare or threatened species
during the breeding season

In some protected areas and reserves playback is banned outright. If you use it at all, keep it short, keep it quiet, and stop as soon as the bird responds. Many experienced birders choose never to use it.

Photography etiquette

No baiting that harms: luring owls or raptors with live animals, or putting food where it changes a bird's natural behaviour, can be harmful and is controversial.
No flash at night on owls and other nocturnal birds, and avoid flash near nests.
Stay on paths and respect private land, closed areas and signs.
Do not crowd: when many photographers gather around one bird, keep to the back, keep quiet, and let others have their turn without pushing closer.
Be honest: state when a photograph was taken of a captive or baited bird.

Drones need special caution: they can frighten birds badly, and their use near wildlife is restricted in many places.

Sharing locations of rare birds

Rare birds bring crowds, and news spreads fast. Before sharing a location, ask:

Is it a breeding bird? Rare nesting birds can be harmed by visitors, egg collectors or people who want to disturb them, and their locations are often shared only with conservation authorities.
Can the site cope with visitors? Think about parking, private land, fragile habitats and neighbours.
Is the bird already stressed, exhausted or injured?

Many local bird groups and record-keeping platforms have their own rules for sensitive species and hide exact locations automatically. When in doubt, report the record privately to your local recorder or bird club and let them decide.

Respect people too

Ask before entering private land, keep your voice down, close gates, and be patient with beginners. Good behaviour in the field is how birders keep access to the places they love. Have you seen good or bad behaviour around a rare bird or a nest? Share your experience, or ask what you should do in a tricky situation, in the comments.