Even with a long lens, bird photography still requires getting reasonably close to your subject. In some places, this can be as simple as parking your butt and waiting, or just wandering around. Parks and wetland boardwalks are good for this, as well as lake-edges and even the beach!

I enjoy sitting and waiting for the birds to come to me, because you see so much more than would by simply wandering past. You can sit pretty much in the open if you’re vaguely concealed by vegetation, or simply have your silhouette broken up by sitting in front of a bush. Dad and I do this quite often at Lake Okareka, settling in on the marshy edge of the lake amidst reeds. After a while of sitting quiet and still, the birds will wander past completely unconcerned.

Hides are wonderful for getting close to more flighty subjects, but you still have to remain quiet and relatively still – if you can see out, generally what you’re photographing can see in! Hides are also generally meant for bird-watchers and photographers, so there’s a good chance of seeing a variety of birds from one.

In the instance where you want to approach your subject, I’m going to ask you to remember one thing. Be considerate of how the bird is reacting to your presence.

The only thing that is important is that the bird is comfortable, and you are not causing it stress by approaching it. 

Nothing can justify causing any animal distress – not even the awesome photograph you think you will get if you get just that little bit closer. This is especially true if the bird is on a nest. Pay attention to your subject – if it’s shifting from side to side, or eyeing you up, calling, edging away or tensing up – back off. Easy.

In terms of actually approaching birds, keeping a low profile and moving slowly is all you really need to do to minimise your risk of scaring it away. Birds all have different ‘flight zones’, which means that you have to consider the species you’re approaching and it’s familiarity with humans. Some birds require a more stealthy approach than others – for example: you can get close enough to grab a pigeon in the city without it fussing, but you don’t have a hope of getting anywhere near that close to a Reef Heron!

Something to always bear in mind is that you don’t have to get right up the birds beak to get a good photograph of it. Including the habitat around it (provided it’s an aesthetically pleasing or interesting one) can also make a great image. Close ups are stunning, and frame-filling photos can be gorgeous, but taking a different perspective can really make your photos stand out.