Listen, Learn, and Blend: 3 Unconventional Birding and Wildlife Tips
Think Like the Wild: 3 Uncommon Tips for Better Birding and Wildlife Photography
Here’s some great birding tips! Most advice about birding and wildlife photography focuses on gear, locations, and patience. But there’s more to it than having a fast shutter and a good pair of binoculars. To truly connect with nature and come home with keepers, you need to think like your subject.
Here are three strategies that have helped me get closer, both to wildlife and to the experience itself.
1. Study Your Subject Like a Tracker
Wildlife photography isn’t just about luck. It’s about understanding behavior.
Take bald eagles, for example. When I’m by the river, I’m not wandering aimlessly. I’ve learned which trees they perch in, where they like to hunt, and what times they tend to be most active. It takes time and observation, but once you start to see the patterns, it changes everything.
📓 Try this: Keep a journal or phone note with sightings, times, and behaviors. After a few weeks, you’ll start to notice repeat patterns that help you find wildlife more quickly.
2. Use Your Ears as Much as Your Eyes
We’re trained to look, but some of the best finds begin with sound.
Eagle calls have led me to birds I might have missed otherwise. Even more subtle cues, like smaller birds going quiet or sounding agitated, can signal that a predator is nearby. You don’t always need to see to know where to go.
🎧 Try this: Train your ears. Apps like Merlin Bird ID can help you learn local calls and warning sounds. You’ll begin to recognize what’s nearby, even if it’s hidden.
3. Blend In and Let Them Come to You
Wild animals are extremely sensitive to movement. Instead of chasing them, find a good spot and wait.
When I photograph raptors, I choose a location near a known perch and let things unfold naturally. I wear neutral colors, keep my posture still, and stay quiet. This lets the animals behave as they would if I wasn’t there, giving me more authentic photos.
🪶 Try this: Pick a spot with a clear view, settle in, and stay patient. Let the wildlife come to you.
Final Thought
Birding and wildlife photography are about more than just seeing. They’re about listening, reading the environment, and understanding behavior.
Next time you’re out, don’t just look. Listen. Learn. Blend in. Check out my Birding Gallery!