The Frustrations of Unnatural Perches

Most bird photographers prefer their subjects to be on natural perches.  We are, after all, nature photographers.  The definition of just what is “natural” becomes a slippery slope for sure but for my purposes I’ll define a natural perch by exclusion – it does not include buildings, telephone poles and wires, chunks of concrete, signs, or most anything else that is obviously man-made.

Now for my exceptions.  Some objects that are man-made and have a “rustic” quality are often acceptable.  Weathered fence posts, old barns and rusty barbed wire would be examples. 

One of the major frustrations of bird photographers is to be able to finally get close to a beautiful subject in good light but the bird has chosen an ugly or inappropriate (for us) man-made perch.  It is typically very difficult to approach many bird species close enough to get excellent detailed photos, even with big expensive lenses.  So it can be aggravating in the extreme to finally get close enough but the bird has chosen an unappealing perch.  Some folks choose to largely avoid this problem by shooting at “setups” where the bird has been unnaturally lured into an artificial situation by provided food with attractive perches arranged close by.  To many of us this is not nature photography but more like studio or zoo photography. 

Good bird photography ain’t easy.  If it were it wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying when I do finally get the shot I’m after – even though the pursuit has often been frustrating.  Below are some of the situations where I’ve been frustrated by these unattractive, unnatural perches. 

 

    Most bird photographers know just how difficult kestrels are to approach.  This one let me get very close.  Naturally, he was on an ugly square post. 

 

Only once have I EVER been able to get close enough to photograph a Ferruginous Hawk.  It chose this perch at a bird refuge and then looked at me disdainfully.

 

This Sage Thrasher perched on a pipe gate and let me get close.  At least the pipe was rusty… 

 

The sun was just rising as we approached this Short-eared Owl on a road construction post at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.

 

This Cooper’s Hawk knocked this dove out of a perfectly attractive and natural tree and flew with it to my ugly roof (yes, with satellite dish in background) to pose for its photo.

 

  Barn Owl in freezing fog.  It chose to perch on the same sign as the Ferruginous Hawk.  They were in cahoots against me.   

 

This roughie chose a trail marker sign at a local bird refuge.  He redeemed himself (or herself) by letting me get a flight shot after he left the post. 

 

Male Northern Harrier.  Yup, probably the same sign.  Obviously a conspiracy…  

Ok, enough.  I have lots more examples but you get the picture.  This “perch frustration” probably happens to me more often than it does to many bird photographers because as you can see I shoot a lot of raptors and raptors in particular are attracted to these kinds of perches.   I love my birds but have been known to cuss them at times too.

Ron