Camo or Blind?

[Larry S.]

Literally any wildlife in the UK has been hunted and or persecuted beyond belief. For Owls in particular I like to break my shape with camo, I find you will get an extra few passes as they quarter a location, but if they spot you that is it generally and the chance is over. A hide is great if you know the location and it is not public (ie you have a permission) and want to set up a particular shot, ie the subject against a certain background, or a perch it regularly uses

Hi Marcus, your comments bring up another potential issue with blinds or “hides” on public land. If some casual hiker, explorer, et al.. sees your hide from a trail or path they are likely to go “investigate”……that could lead to a spirited exchange…. It sounds like the wildlife in the UK are seriously stressed by human proximity, ignorance and lack of access control by authorities…..

 

[PhilcTx]

Is that correct?

I include birds with wildlife.

I don't believe its a learned behavior. It's integral in wildlife/birds genetic survival mechanism.

Even simple blinds such as a sheet/blanket, etc. can be effective if it shields our human shape/form from birds/wildlife view. A frequently mentioned example is photographing setting in a vehicle close to birds. Once we exit the vehicle no matter how stealthily they usually will leave or move further away.

"Many findings from this literature review suggest that wildlife respond to humans similarly to how they respond to their natural predators, such as fleeing from both human and predator approaches."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S161713812300119X

 

[viper699]

I include birds with wildlife.

I don't believe its a learned behavior. It's integral in wildlife/birds genetic survival mechanism.

Even simple blinds such as a sheet/blanket, etc. can be effective if it shields our human shape/form from birds/wildlife view. A frequently mentioned example is photographing setting in a vehicle close to birds. Once we exit the vehicle no matter how stealthily they usually will leave or move further away.

"Many findings from this literature review suggest that wildlife respond to humans similarly to how they respond to their natural predators, such as fleeing from both human and predator approaches."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S161713812300119X

Very true, and it was evident while I traveled during COVID. At Arches the large mammals came down and roamed throughout the park, because there were no people. Other parks experienced this as well. Those were the best times of travel within the USA, another pandemic like that would be great for wildlife photography.

 

[Calson]

Animals that are prey are going to respond to fast movement and so moving slowly and obliquely often works. One advantage of a poncho or the wearable blinds from Lenscoat is that they break up the human outline and conceal the legs. A poncho also works well with a camera on a tripod to shield it from the weather.

Permanent blinds are rare in the USA and setting on up on private land requires the permission of the owner and setting it up and leaving it and then returning a day or two later. Not practical in national parks or wildlife reserves.

 

[Abinoone]

Steve recently presented some excellent tips and suggestions for getting closer to wildlife for better images. An interesting and informative discussion followed with members contributing some valuable insight. Never occurred to me, for example, that sunglasses might appear as large predator eyes. Or, pointing or your lens, intentionally or otherwise casually at animals gets their attention. Getting close to animals such as deer or bear is not as difficult for me as wild birds. I’m not talking about ducks being fed in in community ponds acclimated to people. Truly wild birds seem hyper tuned-in to what might be a threat…… and they’re gone.

So what do most members do for success with birds? Camo or blind? With camo you have “some” mobility whereas in a blind you are locked in to a location (unless you can pick it up and move while inside). With camo I try to match my clothes with the location I will shoot from. I usually wear a camo head-net over my hat also. I can easily see the EVF or LV screen through the mesh. Straight on stalking is not a good plan. You get ”made” instantly and bird leaves. Zig zag, as Steve and others point out, has worked occasionally…. but as the distance closes the critter gets nervous. Not good. I seem to have more success when I can sit low in bushes, brush, grasses, etc… and wait it out in a likely spot where I know they frequent.

One thing I’ve considered is camera camo. I don’t wave my camera around but I see others here with camo on lenses and bodies. You guys have opinions on this and I would like to hear about your thinking on this…..including blinds and wearing camo….
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For the most part, I don't try to camouflage my person at all, since generally most animals know you're there anyway. I've found that a slow, deliberate, non-direct approach to wildlife works far better in getting close to subjects than any amount of camo. The only exception I make is for notoriously skittish subjects, such as kingfishers, when I'll use my Tragopan VI blind carefully placed near a strategic feeding spot. I also use camo neoprene lens covers - not really for camouflage, just as a lens protector that happens to be camouflage colored.

 

[Marcus]

Hi Marcus, your comments bring up another potential issue with blinds or “hides” on public land. If some casual hiker, explorer, et al.. sees your hide from a trail or path they are likely to go “investigate”……that could lead to a spirited exchange…. It sounds like the wildlife in the UK are seriously stressed by human proximity, ignorance and lack of access control by authorities…..

Yep, sadly all of the above! Which is why i mainly try and seek permission on private land now, it is literally the only way (in my county anyway) you can do your thing uninterrupted...

 

[Woody Meristem]

Mammals almost always know a human is nearby, but they often have trouble locating a person if they can't distinguish shape or movement. Birds on the other hand are much more visually oriented, which is why camo or a blind is usually pretty effective if movement can be minimized. Where mammals and birds aren't pursued or harassed and encounter a lot of people they become habituated and often allow a close approach, but truly wild critters perceive us a potential threat and react accordingly. The fact that a vehicle makes a decent blind but they often flee when you get out no matter how slowly and carefully is a clue that the human shape is the "threat".

 

[Larry S.]

Mammals almost always know a human is nearby, but they often have trouble locating a person if they can't distinguish shape or movement. Birds on the other hand are much more visually oriented, which is why camo or a blind is usually pretty effective if movement can be minimized. Where mammals and birds aren't pursued or harassed and encounter a lot of people they become habituated and often allow a close approach, but truly wild critters perceive us a potential threat and react accordingly. The fact that a vehicle makes a decent blind but they often flee when you get out no matter how slowly and carefully is a clue that the human shape is the "threat".

Exactly spot on woody! I can add to that a bit. When we lived in the mountains the bears would frequently come into our small orchard. When overnight company visited they never saw a bear. Their car had an unfamiliar odor and visual impact which likely kept the bears away. Within an hour of the company’s departure the bears returned for apples. This scenario repeated itself many times. A bear’s nose is legendary for detecting scents & odors, eyes not so much. I totally agree about the birds being on visual alert…. I get “made” when they detect movement and game over…… I have a camo headnet that I have had luck using. I do think birds can pick out a human face…