Exposed Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ, USA
Date: April 11, 2010
Equipment: Nikon D200, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8, TC20E (2x), SB-800, G1325, RRS BH-55, Sidekick
Exposure: ISO 200, Aperture priority matrix metered @ +2/3 ec, 1/60th at f/11, fill flash
Raw, PS CS3 on Mac G4, full frame

First my apologies for cross-posting this in two galleries – I put it in Avian early yesterday to make sure the message got the widest exposure possible.

I rarely do any nest photography as I don't want to put the young birds at risk, but I do shoot some hummingbirds at Boyce. This nest was located along a very popular trail and was pointed out to me by one of the staff. I looked hard for a position that would give a view of the nest without touching any of the overhanging foliage. I was happy with this view and more happy that no other people had come along the trail while I was shooting. I departed without having disturbed the nestlings, nest, or vegetation.

When I shared this shot with a friend he showed me his shots taken about a week before when he had discovered the nest. It was obvious that between the time he'd taken his shots and I'd taken mine someone had trimmed some of the overhanging vegetation to allow the view I had here. This really makes me sick – knowing that anyone would put these birds at risk for the selfish reasons of getting a clean photo.

I feel a bit guilty about getting a good shot as a result of someone else's selfish and stupid act, and I considered not posting this in either gallery. But as others have pointed out it is important to share this message of ethical behavior to all aspiring bird photographers.