So...I am curious. I know that a blind can be set up in order to sneak up on wild passerines so long as you know where they hang out, or you bait them in or something to that nature.
BUT.....How on earth do you sneak up on raptors? I mean I can get really close to a tame one Red-Tailed Hawk in the area but you all are popping photos of all sorts of raptors and I find myself wondering how you approach these guys to get the shot off.
Do you set up a blind where raptors are found? (near a tree they perch on or something to that nature)
Is it just mere chance that you get that close?
Are these raptors relatively tame...some of them at least?
I'm just wondering how it's done, anything helps.
Thanks!!
Posted by Kent Staubus on December 2, 2007 at 11:36 AM
In my experience, you can't sneak up on a hawk. They are designed to spot tiny mice, so something like you has no chance. The best bet is to find their favorite perch and put up a blind. You will probably have to get there early in the morning before they do.
Posted by Kent Staubus on December 2, 2007 at 12:13 PM
You can make one using those sheets of camo sold at Walmart--I like the ones with the cut out leaves the best. You find a small spot in some bushes etc. and tie it to branches and stake the bottom. Walmart also now sells a variety of blinds in the sporting goods section. The smaller and lower to the ground the better. For mailorder, try Cabelas.
Here's one that looks pretty good if you can set it near some bushes/trees: http://tinyurl.com/2tbblb
Here's a whole bunch of them. Remember that you need low to the ground, and completely enclosed (no open top like duck hunters use.) http://tinyurl.com/3amjbk
You don't have to spend a whole lot of money. The main thing a blind does is cover all the little movements you make. Open the window only enough for a lens opening. It would be best to not stick the lens outside of the blind. Make sure the sun is not directly behind you as it will silhouette you even through most blind material. Put something behind the blind such as a big bush etc. if the sun can do that. You might consider a camo net face mask too, and wear darker brown gloves. If you think you have trouble sitting still because its cold, I have an inexpensive trick for that too.
Kent in SD
Posted by Ron Dudley on December 2, 2007 at 12:26 PM
I agree with Kent - raptors are virtually impossible to sneak up on. I've been able to get close most often in two situations: when the bird has captured prey and is somewhat reluctant to leave or fly off with it or, more often, if the bird is accustomed to car traffic. I nearly always use a vehicle as a "blind" for raptors. I most often photograph raptors at a bird refuge where the hawks are so used to traffic on the dirt roads that they sometimes let you get relatively close. That said it will nearly always be a challenge to approach a wild raptor. Good luck Kyle.
Actually I've managed to get fairly close, certainly close enough for meaningful photos, to bald and golden eagles, redtail hawks, kestrels, ospreys, and a couple of goshawks. The secret? Ignore them.
Pretend you don't see the raptor and walk openly and slowly at an angle to pass them, which coincidentally brings you within photo range. You'll get the longest shooting session if you keep your tripod legs spread and the lens swiveled toward them as you walk with occasional pauses. Don't turn your body toward them while you shoot, rather keep it facing 90 to them and peer sideways through the viewfinder.
It's not a cure-all by any means, but it sure beats sneaking. Like most animals, they regard stalking as a hostile act and react accordingly, but in their lives it seems to be a lot of fluff and bother to fly away from something that doesn't "see" them and looks like it is going to pass right on by. It's also more normal for a relaxed, nonthreatening animal to pause here and there rather than to walk purposefully. They will certainly keep a close eye on you, but they don't seem to mind if you happen to set down your tripod and take a shot or two while you pause to "look around."
The same technique works for most other wild animals, BTW.
Ok....so I just came back from the spot that I saw a Red-Shouldered Hawk this morning...he flew off on me and that's why I posted this topic. He was there again, but flew off once my truck began to slow down.
He is sitting in a tree about 15 feet off the ground or so right on the side of the road. The tree is in the middle of two HUGE cow pastures and there isn't really any cover there that I could hide in with a blind. How can I get in close on this guy?
If I go there really early tomorrow morning and park near the tree will he be skiddish and not land there or is it the motion that is scaring him from my truck?
Obviously the hawk is in a favorite spot, but doesn't like vehicles. Park yours far away. I'd also not walk down the road in "passing" it using my stalking method, rather I'd walk through the pasture, preferably the one that puts the early morning light at your back. If you go the blind route, set it up a day or two in advance so the hawk gets accustomed, then get into it before daylight or while the hawk is off hunting.
Posted by Greg Cope on December 2, 2007 at 3:46 PM
Lots of great advice here. I don't often have a chance to approach raptors, have been lucky many a times though and usually when I do have the chance it is when they are with prey and/or in a highly human trafficked area. I have also found that, unfortunate for us photographers, raptors are more easily approached from the shadow side (where you are illuminated) rather than the light side (where the bird is in nice light). When I do approach I do so without a tripod, I walk at an angle toward it rather than a direct route and I do so ever so slowly, I don't make eye contact with it or stare at it but rather keep my head looking in other directions, and I keep my lens hoisted and pointed at it as I approach. If you know where and when it will perch, I'd go for the blind approach.
Posted by Kent Staubus on December 3, 2007 at 12:55 AM
Hank--
Where I live I'm pretty sure that hawks are sometimes shot at. They have learned to stay away from people. The "ignore them" deal just isn't going to work here. Not sure about Kyle's area.
In the open pasture, you could ask the farmer about putting up your blind. I think it would might work as long as you aren't at all visible and are very quiet. The tent type blind would be better than stringing up a cover sheet like I was talking about. The fact that the bird is only 15 off the ground is making it more wary and nervous, I think. I think they feel safer higher up. You might consider trying to set up a blind about 50 yards away. That should be just enough distance, at least in a blind. Cindy is right--a car generally is a good blind. Again though, it depends on where you are. Where I am critters associate vehicles that slow down with a hail of shotgun pellets moments later.
Kent in SD
Posted by Terry Sohl on December 3, 2007 at 2:14 AM
Hawks shot at? Here? No way!!
Seems like there definitely are a few bad eggs who shoot at anything with a heartbeat around here, I agree. And I agree wildlife in general is probably tougher to approach here than in some other places.
I'm with Cindy and Kent...a healthy percentage of my raptor shots have been taken from my Jeep as a blind. A lot of birds are used to automobiles, and will tolerate them more than an obvious human presence. The only luck I ever have approaching raptors on foot is in places where they're used to a human presence, such as photographing Bald Eagles and Osprey below the Missouri River dams in my neck of the woods.
Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm going to try to get out there this morning in my truck, way before the hawk arrives and see what happens. I'm going to park nearby and get in the back of the truckbed (I have a tinted camper cover on it) and wait for him. I have class today so I can't wait forever, but we'll see if anything happens in the given timeframe.
Well....he wasn't there this morning, I'll try again some other time. I did however run into my FAVORITE buddy, a Red-Tailed Hawk that loves to have his picture taken. I was about 10 feet from him this time as he sat in a tree. I'll post some photos soon!!
Posted by Liz Stanley on December 7, 2007 at 12:31 PM
So I had a beautiful Cooper's hawk in my yard the other morning, way towards the back, perched in a nice spot. It hung out there for a while so I decided to try the method Hank described in his post. I was able to get to the back of the yard, but unfortunately I forgot the part about "Don't turn your body toward them while you shoot" and as soon as I did that, it flew off. However, it was pretty cool that I was able to get as close as I did, and that gives me hope for the next time! All I have to do is watch the birds at the feeders to tell when the hawk is around.
Posted by Tim Behle on December 7, 2007 at 6:59 PM
Here is another little hint for getting animals up close. Never make eye contact with them. Watch them though the camera, or keep your head down so that the brim of your hat covers your eyes, and you can't see above their chin. I've brought numerous wild animals to distances of less than 10', but once they see your eyes, they spook and run. Bobcats are about the only exception to this, that I have found. They seem to think that they are invisible, and your eyes many times will catch and hold their interest.
Here's a refinement of the technique, but it will make you dizzy the first time or two you try it:
Adjust your tripod legs a fair bit lower than usual. Then bend over and look through the viewfinder "upside down" with your head above the camera rather than below. It takes some getting used to, but especially in rough terrain I find it easier than trying to work with the camera at normal eye level.
Want to really dizzy yourself while getting even better response from the animals? With the camera lower like that, stand with your back more or less to the animal and position your camera under your armpit at about waist level so you're really upside down while looking through the viewfinder. Since you are "facing" away from the animal, they remain quite relaxed, even if they often raise their heads a bit to see what you're up to. (Sometimes a good thing, photographically.)
You can almost read their minds: "What's that fool up to now?"
Discussion
15 repliesBUT.....How on earth do you sneak up on raptors? I mean I can get really close to a tame one Red-Tailed Hawk in the area but you all are popping photos of all sorts of raptors and I find myself wondering how you approach these guys to get the shot off.
Do you set up a blind where raptors are found? (near a tree they perch on or something to that nature)
Is it just mere chance that you get that close?
Are these raptors relatively tame...some of them at least?
I'm just wondering how it's done, anything helps.
Thanks!!
Kent in SD
Here's one that looks pretty good if you can set it near some bushes/trees:
http://tinyurl.com/2tbblb
Here's a whole bunch of them. Remember that you need low to the ground, and completely enclosed (no open top like duck hunters use.)
http://tinyurl.com/3amjbk
You don't have to spend a whole lot of money. The main thing a blind does is cover all the little movements you make. Open the window only enough for a lens opening. It would be best to not stick the lens outside of the blind. Make sure the sun is not directly behind you as it will silhouette you even through most blind material. Put something behind the blind such as a big bush etc. if the sun can do that. You might consider a camo net face mask too, and wear darker brown gloves. If you think you have trouble sitting still because its cold, I have an inexpensive trick for that too.
Kent in SD
Pretend you don't see the raptor and walk openly and slowly at an angle to pass them, which coincidentally brings you within photo range. You'll get the longest shooting session if you keep your tripod legs spread and the lens swiveled toward them as you walk with occasional pauses. Don't turn your body toward them while you shoot, rather keep it facing 90 to them and peer sideways through the viewfinder.
It's not a cure-all by any means, but it sure beats sneaking. Like most animals, they regard stalking as a hostile act and react accordingly, but in their lives it seems to be a lot of fluff and bother to fly away from something that doesn't "see" them and looks like it is going to pass right on by. It's also more normal for a relaxed, nonthreatening animal to pause here and there rather than to walk purposefully. They will certainly keep a close eye on you, but they don't seem to mind if you happen to set down your tripod and take a shot or two while you pause to "look around."
The same technique works for most other wild animals, BTW.
He is sitting in a tree about 15 feet off the ground or so right on the side of the road. The tree is in the middle of two HUGE cow pastures and there isn't really any cover there that I could hide in with a blind. How can I get in close on this guy?
If I go there really early tomorrow morning and park near the tree will he be skiddish and not land there or is it the motion that is scaring him from my truck?
Anything helps and thanks!!!
Where I live I'm pretty sure that hawks are sometimes shot at. They have learned to stay away from people. The "ignore them" deal just isn't going to work here. Not sure about Kyle's area.
In the open pasture, you could ask the farmer about putting up your blind. I think it would might work as long as you aren't at all visible and are very quiet. The tent type blind would be better than stringing up a cover sheet like I was talking about. The fact that the bird is only 15 off the ground is making it more wary and nervous, I think. I think they feel safer higher up. You might consider trying to set up a blind about 50 yards away. That should be just enough distance, at least in a blind. Cindy is right--a car generally is a good blind. Again though, it depends on where you are. Where I am critters associate vehicles that slow down with a hail of shotgun pellets moments later.
Kent in SD
Seems like there definitely are a few bad eggs who shoot at anything with a heartbeat around here, I agree. And I agree wildlife in general is probably tougher to approach here than in some other places.
I'm with Cindy and Kent...a healthy percentage of my raptor shots have been taken from my Jeep as a blind. A lot of birds are used to automobiles, and will tolerate them more than an obvious human presence. The only luck I ever have approaching raptors on foot is in places where they're used to a human presence, such as photographing Bald Eagles and Osprey below the Missouri River dams in my neck of the woods.
Thanks again!
Well....he wasn't there this morning, I'll try again some other time. I did however run into my FAVORITE buddy, a Red-Tailed Hawk that loves to have his picture taken. I was about 10 feet from him this time as he sat in a tree. I'll post some photos soon!!
Here's a refinement of the technique, but it will make you dizzy the first time or two you try it:
Adjust your tripod legs a fair bit lower than usual. Then bend over and look through the viewfinder "upside down" with your head above the camera rather than below. It takes some getting used to, but especially in rough terrain I find it easier than trying to work with the camera at normal eye level.
Want to really dizzy yourself while getting even better response from the animals? With the camera lower like that, stand with your back more or less to the animal and position your camera under your armpit at about waist level so you're really upside down while looking through the viewfinder. Since you are "facing" away from the animal, they remain quite relaxed, even if they often raise their heads a bit to see what you're up to. (Sometimes a good thing, photographically.)
You can almost read their minds: "What's that fool up to now?"