Shy Birds and Rules of Thirds

For those who have had the misfortune of knowing me in real life and being subject to my existentially tangential deep dives into how I spend my time, one of the most interesting-if you disagree, we can organise a meeting to settle the debate IRL- things I have immersed myself in is birdwatching and bird-photography. I have almost chronically become interested and quite invested in learning about and photographing the birds of the Northern Territory. 

What started as an enjoyment of, and exercise in patience and mindfulness has evolved from a space of juxtaposed appreciation of nature, and fear of its seemingly inevitable loss spurred by the apparent need to exploit capital. 

Birdwatching and bird photography are ways to connect to, document and appreciate the world, the creatures and the moments we don’t notice or often take for granted.

In probably the simplest way, birdwatching is the act of observing birds in their natural habitats. It’s something you can do in your yard, in a park, or even just outside where ever you find yourself at this moment. 

Birdwatching can be peaceful, educational and rewarding. It can be about noticing details, to admiring birdsongs.

                                         It 

                                                         forces

                                                                you             

                                                                    to 

                                               slow 

                                                   down. 

It is an act of patience, and attention to the natural world. 

When you add photography to this, you open up a whole new world of appreciation and creativity.

I’ve walked AND waited hours and have even driven hundreds of kilometres through national parks and nature reserves just to find and photograph certain birds or behaviours.

A great thing about birdwatching and photography is the diversity of subjects, and ecosystems you can find yourself in. 

Birds come is a wide variety of shapes, colours and sizes, and each species has its own story, from feeding habits to geographic distributions, to migratory patterns. 

One of the coolest things that I had learnt last year, is that some birds of prey are noted in some indigenous mythologies and in ornithological research to interact with fire, hunting around bushfires, as well as (uncommonly) starting fires to lure out prey.

While the animals are fascinating, they can and are sometimes only results of their habitats. A significant aspect of observing and understanding birds is the important role they play within and around their ecosystems. 

In a time of expansive development there is a great deal of habitat loss, and by effect, it endangers and threatens the extinction or permanent migration of native SPECIES (PLURAL!), inclusive and not limited to birds. An important and local point of contention is the current developments planned for the significantly biodiverse Binybara, or  Lee Point. 

As noted by the official Save Lee Point campaign website, the call to action by the group Friends of Lee Point (FLP), a collection of concerned locals  who sought to raise awareness of the areas role as Darwin's last biodiversity corridor to initiate and promote conservation efforts as well as appropriate, effective and efficient urban planning. 

Being exposed to these experiences, learning to understand, and engaging in the documenting process, we can help raise awareness and encourage others to consider and protect parts of our natural world.

I understand that we all have different circumstances, but I would highly recommend the birdwatching and photography. It can be relaxing. It can also be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. You can literally begin today with just your phone.

In fact, I completely recommend the Merlin Bird ID app by Cornell Lab of Ornithology . It's a database that is a compilation of over 750 million observations. 

All you have to do is upload a photo you’ve taken, the date, area, and time of the year and it is able to identify the likely species almost instantly. It also gives you a good list of birds in your area to keep an eye out for!

Like I‘ve said before, I’ve spent a lot of time looking for specific birds, and know that you don’t always get lucky! 

Patience is a big aspect of this hobby. 

I do find however, that the more you take in, the more you notice. 

Follow birdsongs, look for what rustles the leaves, talk to people, read notes and threads, figure out the feeding patterns. Once you have an idea of the best conditions, you’ll, more often than not, find what you’re looking for. 

Taking the best photo however is a completely different story. Sometimes it really is the journey. Its the process that allows you to enjoy, learn and appreciate, not only the birds, but also the world that we share. 

Birdwatching and bird photography are immense fun. They allow us to connect with nature, develop mindfulness and raise awareness of the world around us. 

When you’re outside next, I encourage you to listen to the birdsongs, find the birds, consider taking a photo, and learning a little bit about it. 

You’ll find that you’re a bit more attentive, and aware of the world around you.

~M~