DOCUMENTING THE BIRDS OF LEWA-BORANA LANDSCAPE
Birds are typically smaller and fast moving and can thus be extremely difficult to capture a composed image. To make this possible, below are some important tips to consider;
Good photography gear - camera equipment and camera setting are very important in wild bird photography. A good solid camera and one or more long telephoto lenses will help in reaching birds from a distance without distracting them.
Shoot when the light is right - Early morning and late afternoon provides the best lighting for bird photography and also coincides with peak bird activity. It’s harder to take a good picture in the middle of a bright, clear day because images end up with too much contrast.
Learn how to stalk birds - the excitement of sighting a bird may tempt you to rush in, any sudden movement or a step too close, the bird takes off. Moving slowly is crucial and also using the environment to your advantage. Trees, bushes, even man-made structures can provide cover, allowing you to get closer without being noticed.
Take time to learn about your subject - understanding the birds you wish to photograph can greatly boost the quality of your shots. A knowledge of their habits, habitats, and behaviors are highly required. This will help you to know where you’re likely to find them and what they might do next. You’ll develop an almost intuitive sense of when a bird is going to fly.
My Project
Lewa-Borana Landscape (LBL) has over 490 bird species and using the pointers above, I have been able to develop a bird’s photo evidence database which is currently over 80%. The database helps us document the birds of LBL with a photo evidence of its presence in the Landscape. The database also serves as a reference for other birders and is also accessed by the Lewa Conservation Education Centre for the purpose of creating awareness on bird’s conservation.
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