The Perils of Amateur Bird Photography & How Many Blurry Birds Can You ID?

Sometimes it’s attributed to the Heisenberg principle or the Observer effect but there’s a scientific law that goes something like this- an observer can ultimately have an effect on the subject they’re observing. I found that out the hard way when I tried to snap some pictures of a beautiful bunch of birds I came across.

I didn’t even intend to take the photos right off the bat. I was recently visiting some friends in Dutchess County, New York (around Red Hook, up the Hudson river from NYC) when I noticed in their backyard that they had bird feeders which were overrun with those winged little creatures. It was a dazzling display of shapes, sizes and colors, all in one spot.

I was so inspired that I borrowed a digital camera and went out there to take some photos. That’s when I learned about 'the Observer Effect.' Even creeping out there quietly and discreetly, all the birds flew away as soon as I even remotely approached. Ultimately, the only way I could take the photos was by waiting patiently at one feeder and taking pictures of the birds that eventually came back to another feeder in the distance.

As you can tell by the photos here, I ain’t a pro by any stretch of the imingation. But… I was able to snap good enough photos to ID them. Well, not exactly by myself. I consulted the great Sibley Guide to Birds (which Audubon offers).

So… I thought that I’d share some photos of these little beauties with you and though the quality ain't top-notch (your eyes aren't blurry, the pictures are), I think you birders out there will be able to pick out who's who. I’m including a little cheat sheet after the photos, just so you can check up on which bird is which.

Answers:

• adult male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Northern Cardinal
• Mourning Dove
• Blue Jay
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

So, how many did you get right?  Probably much more than I did without the guide.

Are you better at snapping bird photos than I am?  You probably are & you should be entering Audubon’s Photo contest!