By Howard Moo Young, Contributor 
'The Jamaican Oriole'. It took about two months of preparation in trying to capture this image. - Photo By Stuart Lacy
JAMAICA MIGHT not be blessed with much wildlife, but it is certainly home to many species of birds, with habitats from the mountains to the sea, and even visitors from overseas.
You don't have to travel far to come across these feathery friends. By far the best way to start photographing birds is to begin on home ground with subjects that are easily accessible. Most gardens, for example, are likely to be visited by a constant stream of small birds, while parks like Hope Gardens and Castleton Gardens are homes to some of the larger and more exotic species. You'll even find waterfowl nesting in the lily ponds next to the Hope Zoo. The peacocks and flamingos are kept out-of-doors and can be easily photographed. Check out their mating season to capture their vibrant colours.
Other places where water birds can be found in their natural surroundings include the swamps and shores of Hellshire and Portmore, the marshes of the Black River and the lagoons of Parrottee Bay in St. Elizabeth. Other species can be found in the hilly interiors. As you leave Six Miles towards Ferry, giant egrets are sometimes spotted in the swamps to the left on the Mandela Highway. Just about anywhere there's a fishing beach, you'll find seagulls, pelicans and frigate birds hovering above, waiting for the remains of fish.
There are many individuals who privately keep and sometimes breed birds as a hobby. These bird fanciers have become an excellent source for good specimens, and with permission, you can even capture close-up images of these exotic macaws and other species.
Serenity Fishing & Wildlife Sanctuary offers great opportunities for nature photography, including the world's largest bird, the ostrich, and other animals and reptiles. The BirdLife Club also offers membership to anyone wishing to learn more about bird life in Jamaica. Many members have become excellent bird photographers in their own right and are a great source for images.
Stuart Lacy, an ardent bird watcher and photographer, recalled his recent experience of how he visited Hope Gardens the morning after 'Ivan' to see how the flock of parrots that he had been observing fared through that night. To his surprise, every one was accounted for.
CAMERA AND EQUIPMENT
Before you even attempt to look at any bird in the wild through your 35mm SLR camera, you must start with at least a 300mm telephoto lens, any length up to 600mm, the longer the better. You will not be able to distinguish the bird from the leaves using a 50mm lens. The built-in through-the-lens TTL metering system is extremely useful. Do not even leave your home without a sturdy tripod to anchor your camera with telephoto lens in position. Monopods may give you a much greater freedom of movement albeit at the expense of some stability. Fast film and shutter speed can help in such situations.
HOW BIRDS SEE
What seems good camouflage to human senses may not necessarily be effective for that which you are trying to conceal yourself from. Most birds have better eyesight than humans, particularly in their ability to see detail at a distance. The eyes of a hawk, for example, can take in eight times more than human eyes, sometimes you can see a chicken hawk gliding around, or a kestrel waiting to swoop down on the unsuspecting lizard on a post, or ground lizard on your driveway. On the whole, birds respond more to movement than any other visual stimulus. The owl can see you clearly at night, you will have to use a flash to capture this nocturnal bird.
Wildlife bird photography relies heavily on fieldcraft locating the specimen and a suitable position to shoot, in most cases unobserved. Just like those who pride themselves in shooting these helpless feathered creatures with bullets, stealth and fast reactions are often needed, together with good camera handling technique. Spend time in advance on research and planning, to find good locations at the right time of year. If you are going in the field to shoot, dress inconspicuously or, better still , use camouflage. Wear drab clothing and avoid anything that might glint in the sunlight. Don't shout, move easily and don't run or jump. Try not to attract attention.
The best shooting spots are right along the road, harbour or beach for water birds, and the best photography time is usually very early or late in the afternoon. Birds can turn up at any pond, side trail or beach along the road, sometimes you might have to park your car and walk some distance, try and stay in the background. If you are close enough, armed with a long telephoto lens, you might not even have to leave the car. Just turn off the engine to reduce vibration and use the open car window for support, the birds are used to automobiles.
LEARN
Try and learn about the birds you want to capture on film or digital. Learn their habits, their favourite nectar, berries, habitat, before you try to shoot them. Identify their singing, those on the ground, those that like fruit and those that go crazy over seeds. Get to know their colours as in the canaries that like to 'pair up'. If you want woodpeckers, you'll have to go and get them working on their tree holes. There are several books available on Jamaican birds including useful information you might need to know.
Practice makes perfect, so always load up with twice the amount of film needed (this excludes the digital camera). I prefer the precise moment of pressing the shutter of my conventional camera to capture the exact action I need to show. Travel with a lot of patience, snacks and water, put your cellphones on silent and watch your step, as the 'snap' of one dried branch can send your subject on its way. Remember you have no limits as to how many birds you can shoot, in and out of season!
* Howard Moo Young is an advertising/graphic design/
photography consultant with over 40 years of experience. Email: mooimages@yahoo.com.
