This story was initially printed in March 2019.
As I dug by a couple of decade of wildlife images, I used to be stunned to see what number of totally different animals I had been fortunate sufficient to {photograph} whereas exploring Maine — and the great recollections dredged up by these photos.
I’d practically forgotten in regards to the beaver that I watched carry wooden throughout a pond in Aroostook County, and the new child fawn I spied ambling throughout a subject close to Moosehead Lake. Then there was the time I visited Jap Egg Rock, an island coated with nesting puffins, and the boat experience throughout which I discovered myself surrounded by a pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins. All of this in Maine.
Wanting again by these photographs, I felt extraordinarily lucky. I’m on no account knowledgeable wildlife photographer. My tools and data is inferior to those that can confidently declare that title. Nevertheless, I’ve discovered a factor or two through the years about photographing wildlife in Maine, as an novice.
In order winter melts into spring, if you happen to’re enthusiastic about choosing up a digital camera and exploring nature, listed here are a couple of suggestions that I hope will enable you to alongside.
Table of Contents
Begin small
I imply this figuratively and actually. To begin with, don’t get caught up in the truth that you may not have the very best tools or areas to seek out wildlife. Digital camera tools is pricey. For most individuals, it takes a little bit of saving and cut price looking to improve. And in the case of areas, I’ve discovered that fascinating creatures can typically be discovered proper in your yard, or in a metropolis park. One in every of my favourite locations to {photograph} birds is in a small park proper by a serious procuring middle and freeway. So that you don’t must go on large street journeys to seek out wildlife.
One other solution to begin small is by photographing small issues, corresponding to flowers, mushrooms, bees, beetles, moths and butterflies. In truth, if you happen to could be stealthy sufficient to {photograph} butterflies, then you definately gained’t have any downside with birds. One of these images typically includes using a macro lens, which isn’t significantly costly in comparison with different lenses. You would additionally attempt utilizing your telephone digital camera, which ought to be fantastic for capturing photos of the bigger objects of the “small world,” corresponding to mushrooms.
Cease shifting
When trying to find one thing, it’s pure to need to transfer round and look in lots of locations, however when trying to find wild animals, it’s typically more practical to seek out a great place, then wait — or at the very least transfer slowly. Motion and sounds shortly alert and scare away many creatures; nonetheless, if you happen to simply sit nonetheless, you may be stunned at what you’ll see. I used to be as soon as resting whereas taking a hike, sitting within the snow consuming a granola bar, when a squirrel got here up and sat a couple of foot away on a log. It perched there, chewing the seeds out of a pinecone, unaware of my presence. You may think about how startled the animal was once I finally needed to transfer.
Strive a tripod
I don’t use a tripod — but. I simply don’t need to lug it round. Most of my wildlife images is completed throughout hikes. However I’ve heard from extra skilled photographers that utilizing a tripod can actually assist with readability of photos, particularly when you have a bent to shake. Tripods are additionally useful for holding up and aiming giant cameras and lenses, that are fairly heavy.
Be a part of somebody who’s extra skilled
Once I first began stepping into wildlife images, I used to be fortunate sufficient to fulfill an area wildlife photographer, Sharon, who invited me to go on plenty of outings along with her, together with a quest to discover a snowy owl at an area enterprise park and a visit to see pin-tailed geese gathered in a thawed part of a close-by river. She taught me many issues about the place to seek out native wildlife 12 months spherical. She additionally taught me a factor or two about my digital camera settings.
To seek out different wildlife photographers, each skilled and novice, I counsel becoming a member of on-line communities, such because the Fb group MAINE Birds. There are additionally native outing teams which you could be part of on web sites like meetup.com.
Discover water
All kinds of creatures are interested in water, whether or not it’s rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes, estuaries or the ocean. Subsequently, visiting these locations will doubtless enhance your possibilities of seeing animals. That’s one cause I like canoeing. It’s normally an important alternative to see wildlife. For instance, once I canoe on a lake close to my residence, I typically see bald eagles, loons, red-belted kingfishers, a wide range of geese and herons. Within the winter, when animals are a bit tougher to seek out, I typically drive to the coast to seek out seabirds floating offshore. Even small ponds and boggy areas will appeal to a wide range of birds and different animals, corresponding to muskrats, beavers and turtles.
Go away your canine at residence
I like spending time outdoors with my canine Oreo, however once I really need to {photograph} wildlife, I depart him at residence. Even on a leash, Oreo tends to drive away wildlife by rolling round in grass and whining once I cease for too lengthy. When in search of animals, I stroll gradual and pause typically. That tempo is simply not acceptable to Oreo, and I believe that holds true for a lot of canines.
Try fields within the spring and early summer time
Quite a lot of ground-nesting birds could be discovered singing within the fields of Maine throughout the spring and early summer time as they increase their younger, and at locations like Fields Pond Audubon Heart in Holden and Hirundo Wildlife Refuge in Previous City, fowl nesting containers scattered all through the fields appeal to a fair better number of birds. Simply make sure to keep on established trails or mowed paths so that you don’t step on eggs or child birds. One other excellent place to see birds within the spring and summer time is Saxl Park, which could be accessed from Cascade Park in Bangor. Saxl Park options a big community of mowed paths by fields, that are residence to bobolinks, one in all my favourite birds to hearken to; their name is sort of robotic.
Preserve a respectful distance from wildlife.
Harassing animals is the very last thing you need to do as a wildlife photographer. The objective is to seize a creature of their ingredient, comfy and undisturbed by your presence. Sadly, there’s no particular distance that’s “acceptable” for wildlife statement as a result of each species detects and reacts to individuals otherwise. For instance, moose have horrible eyesight, however they’ve an important sense of scent. Subsequently, if a moose is feeding on flowers whereas wading in a pond and also you’re sitting motionless on the fringe of the water, the creature could not even be capable of sense your presence. A loon, however, have a lot better eyesight and would doubtless be disturbed.
This distance concern was mentioned closely in Maine birding circles when a excessive variety of snowy owls flew right down to Maine from the Arctic a couple of winters in the past to spend the winter. A small variety of snowy owls do that yearly, however the enhance in quantity drew a number of consideration, and many individuals have been desirous to {photograph} these lovely white birds. In some locations the place snowy owls have been sighted, wildlife photographers would congregate with their cameras and tripods to seize the very best photos; nonetheless, some photographers received far too near the owls, disrupting their looking habits and scaring away their prey.
Go away No Hint supplies provide a “rule of thumb,” which states that if a wild animal can’t be coated by your thumb when your arm is outstretched in entrance of you, then it’s good to transfer farther away. This can be a good begin, nonetheless, I additionally counsel watching the animal’s actions. If they’re you, they doubtless see you. In the event that they’re edging away, you’re too shut and also needs to again away.
Credit score: Aislinn Sarnacki / BDN
