Bird Migration Photography: Struttin’ Their Stuff

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It’s almost spring and bird migration photography season is just around the corner.  From a bird photography perspective, it’s our birds most showy time of year.  Males strut their stuff trying to attract females.  The females get their attitude on and choose which one gets lucky.  

From there, it’a sweet family before pushing the babies out of their nest. Then, they’re off and flying back down to their winter havens.  

In photographing birds, we want images that fly from our camera to our screen.  They’re colorful.  They’ve got attitude.  And, they are working hard!  So we need to always be mindful not to disrupt their program.  They need their energy to survive.  

There are many elements that make bird images come together.  Our care for the environment.  Focusing on our subjects in settings that frame, not distract.  Using the right settings to get sharp, defined images.  

All of these require lighting, bird knowledge, shooting techniques and timing. Timing of the day, timing in pressing the shutter and being in the right spot at the right time.

There is one other very important element if you’re looking for variety and close access:  location. If you’re not a birding expert, that’s aok. If you go where birding experts go, you’ll hear and see first hand what they see. Look for the crowds and you’ll find your birds.

Bird Migration Photography Locations

To find birding photography hotspots in your area, research and knowledge is within reach. Between your local Audubon Society, wildlife refuge areas, Department of Natural Resources, eBird and others, you’ll locate birds in their native habitats.

In Michigan and Ohio, many hot pockets of spring bird activity emerge in parks, woods and natural areas. As in other states, State Parks, Conservancy lands, Department of Natural Resources see thousands of birders and nature photographers flocks to their areas.

Northern Ohio

Within a short drive from southeast Michigan, three birding meccas thrive. Warblers? Let’s talk about photographing warblers.

A huge number of warblers pass through this area and also nest here. It’s not unusual to be so close that you have too much lens. Many stay high, but many hop on branches at eye and even ground level.

These Ohio locations include Magee Marsh, Black Swamp Observatory and a recent addition of Howard Marsh. Wetlands, marshes, deciduous trees, large supplies of water support habitats for migrating and nesting birds.

I’ve been visiting these areas for years and have never left with an empty memory card. However, during the Biggest Week in American birding, the boardwalks are filled with birders on the weekends. Toting big lenses and tripods on the boardwalks is not for the faint of heart.

When I’m on the boardwalks, I rely on my 300mm prime with a 1.4 Teleconverter. The dirt paths, areas long the woods provide ample viewing and room for my tripod and larger lens.

Tawas State Park, Tawas Michigan

Tawas, also dubbed the Cape Cod of the Midwest, hosts the Tawas Birding Festival. Like our locations in Ohio, warblers thrive. One of my personal favorites though is the Scarlet Tanagers. The past three visits I saw at least 10 to 15 males within several feet.

Each year birders and photographers see warblers, tanagers, orioles, thrashers, shorebirds, bobolinks and many others.

As a bird photographer, this area is one of my favorites. The wide dirt pathway provides easy viewing and shooting access. Plus, there’s room for your tripod and long lens.

Lighthouse West Trail, Leelanau County

Throughout Leelanau County, protected Leelanau Conservancy lands celebrate everything that makes this area so special. The native natural resources attract colorful, migratory and nesting birds.

As the area is remote from large cities you won’t find large crowds. A large crowd here is when the Conservancy offers docent guided bird and nature walks for locals and visitors.

My favorite Leelanau Conservancy property? Lighthouse West Trail. Maybe it’s because my bird photography got its jump start here. Outside of the tiny fact, the Convervancy’s Lighthouse West Trail’s diversity of warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, grosbeaks and many others flourish from the area’s native habitat.

Bird Migration Photography: Time of Year

In the midwest, we’re lucky to live along the migration flyway. In late April, May and June our migrating birds decorate the tress and fills the woods with songs. Some stay throughout the summer. May and June offer the most diversity and bright colors from the breeding plumage. Other birds reside here year round as in our bald eagle below.

Photography Tips

My recommendation for a focal distance is a minimum of 300mm in tighter areas and longer if you’re shooting from a distance. As birds move quickly, a fast shutter speed of 1/1000 and higher may be needed if they’re very active. When photographing birds, an aperture of f/8 or f/9 shows a smaller bird’s details while keeping the background soft. If larger birds (such as the eagle above) are close, an f/10, f/11 or f/13 may be needed to capture all of the birds details.

On bright sunny days, I shoot in Aperture Priority. On dull, low-lit situations I may (not always) shift to Manual Mode and set my aperture, shutter speed and put ISO on Auto. When I do the latter, I shift back to Aperture off and on to compare images.

When photographing birds, it’s a fast pace. Take a breather to recheck your work. It’s better to readjust in the field than have regrets in post processing.

It’s March. This means we’re about 60 days away from great opportunities to photographing migrating birds. Get ready and go!

Related reading: Photographing Songbirds Singing