{"id":304419,"date":"2024-02-06T13:21:57","date_gmt":"2024-02-06T13:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/uk\/?post_type=parents&p=304419"},"modified":"2025-11-06T16:59:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:59:19","slug":"bird-photography-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"parents","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/ie\/parents\/bird-photography-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s how kids can take bird photographs like a pro"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Most children will never see a wolf pack in their local park or an otter in their nearby river. But birds? They\u2019re everywhere \u2013 and that\u2019s why bird photography for kids is an easy, creative<\/a> hobby they can really develop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not that birds are the easiest things to photograph. They\u2019re small, have faraway perches, and tend to, well, fly away. But naturalist and wildlife photographer Lucas Bustamante says that by simply being curious about the fliers, kids will increase their chances of snapping great pics. Plus, focusing on birds can help kids focus on other natural surroundings<\/a> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we activate the naturalists we have inside, we wake up senses that normally we might miss in our fast and busy lifestyles,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some top tips for helping kids snap some great shots\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start in your own space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To help kids develop patience and curiosity, begin your photographic adventures right outside your own home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe photographers are often asked questions about where we started, but we\u2019ve all started in our backyards,\u201d Bustamante says. \u201cThat\u2019s where you start training your eye. Just study the animals in your backyard and the interactions they have.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show some respect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the birds change their behaviour or seem agitated, have kids give the fliers a break for a bit. \u201cIt\u2019s crucial to know your subjects well enough to know when they feel uncomfortable,\u201d Bustamante says, adding that maintaining a comfortable distance will help birds feel unthreatened by the photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bird<\/a>
By keeping their distance, kids can capture the private lives of birds while not disturbing the wildlife, like this photograph of a Choco toucan in Ecuador<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Know before you go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before kids take their first shot, do some research together about the birds in your area and where to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cListen to bird calls, look at pics, and learn the birds you might see,\u201d says conservationist and photographer Melissa Groo. In the UK, the RSPB website<\/a> is a good place to start! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brush up on bird behaviour<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bird photography for kids isn’t just about the camera. Learning about about how certain species might act can improve their skills, too. \u201cFor instance, some birds, such as bald eagles, poop just before they take flight,\u201d Groo says. \u201cPhotographers call it \u2018lightening the load\u2019 and they know to get ready for a flight shot when they see that happen!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attract the birds \u2013 but ditch the bird calls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Encourage kids to place natural seeds or fruits that local species enjoy in their garden or on the balcony. \u201cStudy which birds are in your area and the trees they feed on,\u201d Bustamante says. \u201cIf you plant them, the birds will come to you.\u201d (Here’s our guide to bird feeding<\/a>.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catch some wind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Photographing birds in-flight is easier if kids are prepared. \u201cBirds love to take off into the wind,\u201d Groo says. \u201cPosition yourself upwind of birds if you hope to capture them taking off in flight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since capturing moving targets on camera can be tricky, Bustamante suggests practicing beforehand. \u201cTry following moving objects with your camera or phone. This will train your stability for better action pics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bird<\/a>
Standing upwind of a bird, like this ring-billed gull, can help kids photograph the in-flight aviators<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Be an early bird<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Neither you, nor your kids, might like this tip \u2013 but often the best bird shots come early in the morning, when the fliers are claiming their territories and hunting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The early morning dew attracts worms, so kids may catch breakfasting birds. After that comes their song to potential mates. \u201cIt\u2019s called the dawn chorus \u2013 and it\u2019s a fabulous thing to experience,\u201d Groo says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get some inspiration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you head off, leaf through books and magazines to find get an idea of what the professionals are doing. Even better, look at places specifically providing bird photography for kids. You could start right here, with the fabulous photos in each month\u2019s National Geographic Kids magazine<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Focus on the eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although keeping the photo sharp is key, focusing on the eyes will help a child hone in on the bird\u2019s face better. \u201cYour camera\u2019s focus point should be centred on the eyes when you press the shutter,\u201d Groo says. \u201cIt\u2019s super important for the eyes to be sharp, as that\u2019s where our own eyes go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work all the angles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having kids move to the right or left can produce a better shot than shooting the first angle they see. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn nature photography, things that are behind or in front of your subject are crucial,\u201d Bustamante says. \u201cIf things look cluttered, it can be distracting for the observer. Try moving gently around your subject (so you don\u2019t affect its behaviour) to find a cleaner background and foreground.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bird<\/a>
Instead of shooting from the centre, kids can try taking a few steps to the right or left for a more interesting angle, like this photograph of an Andean cock-of-the-rock in Ecuador<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Get the best light possible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bright sunlight can create a harsh contrast or shadows under the bird, so stick to early mornings or overcast days before the sun is high in the sky. \u201cThis is called \u2018the golden hour\u2019, but if it\u2019s overcast all day, you can shoot all day,\u201d Groo says. \u201cThe perfect day for me is sunny for an hour or two, then it gets overcast, and then it gets sunny again the last couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get the colours right<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, challenge kids to think about which conditions will best show off the birds\u2019 colour. \u201cSome birds \u2013 like European starlings or painted buntings \u2013 look better in overcast light or rain since it gives colour a saturated quality,\u201d Groo says. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll want to photograph white birds only late in the day or in overcast conditions, or they\u2019ll be bright white with no detail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bird<\/a>
Kids can experiment with taking photos at different times of day to figure out conditions that best show off the bird<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Seek out surprising spots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Think beyond wooded areas<\/a> or your back garden. \u201cThe beach or shore can be a great place to find terns fishing,\u201d Groo says. \u201cRubbish dumps can even be great places to find gulls, which are also awesome for practising your takeoff and landing shots!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look for city birds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another surprising spot to find and photograph birds can be in urban settings like parks, streetlights, or even skyscrapers. \u201cThese birds are used to people walking around and know that they don\u2019t usually pose a threat,\u201d Groo says. \u201cSo it gives you a good opportunity to stick around and see some of their natural behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch out for guest stars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Kids shouldn\u2019t be looking for only an amazing bird shot. Paying attention to the surprising harmony birds have with surrounding wildlife can create fantastic photos as well. \u201cIf you see that a bird is coming to the same spot each day, you\u2019ll notice its interaction with the other birds, bugs and animals in its environment,\u201d Bustamante says.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"bird<\/a>
Kids should be on the lookout for \u2018guest stars\u2019 when photographing birds. Here, a painted stork in Sri Lanka\u2019s Yala National Park grabs a fish breakfast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Be a storyteller<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A bird does more than just fly in the sky or perch in a tree. \u201cThere are birds fighting, birds looking for or showing off for mates, birds feeding young, or birds migrating through after they\u2019ve just flown 2,000 miles,\u201d Groo says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before kids take a shot, ask them what that bird might be doing \u2013 and what it might do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of it like a game of Grandma\u2019s Footsteps,\u201d Groo says. \u201cWhen the bird goes back to its natural behaviour and starts foraging again, creep up a few more steps.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you’ve put these bird photography for kids tips in practise, find out how to take wildlife photos like a Nat Geo pro<\/a>! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by C. M. Tomlin. Image credits: Canada goose, flying bird, wading bird \u00a9 Melissa Groo Photography; cock-of-the-rock, painted stork, toucan \u00a9 Lucas Bustamante.<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Most children will never see a wolf pack in their local park or an otter in their nearby river. But birds? They\u2019re everywhere \u2013 and that\u2019s why bird photography for kids is an easy, creative hobby they can really develop. Not that birds are the easiest things to photograph. They\u2019re small, have faraway perches, and … Continue reading Here’s how kids can take bird photographs like a pro<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":304447,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":["post-304419","parents","type-parents","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","countries-australia","countries-ireland","countries-new-zealand","countries-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to take bird photos like a pro | Parents | Nat Geo Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We talk to the expert for their top tips about bird photography for kids. 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