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Behavior is passed down from one generation to another. I spent an enjoyable afternoon with an American Oystercatcher and its chick one day in Florida photographing the parent teaching its young how to catch oysters. The parent would catch one, remove the shell, and then drop it back in the surf near its baby. The baby would then grab the oyster as if it had found it (Figure 4.14). Everything the adult oystercatcher did, the youngster would imitate. The experience provided hours of entertainment and great photographs. At one point the mom flapped her wings to rid herself of extra moisture; I aimed and fired, capturing the moment (Figure 4.15). And just as she finished, I turned to see the chick doing the same thing (Figure 4.16).

Figure 4.14 A mother oystercatcher teaching her chick to hunt for oysters in the surf in Florida.

Figure 4.15 A fast shutter speed stops the spray of water in midair as an oystercatcher does a wing flap.

Figure 4.16 Learning from its mother through imitation, a juvenile oystercatcher sees its mother do a wing flap and does the same.

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Note

The more time you spend in the field, the more you learn about your subject, and the greater the chances you have of capturing unique wildlife behavior.

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Know Yourself

It may sound strange to say know yourself, but you really have to know your own limitations as well as your strong points to get the most out of your wildlife experience. If you can’t tolerate extreme cold, even when bundled up from head to toe (Figure 4.17), heading to Yellowstone in winter to photograph frosty bison (Figure 4.18) might not be the best plan of action.

Figure 4.17 A down-filled jacket and Windbloc fleece pants protect me from sub-zero temps in Churchill, Canada. Photograph by Greg Cook.

Figure 4.18 Its thick coat protects a bison from the sub-zero temperatures and blowing snow that cakes its fur.

You also need to consider how much weight you are willing and able to carry into the field and how long you are able carry it. Understanding your strength capabilities as well as weather tolerance in cold and heat, dry or humid conditions will enable you to plan your wildlife photographic adventures to locations that will yield the best opportunities for you. Your mobility will determine how far afield you can go, if you can get down on your stomach or knees to photograph small shorebirds at eye level, or whether you have to use distance and a long lens to even out the height difference of towering over small subjects.

Wildlife photography is an exercise in patience. You may have to walk great distances to find a subject, or you may have to wait for hours watching a sleeping subject before it actually does something that provides you with more than portraits. Are you prepared to put in the time required to find your subject and then wait until you get not just any shot but great shots filled with behavior and action? If so, you can get to locations that few people visit. If you aren’t able to make long treks with heavy gear, plan your adventures around locations where wildlife is accessible from the roadside or a short distance away.

Chapter Assignments

Take time to work through the assignments before you move on to best locations and seasons (Chapter 5) for finding the wildlife subjects that interest you.

Begin the Learning Process

Now is the time to begin to learn about the subjects that interest you. Start your wildlife library. Purchase your first book or DVD on a subject that is near and dear to you. Spend some time perusing the Internet in search of any and all information you can find. Become educated about one subject at a time.

Study Various Wildlife Images

Take time to look at many different wildlife images made by photographers whose work you like and respect. As you go through each photograph, try to figure out what you like or don’t like about each image. Which images appeal to you the most? Do you prefer environmental or frame-filling portraits? Is action what gets you