Do you Bird Blind???

Source: http://www.michigannature.com/kwikcamo.html for product and pricing information.

I have heard a lot about bird blinds lately from fellow bloggers who use them. Based upon the fabulous pictures they both take, I am guessing they are a great way to photograph birds who may otherwise be skittish of your presence. Birding in Maine And Country Captures if you want to see this great photography for yourself.

Anyhow, I was at the library this evening and grabbed a book on nature photography to browse through as my son studied for an exam and they had a whole chapter on bird blinds and suggestions on how to dress for nature photography. One thing they suggested was a good pair of cammies. HA! I thought to myself......I can do that. I pictured how chic I would look on the bike path with my cute cammies and matching green top along with a cammie wide brimmed hat. I would look like a nature version of GI Jane!! Yes this is definitely something I could do once the snow is melted. I picture the look on my kids faces as I leave for the morning decked in my outfit and I giggle a little. My son glances up from the book and I blush and bury my face in the book again. Must go to the second hand shop to buy some vintage cammies.

They also showed some elaborate bird blinds that I would never have thought of on my own. For instance, did you know there are some birders out there who set up bird blinds in tree branches!!!! Yes, I saw it myself in a photo. What they do is use plywood to jimmy amongst a couple of branches for a seat and then use the cammie netting to hide themselves even more. The book showed some of the incredible photos they took and I was intrigued at the possibilities. Hmmmm......How does one get the plywood into the deep woods???? And what would happen if I fell out of the tree??? Would I get cell service to call 911 and if I did what would they think of me when they found me on the ground with a camouflage sheet wrapped around me???? Perhaps not........Plus, what would fellow hikers think of me as they passed me by...........

The last one completely blew my mind it was so clever!! Most birders know how challenging taking pictures of waterfowl can be. For one thing, many times they are too far into the water and away from land for a decent photo. They are also skittish little birds who take off once they make eye contact with you. Not anymore!!! What the book suggests you do is get one of those sturdy rubber rafts that come with paddles and get out in a pond with the camouflage netting wrapped around you like the photo above! Of course you paddle to your destination before you put the netting around you and then you wait for the waterfowl to pass by and you get wonderful, up close photographs! I can hardly control my excitement thinking of the possibilities and I am beaming in eager anticipation. I can see my son looking at me with that worried look he gets when I am about to embarrass him. I start thinking of the small pond nearby that has a ton of waterfowl that I have not been able to get close enough to even identify much less photograph.

Hmmmmmmm.........I wonder if that raft I bought for the kids is still in the garage. I picture myself in this get up and remember that the pond is in the middle of two roads with lots of cars and I giggle thinking of the drivers who would pass by and see someone in a raft in the middle of a pond decked out in cammo netting with a little hole to take photos. Soon the giggling turns into uncontrolled laughter and I am crying in a library as my son sinks lower into his chair and people are giving me dirty looks. I can't stop so I run into the bathroom to compose myself some.

My son tells me he will never go to the library with me again........I think for now I will stick with the cammies. Allthough I may buy a little of the netting just in case. I have a feeling birding will be very interesting come spring......