You are wildlife photographers or naturalists? Please behave like ones, and respect nature and its wild inhabitants. Each species has its unique behaviour, which distinguishes it to a higher or lower extent from any other species. Act as professionals and make yourself familiar with what can be expected. Be good to nature and do not forget that others after you will also want to take photos of the same bird species.
The good photograph is not only a result of a good photographic technique, heavy tele lenses and a fast camera. Very often the in-depth knowledge of the species’ behavior is of crucial importance for achieving the ‘perfect shot’. Knowing their behavior could allow us to approach the animals closer without disturbing them. This could also help us choose or predict where the bird would perch (which branch or stick), what direction it will take upon danger, where to locate ourselves for a better background and so on.
Remember that shooting ‘at any cost’ most often does not lead to the desired result. In these cases, the position of the bird looks anxious, it behaves unnaturally and in the worst-case scenario we can scare it so seriously, that it leaves the nest and abandons the eggs or fledglings. Do not forget that birds are wild creatures which take care of their offspring, protect themselves from predators, forage or drink in order to survive, while we are there to take photos only for our own pleasure or money!