Use of a flash...

[jcothron]

I know a lot of you use a flash in bird photography, especially as fill light and/or for a catchlight. The question may seem silly.. but don't you startle the birds when you use it? Does it limit you to that "one" shot? Assuming it spooks them, do they get over it quickly? lol

There have been times I've wanted to use one for some fill light, but I don't want to scare them away either.

[T.D.]

I know a lot of you use a flash in bird photography, especially as fill light and/or for a catchlight. The question may seem silly.. but don't you startle the birds when you use it? Does it limit you to that "one" shot? Assuming it spooks them, do they get over it quickly? lol

There have been times I've wanted to use one for some fill light, but I don't want to scare them away either.

They don't seem to mind. I've been told by zookeepers that they think of it as lightning and not something to worry about.

[BradM]

I haven't found a bird that it bothers from eagles to chickadees to green or blue herons, they just ignore you and go on with their business.

I recall one time 5 or 6 photographers on a bank all shooting long glass on tripods and flash all popping off a green heron 40' away that was rapidly capturing and eating frogs, the only ones bothered by the flash were those of us shooting, the others flash would pop during your exposure ruining the shot.

[scot079]

Funny you should mention eagle and chickadees BradM, i've had both of those species notice my flash...the chickadees would be startled by the flash and fly away and the eagles would look directly at me after a flash, like WTF are you doing? HAHA

But these were Maryland gangster birds so it may be different out West :-)