Closing in

<p>Okay. I have taken the time to learn how to track and find where they frequent to wait for the picture, but what do I do for Egrets and Herons? They fly too high up when on the way to their roost for me to be able to follow them. I used to know where their roost was, but big business has decided that they needed an 32nd subdivision, and tore down the tree, so how do I find it? If you can't or won't (due to potential ethics issues for people who won't bother to read contingent/pertinent ethics pages), how can I approach one that is out and about (fishing) without startling them (away)?</p>

<p>Peter,<br>

You need to do a little research on what national and state parks are close to you. Also try looking for your local autobon web site to find out whats happening around your area. I don't no where your located so I cannot help you there.<br>

I'm down in south Florida so there's plenty of options for me.<br>

If you serious about getting good photos of herons and egrets think about a week in the winter months down here.<br>

And you dob't even need a super tele.<br>

<a href="http://slopoki1.smugmug.com/Nature">http://slopoki1.smugmug.com/Nature</a><br>

<img src="http://slopoki1.smugmug.com/Nature/Folks-at-the-glades/DSC1217C/263129237_dmszg-M.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Hi Peter.<br>

Herons seem to vary in shyness. 90% of the time they don't let me get close, but every now and then I get one that doesn't seem to be very ski-dish. Just today I was about to get within 30 feet of a Great Blue and about 40 feet from a Green Heron. If you go down to Florida, say Ding Darling in winter, you can get head shots of herons with a 200mm lens.<br>

But like any animal that can see you the thing you want to do is not make a bee-line to the bird; get closer indirectly.<br>

As far as 'ethical issues' with herons I would suggest that you don't want to harass them to the point they can't feed or get back to their nest, I don't think you have much to worry about.</p>

<p>Same here. Two times I got within two arm's lengths of an egret (I knew where it was, but couldn't see it until then on one occasion) on the other occasion, I got a bunch of shots. Even a couple of keepers. On another occasion, I was 20 feet from Green Heron. Most times, though, I cannot get within 1.5-2 street widths of them, at best. Even when approaching them at a curve towards a tree on the other side of the road.</p>

<p>I was quite vague. When I said "they" ("where they frequent"), I was referring to the animals in general, not what I asked the question about.</p>

<p>If egrets and herons roost near you, then they feed near you. Although they move around a good bit during the day, the GBHs tend to have territories that they come back to over and over. It's usually a small pond, a lake cove or a shallow stream feeding into a lake or creek. You need to explore on foot to figure out where and you'll often surprise them, but you'll know that they were there. Once you know some of their territories, then plan on arriving pre-dawn and setting yourself up under a throw-over hide and waiting for the sun to come up. Even then, you'll usually need 300mm to 500mm.</p>

<p>I've got a state park near me with a large reservoire and several ponds and streams. There's one cove on the lake where I can drive up and shoot from my car-blind. They're used to vehicles and will often allow you to park very near.</p>

<p>Here's one shot from the car, where the 500mm was too much:</p>

<p><a title="Great blue heron poses by dcstep, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5920971864_1ff842658c_b.jpg" alt="Great blue heron poses" width="1024" height="1024" /></a></p>

<p>Look also for <a href="http://www.fws.gov/refuges/">National Wildlife Refuges</a> near you. Here in NJ, we have the <a href="http://www.fws.gov/northeast/forsythe/">Edwin B. Forsythe NWR</a>, which has an 8 mile loop road that you drive along. You can get reasonably close to the birds that are feeding/hunting near the road (you can't go off the road, though). NWRs are often a LOT less crowded than National Parks, mostly because there are few, if any, amenities.</p>

<p>Also, many NWRs have a non-profit "Friends Of" organization that can provide information on common roosting, nesting and feeding locations in their areas. They can also put you in touch with other local groups, like birding groups, who can also share local knowledge</p>

<p>If you are on the coast check a tide table for your location. I've had the best luck photographing herons during extremely low tides. The lowest tides are close to the day of new and full moons and are prime feeding periods.</p>