Ask Kenn: Can I See More Birds By Wearing Camouflage?

Who’s Kenn? Merely put, Kenn is a nationwide treasure. A famend birder, creator, and conservationist, Kenn Kaufman has spent his life devoted to observing birds, studying about birds, writing about birds, and sharing the world of birds with others. With all that birdy data in his mind, he additionally acts as the sector editor for Audubon journal. So, each time now we have a chicken query stumping us across the workplace, we simply ask Kenn. And now you may, too! You probably have a chicken or birding query you want Kenn to reply, go away them on Fb or ship us an e-mail. Possibly subsequent month you may get the type of thorough, considerate, and even humorous response from Kenn we have grown so keen on through the years. —The Editors 

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Query: Does sporting camouflage (or muted colours) within the discipline really matter? Will it assist me see extra birds?

KK: Camouflage is in all places in nature. Many creatures put on colours or patterns that assist them keep away from being seen. However what about us? After we head into nature to go birding, ought to we be camouflaged as effectively? 

Birds have such eager eyesight and are so alert to actions that it’s arduous to flee their discover fully. Duck hunters and wildlife photographers could placed on full camo and conceal inside blinds. However once we’re engaged in regular birding actions, birds actually see us. Then the query turns into: Are wild birds extra alarmed by some clothes colours than by others?

Primarily based on cautious observations and scientific research, the brief reply appears to be: Sure, typically. In an Arizona canyon, hummingbird researcher Sheri Williamson noticed {that a} nesting pair of Eared Quetzals grew to become agitated each time somebody sporting shiny white got here up the path. In a winter Texas survey, some songbirds moved farther away when the observer wore an orange vest. Some research have measured the space at which birds will flush (referred to as “flight initiation distance”) when approached by individuals sporting completely different colours. In a rural space of China, birds would flush farther away when the person was wearing red than in the event that they wore black, white, or inexperienced. A forest songbird in Thailand would tolerate closer approach by camouflage-clad people than by these sporting black or orange. 

However the impact appears to fade in websites the place birds are habituated to human presence. For instance, in metropolis parks, at coastal fishing piers, or on boardwalks at fashionable wildlife refuges, birds of every kind could enable shut method, no matter what we put on. No costume code is critical for birding at such spots, and that is one purpose why these are good locations to guide discipline journeys for newcomers.

A complication is the truth that birds can see colours on the ultraviolet finish of the spectrum, colours invisible to people. What appears to be like drab to us could shine like a beacon to the avian eye. That is very true for clothes washed in detergents containing optical brighteners, which is the case for a lot of fashionable manufacturers. Severe birders could need to search out particular manufacturers that keep away from using such chemical substances.

An additional complication for vacationers: In a number of nations, it’s unlawful for civilians to put on camouflage. Until you’re very sure in regards to the legal guidelines in nations you intend to go to, it’s finest to depart camo gear at house. And for a remaining warning, keep away from being too effectively camouflaged when you take to the woods throughout searching seasons. A shiny orange cap could also be a lifesaver in that scenario.

One can assume, then, that something goes once we’re birding on the duck pond in a crowded park. However in wilder habitats, the slim proof up to now suggests we’re higher off sporting muted colours that gained’t distinction sharply with the environment. The birds will nonetheless see us, however they’ll be much less prone to fly away earlier than we see them. 

This story initially ran within the Fall 2026 difficulty. To obtain our print journal, turn into a member by making a donation today.