monopod problems sort of

[gez]

my problem is that when im out with the bigma & the mono attatched i scare everything away !!!. some may say cant be. but it is true i think the birds see me coming see the mono & think GUN fly away. if im walking the dog or going to work etc no probs. but with this set up ive not even got a pic of the common blackbird.
must add this is when im walking about & not in sit & wait mode!.
does anyone else havce this prob ?...cheers gez

[nightshade]

I used to use a long lense on a shoulderpod and it did spook wildlife,
I dyed a crepe bandage with tea, coffee and greenfood dye in a
camouflage pattern and draped it around to break up the outline
after it had dried (a piece of bought scrim is good)

[Ollie]

I carry my bigma around attached to my tripod. I don't carry it over the shoulder though I use the strap that came with the bigma and have this around my neck and then the bigma sits just above waist height on me. The strap takes some of the weight and the tripod some, depending on what angle you carry the tripod at. I don't find this scares wildlife. I do dress to suit though usually a pair of camouflage trousers and jacket and a dark green peaked cap, (handy for keeping the sun out the eyes when it manages to shine anyway)
Roger

[gez]

cheers. i do dress in full camo gear most of the time, & iam always changing the way i carry the gear about. what really proves it is the monopod for me is. a stretch of stream a few hundred yrds long where i have fed ducks weekly for about 2 yrs... when they see me they fly toward me. looking for food !!!. but now i have the lens/monopod...they fly AWAY lol...this is not a one off either, & magpies they see me a mile of & there long gone. cant wait for warmer bright days of work so i can sit & hide.lol...
think i will modify a green gaiter i have for the lens & try to keep the mono short till the very moment i need it...cheers gez

[Ollie]

Maybe the ducks just need a little time to get used to the monopod gez, as for Magpies, I can't get anywhere near them either, still haven't managed a decent photo of one in around six months trying
Roger

[paulthomas]

Originally Posted by gez

cheers. i do dress in full camo gear most of the time, & iam always changing the way i carry the gear about. what really proves it is the monopod for me is. a stretch of stream a few hundred yrds long where i have fed ducks weekly for about 2 yrs... when they see me they fly toward me. looking for food !!!. but now i have the lens/monopod...they fly AWAY lol...this is not a one off either, & magpies they see me a mile of & there long gone. cant wait for warmer bright days of work so i can sit & hide.lol...
think i will modify a green gaiter i have for the lens & try to keep the mono short till the very moment i need it...cheers gez

I assume your monopod is silver like mine. There should be a Government health warning stamped on them:- "Danger: This product can serious spook wildlife" I've put cammo tape on the top section of mine. The other thing which might be a factor is how you approach the wildlife. It's easy to be a bit too eager to get within camera range of your subject.

[yorky]

Over many years, I've come to realise that wildlife will mistake other things for a gun. If you want to try a test with a walking stick, wait until a pigeoan or any corvid comes within range and then raise the stick to your shoulder. They will react axactly as they do when seeing a gun raised ie, vere away.
However, the best advice that I can pass on was given to me by an old countryman many years ago, it is this.
"If you want to see wildlife, then find a quiet place and sit still and let the wildlife come to you because you'll see nothing if you go chasing it." Which could explain why a kingfisher will perch on a fisherman's rod at times!

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by yorky

Over many years, I've come to realise that wildlife will mistake other things for a gun. If you want to try a test with a walking stick, wait until a pigeoan or any corvid comes within range and then raise the stick to your shoulder. They will react axactly as they do when seeing a gun raised ie, vere away.
However, the best advice that I can pass on was given to me by an old countryman many years ago, it is this.
"If you want to see wildlife, then find a quiet place and sit still and let the wildlife come to you because you'll see nothing if you go chasing it." Which could explain why a kingfisher will perch on a fisherman's rod at times!

Good advice as well yorky. When I'm out in the field if I find a spot where the birds seem to be fairly active it's surprising how close they will eventually come if you just sit or stand still for long enough.
Roger

[gez]

my monopod is black..lol.. today i was out with xmas turkey scraps. & i just sat hid & waited & i got some good pics of seagulls. including i think a great black backed gull?.. just as it was getting fun.. my battery starts to flash...just my luck...but hey i know ive a hell of a lot to learn.. happy new yr folks ...gez

[glsammy]

I wouldn't go out without extra batteries, Memory cards, lens cleaners, etc.ect! As for your pod, you've got a point, but I've noticed it's more to do with your actions that put them off. The other day I was at Holme Pierrepont, I could see Redshanks by the path, taking no notice of walkers and bikers going by. As soon as someone stopped, they were off, so what's the first thing we do? We stop!
The other point raised is definitely the way to go, plonk yourself down somewhere and stay still. The birds will come back!