Photographer Tara Swan shares her approach to capturing birds in a respectful and responsible way. Drawing from her work at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, she offers practical tips and personal reflections on how to balance stunning wildlife photography with ethical practices – ensuring that nature remains undisturbed and protected for future generations.
Wildlife photography, particularly of birds, is both a challenging and immensely rewarding pursuit. There’s a unique thrill in waiting for the perfect moment – a bird turning just the right way, posing gracefully on a favourite log, or getting so close that you feel like you could reach out and touch them. These moments are what keep me going when I photograph birds for Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, a charitable organisation dedicated to conservation. As a centre that relies on visitors, grants, and passionate advocates for wildlife, what better way to support conservation than by capturing birds doing what they do best – looking fabulous and completely at home in their natural habitats?
