I do like images of a pretty bird on a perch. Images of birds in action are ever better. The two kinds of images are beautiful in a different sense. The static bird just makes for a pretty image while the action shot adds a bit of fascination and wonder. Both kinds of images have their appeal. Technically speaking, action images tend to be much more difficult to shoot. The actions happens fast, so you have to be fast. Your auto focus needs to be fast. Tracking fast moving subjects with long lenses can be hard. What is equality hard is to find the action to shoot. How can we increase our chances of seeing some action? I am not in favor of manipulating the animal behavior to get the image we want. I have seen people feeding birds in such a way that the setup guarantees that the birds will fight over the food. To me, that crosses the line.

          Birds do bath. Placing yourself near a water source highly increases your odds of seeing some action. You may want to just sit and observe for a while. We want to take notice of the general flight paths preferred by our winged friends. They tend to use the same routes. Now that you know where they come from and to where they go when they are done, we can choose where to position ourselves.

Consider your background. Get as clean a background as you possibly can. Think about the direction of the light. Based on how small your bird is and the lens you are using, it is now time to select your distance. You must also choose a spot that will not alter the bird's behavior, otherwise they will just fly another way and you will not get your shot. Besides, it is always better not to impact the wild life we photograph. Now just sit and wait.

          I took this image in Tanzania near a water hole. Just be patient and enjoy the experience. Set yourself up for success and you will be more successful.