All birds have what can be called a "scare distance" i.e. the distance at which they will take flight due to the approach of a person. For a robin this is typically three or four yards. For a magpie or a jay will be a much greater distance; perhaps thirty yards or more. With all species this distance tends to be reduced during the nesting season or if food is scarce and they are eating something. Recently we have seen a couple of female goosanders, birds that typically fly when you get to within twenty or so yards, joining in with mallards (a bird with a short scare distance) and feeding really close to people. So close that I could fill the frame with the bird using the 24-200mm lens that was on my camera. I haven't been able to do this with goosanders before. I wonder what has made them so "tame".
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon Z 5
