What is in-hand media?

In-hand media is any photo or video of a wild bird which is being restrained by a person.


Birds should not be handled unless it is necessary for their protection or study. In many regions, government-issued scientific permits are required by law to capture and handle wild birds.



The following recommendations apply nearly exclusively to trained professionals who are capturing, marking or collecting data from birds for research, or those who are observing such operations taking place under the guidance or supervision of researchers.


As the applications for video of birds in the hand are more limited and photos are most typically collected, the following guidelines refer specifically to photos.


General Tips and Recommendations

Firstly, it is most important to consider the health and wellbeing of the subject bird and ensure this care is appropriately portrayed in the photo or video being uploaded. In-hand media should only be taken if it is safe to do so, and if it will not cause prolonged or undue stress to the bird. People who are trained and permitted to capture and mark birds should easily recognize signs of stress, and know proper ethical handling techniques which mitigate risk of injury to the bird. 


Whenever it is safe and feasible to collect photos of a bird that is being handled for research, these should strive to contain more detailed information than images taken of the same bird under natural conditions in the field. 



A bird in the hand may be photographed in a way in which it is visible and identifiable, but it may not necessarily be useful or appropriate for upload to Macaulay Library. For example, the image at left potentially contains less information than a photo of this bird after release. The image at right, with improved posture of the bird, a neutral background, and fuller, more even lighting, allows for closer and more complete study of the bird. 


Two different angles of the same individual Yellow Warbler


Both of the above images were taken outdoors, in the same place at the same time with the same settings on the same device: a cell phone. Yet, the image at right alone still doesn’t tell us very much about the bird, and adding a series of photos portraying the bird’s wings and tail vastly expands the types of information we can learn about this particular individual.


The following are recommendations for maximizing scientific value of images of birds in the hand. 


Which in-hand media should I collect?

Whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so, the following images should be collected at a minimum:

  • One photo each of the left and right wings, fully spread, from above
  • The bird’s tail spread, from above
  • One photo of the bird’s whole body in profile from each side, left and right


Depending on the species, plumage or time of year, other useful images to collect may include but are not limited to:

  • Underwing or undertail coverts 
  • Close-up images of the bird’s face, throat, legs, belly, mantle, or particular tracts of coverts
  • If applicable, researchers may wish to photograph unique markers like color bands, collars, patagial tags, etc. 


Handling

It is most important to consider the handling and posture of the bird in each image. While image analysis techniques will no doubt continue to improve, they will remain unable to retrieve real information from an image which was missing entirely in the first place due to poor angles, obstructions, or cropping.

  • Wings and tail should be fully spread, without handling or covering feathers. 
  • The entire bird, or part of the bird being photographed, should be in the frame.
  • The bird or part of the bird being photographed should be held level and parallel with the background, without tilting the bird side-to-side or toward or away from the camera.


Lighting

  • Whenever possible, birds in-hand should be photographed in neutral, consistent light without dappled sunlight or heavy shadows.
  • If outdoors, complete shade will often achieve the best results, but this may depend on your camera and ambient light conditions. In particularly dark environments, a supplementary light source may be needed.
  • If photographing birds indoors or using a light source, it is recommended to soften this light as much as possible and use a diffuser if a flash is needed. 


Equipment

  • Most cell phone cameras are adequate for collecting good, viable images of birds in the hand. A cell phone is also likely to be the most versatile and accessible option when considering other constraints for researchers conducting work in varying field conditions.
  • A DSLR or mirrorless camera is capable of collecting higher quality images, but more considerations need to be made to choose appropriate settings depending on the environment. 
  • A neutral background is ideal for maximizing standardization between images and also maintaining high aesthetic quality. 


Uploading in-hand media to eBird/the Macaulay Library

In-hand media should be uploaded according to the same guidelines for all other media (see Uploading Media), with the following specific considerations:

  • Remember to follow best practices for eBirding banded/ringed birds using the eBird Banding/Ringing Protocol.
  • Always apply the In-hand tag to each photo or video being uploaded (see Tagging Media for helpful tips).
  • If the bird was marked with a numbered ring or band, please enter this in the Media Notes for each photo or video uploaded.
  • In general, in-hand photos are not appropriate for upload unless they are taken in association with a scientific operation. Please do not handle wild birds without proper training and all required permits.