Whenever someone asks me about Bird photography and where to begin, I always suggest walking around their neighborhood and using your phones to take images and videos. This exercise allows anyone to get a feel of looking for Birds and documenting them without spending a lot of money on camera gear and travel expenses.
By the end of the day, they would probably have a good gauge if being out in the sun looking for Birds all day is something that tickles their fancy. They might also have at least two Bird species in their images: the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (“Maya”) and the Yellow-Vented Bulbul (“Purak”).
Surprisingly though, I find the latter more common than the former.
MORE COMMON THAN THE MAYA
The Yellow-Vented Bulbul lives in almost every habitat imaginable in the Philippines: urban settlements, lowland forests, near the lakes and beaches, and even in high elevation areas.
It is this remarkable resilience and adaptability that makes them so successful. I find that they still prefer places where trees or shrubs are abundant, though, where they feed on Insects, fruits and berries.
I noticed that Mayas, on the other hand, tend to avoid being within or near forested areas, preferring the security of human settlement. This is why I believe the Yellow-Vented Bulbul is more common, despite the Maya being prevalent in most cities across the country.
Some people think that since they are very common, especially in urban areas, they would probably make good animal companions. I have seen Yellow-Vented Bulbuls being caught and sold in small cages near churches. Just like any wild Bird, though, they generally do not do well in captivity and are best left alone to be enjoyed in the wild.
If you’re really determined to enjoy their company, it is a better idea to place a Bird bath in your garden to invite these Birds for a quick drink or swim, especially during summer time.
Just like any wild Bird, Yellow-Vented Bulbuls generally do not do well in captivity and are best left alone to be enjoyed in the wild.
BEGINNER-FRIENDLY BULBUL
The Yellow-Vented Bulbul is one of the first Birds I have photographed when I took up Bird photography as a hobby.
I remember chasing this Bird around near my in-laws’ house in Cainta just to get a clear photo. They are the perfect beginner’s Bird to photograph as they are not too small, are easy to track, are commonly found probably anywhere in the country, and are pretty acquainted with humans.
Seeing them around is a good indication that the place is well-planted with trees and shrubs.
WANT TO TAKE GOOD PHOTOS OF THE YELLOW-VENTED BULBUL?
Here are a few things you can do.
TAKE VIDEOS BEFORE PHOTOS
A camera phone is basically all you need to document a Yellow-Vented Bulbul in the wild. For starters, I recommend that you take videos instead of photos as this allows you to find the Bird, keep them in frame, and document them without worrying too much about your camera settings.
Once you get the hang of it and would like more of a challenge, you start taking photos.
USE A 300MM FOCAL LENGTH
For those using more professional cameras, a focal length of 300mm or more would be sufficient to photograph them.
Once these Birds decide to perch on a branch, they usually hang out a bit longer than other, more skittish Birds, giving you more time to compose your shots.
EXPERIMENT AND EVALUATE
In my case, seeing a Yellow-Vented Bulbul is always a welcome opportunity to test a new lens, a firmware update on my camera, a change in my shooting style, or just take a better photo than the one I already have.
I also take the time to re-evaluate how I approach the Birds and see if there are things I can improve on.
The Yellow-Vented Bulbul is found all over Southeast Asia and is currently listed as being of Least Concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
