Watching animals without disturbing them: wind, stillness, binoculars, hides

Many mammals perceive people first by smell, then by movement and finally by sound. Our scent constantly rises from skin, hair and clothing and is carried away by the wind. If the wind is unfavourable, an animal can smell you even though you are well hidden and make no sound.

If you position yourself so that the wind blows from the observation area towards you, your scent stays behind you. That is the single most important trick in any wildlife watching. Hunters, nature photographers and nature guides all know it, which is why wind direction is always their first question.

The second part is stillness. Anyone who moves stands out, because many animals react particularly strongly to movement. Anyone who sits quietly, on the other hand, is after a while no longer perceived as a threat. Birds start singing again, smaller animals return to their normal behaviour. Binoculars then bridge the distance that has to remain undisturbed for the animals.

Checking the wind direction is simple: drop a few dry blades of grass and see where they drift. Or watch how leaves, smoke or clouds move. You can also moisten a finger and hold it up – the side that feels cool points into the wind. Remember that the wind can shift in valleys and at forest edges, especially in the morning and evening.

Choose a spot with cover. Sit in front of a tree, a bush or a rock, not on an open hilltop where your silhouette – your outline – stands out against the sky. Where there are public observation hides or viewpoints, use them. Stay on the paths.

Arrive early and quietly, ideally before dawn or dusk sets in, because many animals are most active then. Phone on silent, no rustling clothes, walk slowly and stop often. Then stay seated for at least twenty to thirty minutes and only move slowly. Raise your binoculars slowly too.

Watch the animals' behaviour. If an animal raises its head, stares at you, stops feeding or moves away, you are too close. Then withdraw slowly. Never crowd large animals and never block their escape route. Stalking large or dangerous animals is not part of this technique, and you do not watch at nests, dens or places where animals give birth.

Hunting stands and other hunting facilities are private property in many countries. Using them without permission is prohibited there, and hunting may also take place from them. During hunts, avoid signposted areas and wear clearly visible clothing.

If you are out at dusk or dawn, carry a headlamp and know your way back. The walk home in the dark often takes longer than expected. A dog is best left at home for observation trips, or kept on a short lead.

The best exercise is a regular sit spot. Find a quiet place – it can be in your own garden or a park – and go back to it again and again. Sit quietly and watch what happens. Over time you recognise patterns: who passes when, how do the birds react when a cat appears?

Many protected areas offer observation huts or towers. They are built so that animals are not disturbed, and they are the best choice when it comes to rare or sensitive species. There you can also practise focusing your binoculars properly in peace.

Expect to see nothing quite often. That is part of it. Patience is a nature watcher's most important skill. When you leave, wait until the animals have moved away or leave in a direction that does not disturb them – and leave no trace and no litter.

The Leave No Trace principles call for observing wildlife from a distance and not following it. Binoculars and patience are exactly the tools that make this possible. The less disturbed an animal is, the more natural the behaviour you see.

This entry gives no species-specific minimum distances, because they depend on species, area and season. Where such rules exist, you will find them at the local protected-area administration or wildlife authority.