Copyright (C) 2016 Rewilding Europe. All rights reserved.
| Wildlife watching hides A practical guide 2.1 Users of wildlife watching hides Types of wildlife watching hides Planning and construction guide Ownership and maintenance Baiting or not, how and how not Further reading and web links 1 Case studies and analysis |
| Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. Users of wildlife watching hides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 3. Types of wildlife watching hides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4. Planning and construction guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5. Ownership and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 6. Baiting or not, how and how not . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 7. Further reading and web links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 8. Case studies and analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 9. Design drawings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63 Colofon Version 2.1 September 2014 Rewilding Europe © 2014 Text: Matthew McLuckie, Staffan Widstrand, Neil Birnie / Rewilding Europe Toernooiveld 1 All hide images copyrighted by the named source published beside the image 6525 ED Nijmegen All Wildlife images © 2014 Wild Wonders of Europe The Netherlands Cover photograph: Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of Europe info@rewildingeurope.com Design: Kristjan Jung / Rewilding Europe www.rewildingeurope.com Technical drawings: Mattias Pedersen www.facebook.com/rewildingeurope 2 |
| E R L E N D H A A R B E R G / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 1. Introduction Wildlife watching tourism is a priority enterprise accessible and comfortable, encouraging and activity within Rewilding Europe and can take attracting a wider range of people to wilderness many different shapes and forms. In Europe, and wildlife areas. First-hand experience of due to the relative shyness and low population seeing wild animals in real life also supports densities of many animal species, one of the most conservation efforts as the fear for certain large obvious methods to help visitors to have up-close carnivores usually diminishes once people have experiences of wildlife is to use wildlife watching been able to see these animals with their own hides that make safe and close encounters possible. eyes, at close distance, from a safe viewing cabin; Wildlife hides on their own will not generate many c. Protection and comfort – A hide offers good rewilding benefits. However, if they are part of a comfort and protection for viewers against well thought-out business plan, or a product used adverse weather, like low temperatures, rain, by several different companies together, they can wind, snow or direct sunlight. It also provides a be extremely useful. Imaginative, well-designed certain feeling of safety whilst watching larger and practically useful wildlife watching hides can species such as bears or wolves; help bring not only significant business for local entrepreneurs, but also finance for rewilding efforts d. Visitor management – Placing hides in and many new ways to engage a wide variety of specific locations can allow conservation area local stakeholders. managers to control, limit and canalise visitor access as well as wildlife movement; Wildlife watching hides (also known as ‘blinds’ in America) have the following advantages: e. Commercial revenue – A good hide is a nature based service asset that visitors cannot a. Undisturbed wildlife – Hides allow wildlife to easily bring along, or are not permitted to be viewed without being disrupted, harassed or do/build on their own. This makes the hide unnecessarily disturbed; concept an attractive means of generating revenue by providing extra, privileged, paid-for b. Visitor access – Visitors can view wildlife up access to attractive nature. Spending time in close. A good hide also makes that viewing more a professional wildlife watching hide is not 3 |
| with the specific types of users in mind, to ensure they make the clients happy, operate effectively and with the least impact on the environment; b. Functionality – What are the functionality requirements for these specific users? The most successful hides are not always very M A G N U S E L A N D E R / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E expensive, lavish or elegant. Simple, well planned, low profile hides that do the job well for the customer and that blend into their environment are generally the most effective. If hides are also attractive-looking, that is definitely an added advantage; c. Sensitivity to the environment – What is the aesthetic and physical impact of the hide on the natural environment? For several reasons, we generally recommend that the hide should be able to be moved so that the area can be restored. Many wildlife species tend to influence the terrain and vegetation in front of a hide, and the professional operator of the hide will want their visitors to have a fresh, pristine and natural feeling from the environment in view from the hide. This also attracts returning customer, since they STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E will have a new backdrop for their wildlife photographs the next time. This mobility has great influence on the choice of technical construction for the hide; d. Management and finance – Who is going to operate and maintain the hide – has a business plan been made to confirm that it is commercially sustainable, who will have the rights to use the hide, and when? Most important is to be clear about who will be the entrepreneur behind the operation? Just building something the tax-payer can expect the state hides without having the operating entrepreneur to provide. It is a friendly business offer, where very involved at the start of the planning process a very special service is provided to a customer usually results in problems and failure further willing to pay for it. It is one of the best ways down the line, as the design and operating plan to create local income from wildlife resources, might not fit the eventual target group; both for local entrepreneurs and landowners, which in turn is one of the best ways to solve e. Approval – Have all relevant permissions to man-and-wildlife conflict. install the hide in a certain location, especially from the land owner/manager and the relevant Key points to consider when planning to invest in authorities been secured? and build one or more hides are: Successfully designed, operated and managed a. User profile – Establish what type of user/ hides create a wonderful experience for visitors target group the hide should be designed for. and attract them to nature by making it more Mass-market tourists, small guided groups, and accessible. Poorly styled and operated hides can professional photographers all have somewhat however ruin a wilderness experience for the user different needs, expectations and functionality and also cause lasting damage to the integrity of requirements. Hides should always be designed the natural landscape. 4 |
| 2. Users of wildlife watching hides It is important to establish the type of user or target of hours. They are prepared to pay extra for high group to design a specific hide for. This will determine probabilities of seeing wildlife. Virtually all nature the design, functionality, management and eventual lovers also take pictures with their cameras/ commercial performance of the hide. Generally users mobile phones. Hides servicing these groups are can be classed into four categories: generally designed for 5-12 people either in one hide or split between two at a single location. Such General public hides are generally slightly more comfortable than dedicated photographer-specific hides and often Some “hides” are freely open to visitors of public include toilet facilities and a somewhat higher nature conservation areas. These hides are design specification. The emphasis here is more generally large structures aimed at accommodating on viewing than photographing so observation 10–20 or more people at a time. They are often is key. This means that the view from these hides very costly and mostly financed by public funding. needs to be good and the hide comfortable to be Typically they offer limited quality wildlife viewing; in. In these hides it is generally good to use the are often located too far from the wildlife and big, see-through windows of “Shoot-through-the- are not suitable for photographers (often poorly glass”. This glass should always be of the brand situated in relation to vegetation backgrounds and type detailed below, or else it can render itself and the sun, have the wrong opening hours and useless for all photographers. are frequently poorly operated and maintained). Users will typically stay in such a hide for not Hide designs for this user group can typically be much longer than 10–30 minutes depending on combined with those for nature photography the wildlife viewing and will rarely pay for a visit enthusiasts, provided that if mirror glass is used, to such a hide. We generally discourage such hides the quality of glass is the right one and can be to be built as they often create a poor experience photographed through (see technical details below). and they also risk seriously damaging business Nature photography enthusiasts opportunities for more professional wildlife watching tourism operations in that area. Hides designed for 1–5 people who are serious Nature lovers photography enthusiasts. These users have some added specific requirements: the landscape Nature lovers are typically day or overnight visitors background, the position of the sun in the morning who enjoy exploring natural areas and have limited and evening, as well as the hide generally being at requirements beyond experiencing nature. These ground level and not a tower or on a high platform, users will typically use the facility for a number unless the attraction sits at that level. STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 5 |
| These hides typically cater for 1–5 persons with a simple design and basic level of comfort as the clients may spend full days and nights and sometimes even several days in the hide. Insulation against heat and cold, beds that fold down from the back wall, heater possibilities and an added outhouse/toilet section connected at the rear of the cabin are also common features for STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E these hides. For protection when the hide is not being used, wooden shutters that cover the openings and/or windows are often installed and very useful. When raised, these shutters also protect the window and camera lenses from direct rain and snow fall. Users of these hides are willing to pay a premium price for the hide experience if there is a very good chance of wildlife appearing outside the hide. The price of the hides is directly connected to how Visibility and the possibility to take photographs often wildlife is seen from the hides and at what preferably across three sides are other preferred times of day. Typically clients should be able to see features here, sometimes also added with an the main wildlife species on at least 80% of visits observation window through the back wall of the for a successful hide. hide. Rewilding Europe strongly recommends hide Two main types of hides can be distinguished here: operators to target nature lovers and nature • “Shoot-through-the-glass” hides feature large photography enthusiasts within all rewilding mirror glass windows (c 400-500 mm high with areas. We support wildlife watching businesses top quality glass panes from specialist producers that target both these groups where possible. (noted below), and stretching almost the full High-end tourists length of the hide). The photographers can then shoot straight through the glass without • losing any sharpness quality of the image. The These are visitors that are looking for a more ‘stylish’ basic versions of these hides are typically very experience. Hides for this target group need more simple, with just a window (that can be tilted detailed design specifications, always including a a bit inwards, to reflect the sky rather than the toilet and superior levels of comfort, interior design, wildlife seeing themselves), benches or beds, and luxury and romanticism. Functionality to cater black curtains inside, for when the sun shines for overnight guests with luxurious furnishings straight in through the glass. and features, for example a reindeer rug, food and The classic, “Separate viewing windows and drink hamper with local produce and/or an indoor camera lens port holes” kind of hides instead fire-proofed wood burner. This type of hide or cabin feature a row of port holes or ‘gun ports’ for requires a more qualified operator with access to the camera lenses through the front and side the high-end tourist markets. Such a hide should walls (typically two ports per photographer) be located in a more secluded site with potential to that are lined with funnels of cloth that can be serviced (i.e. food and drink provided in a careful be strapped around the lens. These hides also and imaginative way so as to not disturb wildlife). typically have a low, panoramic double-glassed These hides are primarily for driving revenue in window running across the hide at eye-level destinations accessible to high-end tourists. when the photographer/visitor is sitting, above the ‘gun port’ shooting holes. These hides often Where the market potential allows, and where there have a bench wide enough to support ball-head also is a suitable operating partner Rewilding Europe or gimbal camera mounts – see technical is also interested in supporting the development of specifications for bench dimensions. these kinds of hides. 6 |
| 3. Types of wildlife watching hides Wildlife watching hides come in a wide range of Disadvantages materials, styles and techniques to offer different • functionality capabilities. Hides must always be Offers limited protection from rain / snow / wind/ low and high temperatures; sensitive to the local environment and culture. • Low comfort level, with no integrated services; Where possible local natural materials and styles • Whereas wildlife after a while gets used to a should be used in hide construction. Existing permanent hide, a tent hide is often seen as traditional buildings can also be used to develop something ‘new’ in the terrain, and therefore hides (For example hide 2.6). It is vitally important a bit suspicious/disturbing, especially by the when selecting a hide design to establish what type more intelligent and shy species; of hide will best suit the user, the wildlife and the • environment. These are the two general types of Because of these reasons, it is often more difficult to charge premium price for tent hide products. hides available: Examples Tent hides A good version of a pop-up tent hide is the ‘Ameristep Dog House’ (http://www.ameristep.com/ Tent hides often provide great wildlife viewing blinds/doghouse.html). It is an ‘industry standard’ experiences. They are easy to carry, set up and take tent, mainly catering for photo enthusiasts, bird down. They come at a very low cost and have very watchers and hunters. It costs approximately €130 little impact on the environment. and can be erected in three minutes, weighs 4 kilos and comes in a little backpack with no tented Advantages bottom. It has capacity for 2 photographers side • Lower physical footprint and impact on the by side with sufficient room for people to sleep in immediate nature/wilderness; close quarters either in sleeping bags or on a small Maximum flexibility and mobility; inflatable mattress. There are also many other tent • • Lightweight; • • hide brands and products. Useful for viewing unpredictable wildlife that doesn’t always stay in a single spot, for example Professional photographers are likely to have their Capercaillie leks; own tent hides, so we advise hide operators to Low cost. mainly focus on cabin hides in order to maximise STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 7 |
| Permanent hides are either completely non-movable, or built to be mobile and moved if necessary. These hides may be moved using a variety of means for example car, horse, snowmobile, ATV, forest tractor etc. Some are even built on broad runners or skis, to be pulled through boggy or snow-covered terrain. Others can be easily disassembled to be moved in sections. Generally, we recommend entrepreneurs design hides that are somehow moveable unless they are intended for very special features, for example dug into the ground. Advantages W W W. F I S K E O F OTO. S E • Higher level of comfort; • Visitors can stay in the hide for longer periods; • Commands a higher price for use; • If constructed the right way can be moveable/ mobile. Disadvantages • More complicated to design and construct; • More expensive than a tented hide; • More costly to operate and maintain; • Sometimes they can be a visual disturbance on the landscape. Examples See section 7. F LO R I A N M Ö L L E R S / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E Floating hides The idea here is to get down low and close to water fauna – water birds, beavers, otters, seals and the like. This type of innovative hide is very appreciated by water bird enthusiasts who cannot get these views of wildlife without a floating hide. This product represents a typically true added value service and is very uncommon in Europe. Two main styles can be identified: the one-person, “swimming hide” (in which the photographer/visitor is in a wetsuit their income opportunities, and only use tent or even better a dry suit in the water, and can move hides as backup or for special purposes/occasions. around with the hide by using fins, electric motors For example if access to a site is restricted and or by walking on the bottom), and the “pontoon photographers are not allowed to use their own hide” (which is a bigger, multi-person setup, typically tent hides but an operator has secured special built on a pontoon or float bridge structure, with a permission / permits to manage a tented hide. purpose-built cabin on top with shooting windows/ openings as close to the waterline as possible). The Permanent hides colder the water and the more marine the conditions or wintery the season, the better it is to consider the Permanent hides are built in many different pontoon hide. It also results in better work time/ models, materials and designs, with varying levels income ratio for the operator. The pontoon can easily of quality, comfort and cost. From advanced be towed by a boat and anchored temporarily or structures dug into the ground or even sunk semi-permanently in a certain location. Attracting into a lake, to architect-designed hides, and very the fauna could be done in various ways, especially straightforward plywood structures. Hide design by providing some food matter. The pontoon hide is depends on the area, the user target group, target definitely recommended for tourism operators in species, climate, cost and income capacity. wetland/lake/coast/river areas. 8 |
| 4. Planning and construction guide The following is a planning and construction prefer dawn and sunset light, more general guide for wildlife watching hides that aims to help tourists will often prefer just the sunset; a wildlife watching entrepreneur / operator to • Hides can be located within existing features maximise the visitor experience, attract the right of the landscape, for example camouflaged kind of customers to their operation and avoid into bushes or trees, stonewalls, hedges, in costly mistakes, both financially and for the natural depressions in the ground, integrated into areas in which they are located. historical buildings, or rock features. • Location of the hide Background view – a backdrop that is not the sky is preferred, like perhaps a forest / hill / mountain to provide a clean backdrop and not a broken Location and positioning of a hide is fundamental horizon across the image. There should not be to its effectiveness for viewing and photographing any man made structures such as power lines, wildlife. The following considerations should be houses, fences, roads, or railways in the view. taken into account when selecting a suitable hide • location. Foreground/scene setting – a clean foreground and scene setting is essential with no garbage, visible feeders or other man-made objects, and Orientation no disturbing bushes or trees that obscure the Hides should be orientated in the most suitable view from the hide. If raptors are the subject possible direction to benefit the user and enhance the and if there is no good tree for them to use experience offered. Things to think about include: for perching, it is a good idea to bring in and • Where is the sunlight coming from at the mount a good looking natural tree trunk/ times of day when wildlife is most likely to branch somewhere in front, at the proper visit the hide location (typically sunrise and distance (but not with branches visibly cut sunset). The angle of the sunrise or sunset in by saw). Views from a hide should always be key seasons should be carefully considered for natural and aesthetically good looking. the purposes of photography. If and where the shadow falls earliest should also be thought of. Wildlife In Europe, hides often face northward, giving Ensure the hide is positioned in a place where the opportunities for side light in early mornings chances of viewing wildlife are highest. Knowledge and late evenings. Facing westward is also an of the most heavily used game trails is key, and the alternative, where you get fully lit motifs in availability of water/ponds/springs are also crucial the morning and backlit motifs in the evening. factors in hotter and drier areas. These factors Photographers and wildlife enthusiasts will adapt for different species through the year. Keep STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E E R L E N D H A A R B E R G / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 9 |
| STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E in mind when the main visitor period is planned which the hides are situated. They don’t want the to be. Hides could preferably be moveable to adjust hide itself to ruin the wild feeling of the landscape. for wildlife movements and prevent unnecessary • damage to the landscape especially in wilder areas. Given it is better to design a semi mobile / non-permanent hide it is important to consider User profiling the foundations very carefully. We strongly recommend that hides are not built on a Identify the target user group / market that the concrete slab or foundation and especially not hide will service. It is essential to understand the if it is going to be situated in a core wilderness type of visitors the hide is being designed for: area. Concrete slabs easily send the wrong • General public; message, as they do not feel like true nature. • Nature lovers; If there is definitely a requirement for some • Nature photography enthusiasts; permanent foundations (underwater hides, dug • High-end tourists. down hides and drinking stations for example) these have to be designed very creatively and Exterior design sensitively so as to avoid negative visual or environmental impact, and rather be placed in Always select the hide type that does the job for buffer areas and not in core wilderness areas. the client with the least impact on your budget, the environment and wildlife. Permanent hides should • Mounting the hide on the ground could be be built preferably using sustainably sourced local done in a number of ways, depending on what materials and in local construction styles where the ground is like – on logs or on beams, or possible. with metal poles stuck into the ground. On broad skis or runners is also possible. In bogs See the Annex at the end of this folder, for some are often used long beams reaching far outside design specifications and technical drawings of a the size of the hide, some times with planks standard hide, with measures that are proven effective underneath. from a user perspective. These can of course all be adapted to fit into the local landscape, especially • through choice of wall, roof material and location. Camouflage is not an ideal material to put on the outside of a hide partly because it looks very military and can give incorrect connotations Hide users are generally very sensitive to about the hide. Traditional materials most often maintaining the wild integrity of the landscapes in look better and more organic. 10 |
| Interior design The interior design of the hide will depend on the glass hide gives by far the best general view/ type of hide, user, and purpose: visitor experience and it is also recommended • Chairs or benches to accommodate the hide for action & bird photo hides too. Here the users are important and must be included with quality of the glass is of paramount importance photographers in mind. They will be sitting and often the single biggest expense. If you for long periods of time so they must be very choose to develop this kind of hide, we strongly comfortable, for example rotating office chairs recommend that you pay for the right quality with armrests and if a bench is used something glass, for which details are provided below. If soft for the client to sit on like well-filled the glass is of poor quality then all pictures cushions covered in canvas; taken through it will be distorted or not quite “Separate viewing window and camera lens sharp enough, meaning users risk being be very port hole hide” – here a sturdy support bench unhappy. • is needed along the interior front side and • Best here are two glass brands, both Pyrolytic- under the camera lens port holes in order to coated and both with a mirror-glass effect. be able to fix the camera mounts/ball heads One is Japanese, and used by for example in holes in the bench. This support bench the ingenious and famous Hungarian plank needs to be at least 250–300 mm deep and 40–50 mm thick, going from wall to wall with support legs at an angle, either all the way down to the floor, or to a 45-degree position on the wall, preferably connected to the main vertical roof support posts. This bench then should have a set of holes drilled in J UA N C A R LO S M U Ñ OZ R O B R E D O / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E it (preferably in a “cross-shaped” form, so that the ball head can be moved back/forth and left/ right) in front of every camera position/hole, thereby allowing for all kinds of ball heads and camera supports to be screwed onto it. • Bolt screws need to be supplied, with standard ball head thread of 3/8” inch and about 100–80 mm long, preferably made in INOX or stainless steel. These should be supplied in the hide, together with a set of metal spacers and spacers made of wet room plywood of varying thickness, each with a hole in it, so that it fits for attaching many different kinds of ball heads. These bolts need wing nuts on top, or wings welded onto them, for easier handling. • Some hides have a heavy, thick and round steel plate for each lens port hole, maybe 250 mm in diameter, that is felt covered underneath and with a ball head screw in the middle. That makes it possible to slide around the camera gear on the bench, still perfectly stable. The round plate together with a beanbag. That STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E is a rock solid support. • Situated above the camera lens port holes, there then has to be a low, panoramic viewing window, with double-glass mirror glass (as to avoid condensation/fogging), at the comfortable eye-view level for an average sized user. • “Shoot-through-the-glass” technical solution, you don’t need an interior bench at all and the visitor can use their tripods instead. The mirror 11 |
| photographer and hide designer Bence Maté. That glass is called “AGC Stopsol Classic Clear 4 mm”. In Europe, it is produced in Belgium and can be purchased through several providers. The other glass is French and is used by the prize-winning and creative Spanish photographer José Ruíz. It is called “SSG Saint- Gobain REFLECTASOL”. The white light colour G R Z E G O R Z L E S N I E W S K I / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E version (5.500 k) is recommended. The glass should be cut to measure to fit the exact size you need. • A window frame in anodized steel (prevents rust) is needed for the glass window. The window needs to be able to be opened inwards within that frame, with the hinges on the bottom and two stops prepared – one with just a few centimetres opening, to give the window an angle, so that the wildlife sees only the sky reflected and not themselves, and one at 90 degrees, so that the window front can be cleaned while sitting in the hide. • A window shutter made in plywood or similar, hinged on the topside, is also needed to cover the window when the hide is not being used, or for when you need to clean the front side of the window. The shutter should preferably be adjustable up and down with a string from STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E inside the hide. • Keeping the window clean is of the outmost importance and this needs daily maintenance. Hide construction master Bence Maté uses a kitchen paper roll plus 10 % acetic acid. Raindrops on the window are a problem, so you need a long overhang of the roof, c 1000 mm.; • When sunlight shines directly in through the glass wildlife can observe you and your movements. Hides should therefore also include black curtains hanging from a stiff wire or a runner along the inner roof, with holes cut in the curtain for each photo position to fit the lens through. • The “Shoot-through-the-glass” hide is best for warmer places and seasons. If it is cold and damp outside, the single glass pane window will easily get fog/condensation on the inside if the ventilation is not very good. One way to solve this is to mount some small propeller fans beside the window, powered for example STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / R E W I L D I N G E U R O P E from a car battery or a solar panel located either on the roof of the hide or some distance away, out of sight. • For photography in this type of hide photographers will need to bring their own tripods. Therefore the interior can be quite empty except for a place to sit comfortably and maybe a small shelf right under the window to store small items. 12 |
| Further hide details: in the requirements between very hot and very • cold areas. Where it is very hot, a double roof Ventilation through at least a high out-hole with air in-between, can be considered. and low in-hole to regulate temperature; in • hot areas more ventilation is needed and don’t • Short shelves for storage; forget mosquito netting on the outside; • Wi-Fi network connectivity and electricity to make it possible to charge cameras and upload Dark coloured mosquito netting over all images; ventilation holes as light grey mosquito netting • is really difficult to look through; • Live webcam – to be considered in certain instances for PR and publicity reasons; Wildlife watching operators that focus on large • carnivores often want to have a high chimney Trap cameras can be very useful to find out the tube to stop human scent from dispersing most suitable spots where the most wildlife at ground level. These are often made of VVS move around and therefore the best places to erect a hide; plumbing pipes, connected together to create • a 4-5 metre high chimney. Don’t forget the A simple heating system. Butane gas heaters are the most common. U-bend on the top to stop rain water coming down through it. • • Overhanging roof, c 1000 mm, in order to High end tourists protect camera lens fronts and windows from Hides for this target group should include all the rain and snow; features of the ‘nature photography enthusiast Normally no shoes inside the hide as it is much hides’ but also the following: easier to keep clean that way. Keep boots and • • place. • Furnishings; Some operators put up black plastic cylinders • Suitable interior wall material; on the outside of the shutter, so that • Higher quality toilet facilities; something camera-lens-like is “poking out” • Possibilities for imaginative food/drink provision, for example a fridge. from the walls all the time, also when there is no one there. • More comfortable bed (double if possible) and planned for a couple only; rubber boots outside under a roof in a dry Factory-made hides/standard item hides The floor material surface should be silent and sound muffling. Many operators use plastic 10 • mm ground insulation mats on top of the floor. The only company that we know of today They muffle noise and keep feet warmer, but that delivers factory-built photo hides is Eero are not good if visitors want to use tripods. Kemilä, who developed these together with Kari Shelves above the window not too deep. Max Kemppainen in Finland. These are work-men 250 mm. cabin-like boxes, for max 3 photographers, that can be lifted onto location by a forest tractor. Insulated and ventilated, of good quality. Important optional extras: • • A connected, separate dry toilet facility – this should be directly connected to the hide but in Eero Kemilä a separate room. The toilet should be designed eero.kemila@leuku.fi with waste processing and any odours/smells in 08 536 1370 mind so as to not impact on the environment, 040 515 8010 the visitor experience or put off wildlife; Kivitie 5 Room for berths/beds – in narrow hides a 91700 VAALA berth/bench space can also act as a sitting • bench. Beds can also fold down nicely from the Production of factory-made hides is also a possible back wall, there is standard kit to order for this new rewilding business development opportunity. if needed; Who will become Europe’s first serious wildlife It is a good idea to have a few extra tripods with watching hide producer, catering for the explosion ball heads available for clients who didn’t bring of wildlife hides that will come from the wildlife theirs. Recommended are Gitzo, Benro and watching business gaining popularity in Europe? Manfrotto tripods, with Benro or Wimberley gimbal heads or Uniqball ball heads. • An optional feature is insulation to protect from the weather and regulate the inside temperature. This could include floor and roof insulation. There are big technical differences 13 |
| STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 5. Ownership and maintenance It is essential that all hides are operated and the wildlife. On the other hand a good standard maintained by someone who cares about them commercially viable group size is 8-12 people. and knows what they are doing! Often this may not be the same people/organisation who owns or Most of the experienced wildlife hide manages the land, although it can be if that entity entrepreneurs have several hides, either at the is experienced in wildlife tourism service provision. same place or in different places in the same An active and engaged entrepreneur is absolutely general area. If the hides are set up in different fundamental for wildlife watching hides to become sites/backgrounds/settings, then the clients tend part of a good business. to stay more nights/days and try also the next hide, and the next… The involvement of an entrepreneur/operator before designing a hide is crucially important In planning and designing any wildlife hide, we both for building the hide and then for running it very strongly recommend that the operator of and selling access to it. that hide is identified at the earliest stage possible and strongly involved in, or even better, in charge Building a hide is not difficult but filling it of the planning and design process. This could with paying clients is another thing altogether. be a local ecotourism company, a local hotelier Something to think of is also what number of or accommodation provider or a team from the people the hide can cater for. A wildlife hide should relevant hunting ground owner, as long as they generally not have more than 4-5 people in it. If have the necessary skills, ambition and experience. more, the exclusive experience feeling gets a bit lost. The operator or entrepreneur has to be responsible On top of that, more people make more noise. Less for all maintenance, cleaning, and servicing of the people tend to keep quiet enough to not disturb hides and the site. 14 |
| 6. Baiting or not, how and how not The purpose of a hide is to view wildlife up close watching tourism, it can sometimes become and therefore the ability to see wildlife from it controversial. Maybe it is because wildlife watching on a regular basis will strongly influence the long tourism is a relatively new form of business and term business success of the hide. Choosing a many people haven’t yet gotten used to it? The hide location in connection with features that reality is that today, we humans feed wildlife naturally channel or attract wildlife, for example everywhere, whether we intend to or not. Maize a permanent water source or a well-used river fields are giant feeders of wild boar. Garbage dumps crossing, can be very useful for high quality wildlife are feeders of crows, rats, gulls and many more. viewing and is strongly recommended, even more Gardens and orchards attract a host of species. so in hot and dry areas. We influence very many species and all the time. Maybe we should also look at influencing species Baiting of wildlife is a very useful practice, but in good ways? So they keep off the highway, so that can also be very controversial. There is massive less sheep are killed, or so that they become worth evidence of its efficiency in bringing in wildlife money instead of just incurring cost? up close to the viewers. Therefore baiting is being used, in one way or the other, in the majority of all In Europe, there is not a single documented case hide-based wildlife watching operations in Europe. of wildlife having been put more at risk because of Using everything from salt stones and birdseed at being used to visit feeding stations, drinking pools one end, to animal carcasses and road kills at the or any other sites set up by operators of wildlife other, in order to attract wildlife. watching or wildlife photography hides. We want to keep it that way. This is of course nothing new. Feeding winter birds in our gardens is an age-old popular tradition, while Baiting is nonetheless something to be considered feeding wildlife for wildlife management purposes very carefully and is only to be used after a good has been done for centuries and for hunting assessment of the impact, risks and benefits for purposes during millennia. Feeding wildlife is an people and the environment of baiting in the extraordinarily common practice, since millennia respective location. We mean that the following back, but somehow when it is connected to wildlife criteria are key conditions to success: STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 15 |
| • Get all necessary permits and follow the rules. • See to it that no signs of the feeding activity are visible from the hide. The Rewilding Enterprise team will be able to advise, drawing upon the experience of professional photographers and wildlife watching entrepreneurs across Europe. STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E Human introduced bait The selection of food provided as bait at wildlife photography hides needs to be decided after thorough investigation. The food needs to be as close as possible to the normal food sources available to the species concerned in the (large) area where the hides are located. For use of animal matter, a permit from the regional veterinary authorities is in most cases required. There is no general EU law currently banning the feeding of wildlife with animal matter but regional and national legislation can impose some restrictions on this. Potential ways to address this is in that case to apply for a ”pilot project” over a number of years, to test and study it, since wildlife watching in most locations and countries is a completely new industry. STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E Different kinds of bait 1. Vegetable-based products including bird seed, fruit, dried figs, dried dates, nuts – (squirrels, ermines, martens, birds); 2. Grains and maize/corn – (geese, ducks, swans and cranes, small birds, bears); 3. Salt lick and ensilage (lactic acid treated hay), hay, grain – (bison, cattle, moose, boar and deer); 4. Fish – (herons, pelicans, gulls and storks); 5. Large carcasses such as pigs, sheep, horses, cows – (vultures, eagles, bears, wolves, • In order to minimize the risk of disturbance in wolverines, jackals and foxes); both directions, the site shall be located well off 6. the track and not on, or near major hiking or birds, road kills – (bears, goshawk, eagles, biking routes, nor near frequented roads that foxes, jays); have wide public access. • 7. For hides targeting large carnivores, keep the site Honey, molasses, syrup, dog food – (Bears, badgers, foxes); at least 4 kilometres from the nearest livestock 8. grazing grounds and any inhabited house. • Small carcasses such as pigeons, hens, grouse Fruit, like apples or plums – (Bears and boar, but also risk to be very visible in the images) Keep the site clean, cleaning it either on a 9. Corn (dried). Also very visible and spreads all weekly or daily basis depending on what it over the place, does not look that good. Best looks like. Plus a very thorough clean-up at hidden in troughs out of view, or spread out least after each season. This has an important loosely. effect on the guest experience. We all want • these sites to be wonderful, natural sites, not Please note: Lynx and wild cats virtually never visit something looking like someone’s backyard or bait sites. Iberian lynx tend to hang around places garbage dump. where rabbits are released from breeding facilities. Come to a clear agreement with the landowner Almost all cats though, wild or domestic, are or land manager. attracted to flower species like Catnip and Valerian. 16 |
| 7. Further reading and web links ‘Wildlife Photography Hides in Europe’ is about A selection of experienced hide-operators and their web sites: 448 wildlife watching hides in Europe, where 71 www.hidephotography.com different operators in 18 European countries are www.josebruiz.com described, from which you can photograph in www.connylundstrom.com/en total over 340 mammal and bird species. It is a www.birdinginspain.com publication produced by “Bureau des Guides” www.norway-nature.com (The Guide Office), a not-for-profit organization www.skuanature.com/skua_nature/SKUA_NATURE.html of nature guides based in Luxemburg. You can www.sveinwik.com download it as a pdf version and it costs €21 euro, www.atnatureza.org all included. It can be ordered via publications@ www.focusonmedwild.com guidesoffice.eu www.photo-logistics.com www.wildwatchingspain.com Read more at www.bureaudesguides.eu/nl/ www.birdsafarisweden.com publicaties/wildlife-photography-hides-in- www.nordinature.se europe-nl#.U8z7eKiDQaU www.gabitour.com www.neophron.com www.naturetours.ee www.arcticmedia.fi www.viiksimo.fi www.martinselkonen.fi www.sakertour.com www.finnature.fi STA F FA N W I D ST R A N D / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 17 |
| ST E FA N O U N T E RT H I N E R / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 8. Case studies and analysis The following are a selection of wildlife watching At the end here is a section with technical drawings hide designs from different places, where we have of a couple of standard hide design solutions, trying tried to analyse positive and negative features of to weigh in the vast experience of our team from each design. Please note that we are only making about 60 different hide designs. These drawings can some broad observations based upon what we can be put in the hands of pretty much any builder, and see in the photographs included. For example, we a very good hide could be delivered. They come in do not comment on the interior if we can only different versions and with some add-ons. These see the exterior. The checklist at the foot of each will be developed further and also new styles of section ranges from green for ‘good’ and red for hides will be added. Your comments about possible ‘poor’. improvements are welcome! M A G N U S E L A N D E R / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E G R Z E G O R Z L E S N I E W S K I / W I L D WO N D E R S O F E U R O P E 18 |
| Permanent cabin hide Source: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1452017 Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Permanent structure; • Poor hide with limited consideration on the requirements of any user. Positives Negatives • Relatively discrete colours; • Concrete base; • Potentially moveable, lifting it using the hooks • Aesthetically inappropriate in the open in each corner. country; • Limited rain protection; • No covered access; • Seemingly no windows to look through – only photo holes and no cover for the cameras – wildlife can see the user. 19 |
| Permanent cabin hide Source: http://www.wildsweden.com/news/big-bear-in-front-of-hide/ Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Large hide partially built in local style; • Poor situation in unsightly landscape in front of the hide (possibly due to over baiting). Positives Negatives • Suitable photo holes and windows; • Indiscreet, non-moveable, permanent hide; • Heating furnace inside with chimney; • Aesthetically poor design; • Covered access. • Large impact on the landscape; • The wildlife, especially bears, have destroyed the immediate vegetation; • Bones and carcass remains litter the area making it unappealing for photographers. 20 |
| Cabin hide / semi mobile Source: http://www.pbase.com/image/132531171 Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Factory-built hide from Eero Kemilä from Finland. Positives Negatives • Insulated, dry, warm; • Simple workman cabin look; • Panoramic windows above the camera holes • 2-4 person capacity (this is low for the size and with reflective glass; structure of the hide); • Moveable – even without machinery; • No covered access; • Chimney to spread human smell at a higher • Roof does not cover lenses against the rain level (6 metres up); • although the flaps do. Discrete colour. 21 |
| Permanent public hide Source: http://www.virtualvisit-northernireland.com/ Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Public hide – probably in a national park; • Wildlife is too far away and the hide is too far above water for photographers; • Aesthetically OK with efforts to blend into the landscape. Positives Negatives • Grass roof – blends into landscape; • Looks a bit like a military bunker; • Wood walls – should be sourced locally and • Poor functionality and structure for sustainably ; • • photographers; Suitable for interpretation / talks with large • Large viewing holes – wildlife can see users; groups; • Viewing holes high on the wall – not suitable Covered access. for photographers; 22 • 25 metres of reeds in front of the hide; • Unlikely to generate revenue. |
| Visitor centre Source: http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/8615010.article Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Beautifully designed, publicly financed public visitors centre. Excellent example of what modern visitors centres possibly should look like; • This is NOT a hide – it functions as an observation deck; • Visitor centres can either be important for nature tourism development or extremely detrimental to it depending on how they are run. Positives Negatives • • Design elegance. Wheelchair access and nice view / interpretation possibilities; • • Limited commercial value beyond selling refreshments and souvenirs; Perfect nature tourism agency location, a hub • Unlikely to generate revenue; for visitors; • Poor functionality for photographers. Concealed entrance when viewed from ground level along the path. 23 |
| Permanent tower hide Source: Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Hunting towers in Velebit, Croatia. Hunters have very different needs and requests compared to photo enthusiasts and wildlife watchers. Hunters need the animal at a reasonable distance with a clear shot. In Eastern Europe they often use a tower to get off the ground so the animals cannot smell them easily, and so the terrain stops the bullet. These are well built tower for 1-2 people, but not ideal for photography. Positives Negatives • Reasonably comfortable to sit in; • • Visitors are protected against weather; • Use of local materials. High angle, wildlife watchers and photo enthusiasts prefer ground level; • Limited capacity; • Wildlife can see the people inside and the camera poking out; 24 • Poor rain protection for the lens; • No covered access; • Mosquitoes have easy access. |
| Permanent cabin hide / semi mobile Source: Staffan Widstrand / Wild Wonders of Europe (http://www.wild-wonders.com/) Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Classic Finnish design; • This operator has 15 hides like this in the area. All are moveable by snowmobile during winter. They usually move a couple of them each year and charge €200 – €250 per night per person; • Reasonable facilities including insulated sitting benches, simple bunk beds and biological toilet; • This is a 5–6 person hide. Positives Negatives • • Panoramic observation window at eyelevel above the photo holes; • Mobile functionality; • Rain protection from the roof; • Windows and photo holes across three directions. 25 Primitive straightforward looks. |
| Permanent cabin hide Source:http://www.spatiawildlife.com/en/willdife-photography-netrwork-of-permanent-hides/index.html Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Complimentary and sensitive to the landscape with natural colours and constructed with local materials. Positives Negatives • Ground level with low profile; • Small, limited to 2–3 persons; • Not obnoxious, although it is permanent; • Only one photo direction; • Aesthetically pleasing in the open landscape; • No covered access; • Mirror glass with separate photo holes. • Permanent construction; • Windows beside the photo holes; they would be better placed above the photo holes. 26 |
| Permanent cabin hide Source: http://www.hidephotography.com/getpage.php?pg=one_hide&hid=6 Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Dedicated photo hide with 2–3 people capacity; • The specific hides in these photos are some of the most sought after and most revenue generating hides in Europe and in our view provide one of the strongest examples of a subtle, innovative hide with minimal impact on the landscape. Positives Negatives • Discrete, low profile; • • Covered with material fitting the landscape – in this case grass; • “Shoot-through-the-window” mirror glass; • Ventilation system; • Rain cover for the lenses; • Not obnoxious, although it is permanent; • Concealed trench entrance. 27 Permanent construction. |
| Permanent cabin hide Source: http://www.hidephotography.com/ Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Professional looking ground level hide; • The specific hides in these photos are some of the most sought after and most revenue generating hides in Europe and in our view provide one of the strongest examples of a subtle, innovative hide with minimal impact on the landscape. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass; • Permanent, concrete and steel structure; • Low angle / ground level; • Orange colour too visually disturbing – • Good rain cover; although may blend well with the grass and • Grass on roof. bank in drier periods. 28 |
| Permanent hide Source: http://www.spatiawildlife.com/en/willdife-photography-netrwork-of-permanent-hides/index.html Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Using old barns, sheds, houses, stonewalls etc is a great way to camouflage hides, especially in open landscapes; • A good idea to develop a hide using an existing building or ruined stone wall with minimum impact on the local environment. Positives Negatives • • Appealing design, in, or in the same shape as traditional structures/sheds/houses; • shooting functionality. Using existing building as hide – no new impact on landscape; • Anticipated to have an awkward photo Natural temperature control. 29 |
| Permanent hide Source: http://www.kaingo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Hippo-Hide-2.jpg Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Water side hide in Africa; • Dual functionality for general public and nature lovers. Positives Negatives • Camouflaged, blends in well with the • Not comfortable; environment; • Potentially dangerous; • Covered access; • Wildlife can see the visitors: • Natural materials; • No cover for cameras if it rains. • No concrete – minimal impact on environment; • Close proximity to wildlife. 30 |
| Permanent hide Source: Wild Wonders of Europe (http://www.wild-wonders.com/) Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Stone hide for great bustards in La Serena, Extremadura, Spain; • €100 per day; • These particular hides are fully booked the entire season! Positives Negatives • It is in the right place for the wildlife; • Sandy, dusty, sand floor (bad for camera gear); • Roof is rainproof; • Very small – single person capacity with limited • Old classic stone hut used – no new photo shoot options; construction 31 • Very cold in morning, very hot during day; • Very uncomfortable; • The tin roof is very non-natural looking. |
| Permanent cabin hide Source: http://www.fotothing.com/photos/158/158bea08fd23c61922938f6e44da9f94_c67.jpg Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Typical old style photo hole in primitive hide. Positives Negatives • The swivel arm / ball head is great to use; • • The bench is reasonably thick but should be • • Very poor visibility other than through the camera; even thicker; • Very difficult for action or bird photo; There is a hole and a screw to mount the ball • Very boring for a non-photographer; head / swivel arm with; • No windows. Textile covering the camera lens. 32 |
| Visitor centre Source: http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/small-projects-part-2/ Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • General public visitor centre with limited appeal for photography enthusiasts. Positives Negatives • Wooden material (should be locally sourced); • • Variable height benches to attach cameras to; • Views across two sides; • Mirror glass. Wildlife will see you through the gaps in the wood; • Aesthetically does not blend into the landscape; • No shooting holes for cameras; • Far away and elevated position from the wildlife. 33 |
| Permanent hide Source:http://www.egnu.com/country_info/kenya/images/aberdare_003.html Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • African public hide. Positives Negatives • • The visitors are visible, but this hide is designed more for the protection of humans from the • Open side with no covering so the wildlife can see the user; wildlife; • Mosquitos will be able to enter the hide; Aesthetically well designed mat walls. • Bench far too low for any ball head arrangement and the bench prevents tripod usage. 34 |
| Permanent hide Source: Wild Wonders of Europe (http://www.wild-wonders.com/) Exterior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A top quality hide, where you shoot through the mirror glass; • Well positioned by a fish pond. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass of top quality; • • Big windows makes it suitable for the wildlife watcher and photographer; • Close to the wildlife; • Flexible in its functionality. 35 Permanent construction. Interior |
| Permanent hide Source: http://hidephotography.com/getpage.php?pg=search&sr=Egretta%20garzetta Exterior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • The interior shows good use of shelving and space for mattresses; • Top quality hide designed for low-angle photography (see next picture); • Not designed for any other user. Positives Negatives • Shelves and spacing for equipment; • No benches for sitting; • Floor mattresses. • Not aesthetically pleasing; • Built specially for photography enthusiasts. • No standing room. 36 Interior |
| Permanent hide Source:http://hidephotography.com Exterior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Top quality hide designed for low-angle photography; • Maybe not an interior design winner, but for serious photography it is great; • The mirror glass result can easily be seen here – birds 1 metre away. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass of top quality; • 2 or max 3 people capacity; • Curtain to limit the wildlife’s vision into the • Not aesthetically pleasing; hide when sun shines in; • Permanent construction. • Ground level; • Storage shelves; • Big window – full flexibility; • Built specially for photography enthusiasts. 37 Interior |
| Permanent hide Source: http://www. jensbirch.smugmug.com Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Specifically designed for photography enthusiasts; • Primitive but efficient; • Space for 1–2 photographers. Positives Negatives • • For a nature photo enthusiast a decent design and functionality; • Variable shooting level including floor level; • Heating (good in Northern or mountain No viewing panel above the camera hole makes it very difficult to follow action and birds; • A panoramic view window right across and above the shooting holes is crucially important; climates; • Not aesthetically pleasing; • Looks insulated; • The primitive feeling. • Padded chair; • The tripod-head mount arms – a creative solution that would seem to work, especially if there is a slider as well in-out on the arm. 38 |
| General public sleepover hide Source: http://www.findtripinfo.com/south-africa/mpumalanga/kruger-park-accommodation.html, http://www.safarinow.com/go/ShipandaniSleepoverHideKrugerNationalParkSANParks Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A public wildlife watching hide in South Africa; • Beds fold up against the wall to provide for comfortable overnight accommodation. Positives Negatives • Good use of local materials and design; • No reflective glass or canvas to cover user; • Mosquito mesh over flaps covering viewing • Permanent structure; hole; • Far away from the wildlife; • Study bench for attaching camera; • Angle too high for photography enthusiasts. • Well designed overnight functionality; • Comfortable; • Viewing from three sides. 39 |
| Permanent hide Source: http://www.outdoorphoto.co.za/forums/showthread.php?13216-Help-Giants-Castle Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A vulture watching hide in South Africa located next to a vulture nesting site. Positives Negatives • Unobtrusive in the landscape; • Permanent; • Concealed entrance with access from around • Concrete base; the corner; • Need to stand up to see out the window. • Constructed using local materials; • Large mirror glass viewing windows above covered camera shooting holes; • Rain protection; • Benches for securing cameras; • Wide viewing angle. 40 |
| Permanent hide Source: http://www.rukakuusamo.com Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A bear viewing hide for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. Positives Negatives • Eye-level panoramic viewing windows in mirror • Not very good looking design; glass; • Missing a bench suitable to mount camera on. • Separate canvas covered camera holes; • Two camera holes per person, four for the corner person; • Viewing from at least two angles; • Comfortable chairs. 41 |
| Permanent hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Professional hide, rightly placed by a place where bee eaters perch regularly; • A permanent construction, dug into the ground, but in a farm area, which is not purely wild anyway and there are many other houses and shacks around. A ”shoot-through the window” hide. Note the angle of the glass pane, leaning inwards, so the sky is reflected and not the motif seeing itself in the mirror glass. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • • Big windows makes it good also for the wildlife watcher; • Close, close to the subjects; • Very simple. 42 Permanent construction. |
| Mobile hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Primitive car-based hide, with army-style camo netting. Positives Negatives • Electric car = silent, less disturbing and • Not a very good shooting platform; somewhat less polluting (if it isn’t charged by a • The netting makes you partly visible inside, if dieselpowered generator…). you move your body at all; • Netting makes photography difficult, and viewing too; • Not stable, but quite shaky; • Very temporary, almost desperate solution for exceptional cases. 43 |
| Semi-mobile hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A very basic, simple schack/box for the real photo enthusiasts only; • Difficult to charge a higher price for, unless something very exceptional is a regular visitor in front of it. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • • Close, close to the subjects; • Easily moveable by hand for two people; • Probably does the job, but only for a few hours 1-2 pax only, very primitive looking, not-expensive or elegant at all. Looks ugly in a wild area; • at a time. 44 Not comfortable. |
| Permanent hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Professional hide, rightly placed by a place where bee eaters perch regularly • A permanent construction, dug into the ground, but in a farm area, which is not purely wild anyway and there are other houses and shacks around. A ”shoot-through the window” hide. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • Permanent construction; • Big windows makes it good also for the wildlife • Small size, for 1 max 2 pax. watcher; • Close, close to the subjects; • Very simple; • Quite discrete, non-obtrusive placement in the terrain. 45 |
| Mobile floating hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Boat hide. Positives Negatives • Protection from sun and rain and some wind; • • Might be efficient when it comes to sneaking Probably it doesnt really fool the wildlife, they can see straight through the netting and up on riverside wildlife. every movement; • It also limits the photographers vision and shooting capabilities, compared to an open boat; • 46 Quite uncomfortable. |
| Permanent hide Source: SKUA Nature/Ultima Frontera, Danube Delta, Romania Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Professional hide, rightly placed by a place where bee eaters perch regularly • A permanent construction, dug into the ground, but in a farm area, which is not purely wild anyway and there are many other houses and shacks around. A ”shoot-through the window” hide. Note the angle of the glass pane, leaning inwards, so the sky is reflected and not the motif seeing itself in the mirror glass. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • Permanent construction; • Big windows makes it good also for the wildlife • A bit too small, 1 maybe 2 pax. watcher; • Close, close to the subjects; • Very simple, not very obtrusive, looks elegant with the grass growth on top of the roof. 47 |
| Permanent hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Bence himself in this very simple, box-hide, at a watering station. It is dug down in the ground and built in the most cost-effective way. Positives Negatives • • Mirror glass hide (note the glass pane leaning a bit inwards); • Permanent construction, including the water dam outside, in concrete. But nothing Big window makes it better also for the nature obtrusive in a farm area; lover/wildlife watcher; • It is very hot in the late spring/summer. No • Close, close to the subjects, 4–5 metres away; ventilation more than when the window is • Very low-cost construction, still does the job open. very well, after over 10 years here; • Note the door solution and the small shelf. 48 |
| Permanent hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Another very simple, dug down box-hide, at a farm, built in the most cost-effective way. Positives Negatives • • Mirror glass hide (note the glass pane covered by the wooden shutter, now that no one is in moved. But all built in organic materials that the hide); • • will disappear eventually; Big window makes it better also for the nature • ventilation more than when the window is Close, close to the subjects, 4–5 metres away. open. Very low-cost construction, still does the job very well, after over 10 years here; • It is very hot in the late spring/summer. No lover/wildlife watcher; Nothing obtrusive-looking in a farm area; • Permanent construction that cannot be Note the door solution and the simple but good roof cover material. Roof pointing out far longer than normal houses, which protects the camera gear from rain, but also from the sun. 49 |
| Permanent tower hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A permanent hide on poles up in the air, near the (artificial) breeding sites of starlings, roller, stork and swifts. This is the only case when hides on stilts or in towers are useful: when the motif is up high, too! Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • • Big windows makes it good also for the nature Permanent construction, but it is on a farm, ten metres from the farm house; lover; • A bit too synthetic feeling, with nestboxes, • Close, close to the subjects; arranged nest platforms etc, all for the • Simple construction. images… 50 |
| Permanent tower hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A permanent hide on poles up in the air, near the (artificial) breeding sites of starlings, roller, stork and swifts; • This is the only case when hides on stilts or in towers are useful: when the motif is up high, too! Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • Permanent construction; • Big windows makes the view good also for the • A bit too synthetic feeling, with nestboxes, nature lover; • Close, close to the subjects; • It is on a farm, ten metres from the farm arranged nest platforms etc, all for the images...; • house; • Simple construction. It gets the job done! 51 Very primitive interior. |
| Permanent underwater hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • This is the entrance to a submerged underwater hide, with panorama mirror glass windows and extreme comfort; • One of the most impressive pieces of engineering when it comes to hides anywhere. You sit in a comfortable swivel chair, under the waters surface, with floor heating, air condition and photograph just right above the water level. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide with great comfort and very • Permanent construction; discreet from the outside; • Very, very expensive and difficult to build. • In an old fish pond, so not wilderness anyway; • Big windows makes the view good also for the nature lover; • Close, close to the subjects; • It is on a farm, 200 metres from the farm house; • Very advanced. Extreme possibilities for photography, very good! • Top of the line! 52 |
| Permanent underwater hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Panorama mirror glass windows and extreme comfort; • One of the most impressive pieces of engineering when it comes to hides anywhere. You sit in a comfortable swivel chair, under the waters surface, with floor heating, air condition and photograph just right above the water level. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide with great comfort and very • Permanent construction; discreet from the outside; • Very, very expensive and difficult to build. • In an old fish pond, so not wilderness anyway; • Big windows makes the view good also for the nature lover; • Close, close to the subjects; • It is on a farm, 200 metres from the farm house; • Very advanced. Extreme possibilities for photography, very good! • Top of the line! Wall matts cover the walls, to avoid noice; • See also the Uniqball ballhead mounted on the metal bar in front of the window. 53 |
| Permanent underwater hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Panorama mirror glass windows and extreme comfort; • One of the most impressive pieces of engineering when it comes to hides anywhere. You sit in a comfortable swivel chair, under the waters surface, with floor heating, air condition and photograph just right above the water level. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide with great comfort and very • Permanent construction; discreet from the outside; • Very, very expensive and difficult to build. • In an old fish pond, so not wilderness anyway; • Big windows makes the view good also for the nature lover; • Close, close to the subjects; • It is on a farm, 200 metres from the farm house; • Very advanced. Extreme possibilities for photography, very good! • Top of the line! Wall matts cover the walls, to avoid noice; • See also the Uniqball ballhead mounted on the metal bar in front of the window. • And the boom coming from the side, to hold the camera, mounted on a vertical roof-to-floor metal pillar. Also please note the Sachtler, hydraulic tripod head on the boom. A very useful Top of the line device. 54 |
| Permanent tower hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, Pusztaszer, Hungary Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A very low-cost and intelligent construction. A simple mirrorglass hide that does the job. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • Permanent construction around it; • Big windows makes it good also for the nature • Bench is very hard; lover; • No ventilation other than the window gap. • Close, close to the subjects; • Note the window pane leaning a bit inwards, to avert the mirror effect of the motif, and also bring some ventilation. The small shelf and the beanch ade from oakwood, with a leaning, padded backrest. Sitting cushions are missing, and could be brought for each visitor and then taken back with them. See also the angle of the front wall undr the window, which is leaning inward, to accomodate for photographers’ tripod legs. Also note the black curtain on a wire, , for when the sun is shing into the hide and the camera lens can be poked out through a round hole in the curtain. The ”box” is quite easily moveable. 55 |
| Permanent hide Source: ? Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A public open hide, pretty useless for nature photographers. But the ballhead solution is super good. Positives Negatives • • A great camera ballhead mount, that can be moved around on the bench. Open windows, showing the visitors in full view to the wildlife; • No windows at all, leaving the visitor exposed to the weather; • Hide is placed too high in relation to water surface; 56 • No curtains; • A really useless hide. |
| Permanent hide Source: Bence Maté Hide photography, South Africa Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • Another successful hide construction by Bence Maté, this time in south Africa. Positives Negatives • Mirror glass hide; • No beds; • Big windows makes it suiting also for the • Wheels on the floor risk creating some noice. wildlife watching nature lover; • Comfortable chairs for a half-day sejour; • For tripod users; • Floor easy to clean. 57 |
| Mobile hide Source: Jari Peltomäki/Finnature, in Liminka Finland Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A specialised black grouse hide, designed so that you can move it around from day to day, by one man, in order to get the right angle to the grouse; • Note the whole front section that comes down as you close it when you leave. Positives Negatives • Obersvation windows of mirrorglass, but • Very ugly and primitive looking; shooting is through the camera holes, two , in • For 1 or maybe 2 pax only; front, low; • Not perfect for heavy rains or really wet • Close, close to the subjects; • Very flexible; • Low cost production that does the job; • Sleeping bag and a big mattress is provided; • If in the right site, you can charge a lot for the ground. product. 58 |
| Mobile hide Source: Jari Peltomäki/Finnature, in Liminka Finland Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A specialised black grouse hide, designed so that you can move it around from day to day, by one man, in order to get the right angle to the grouse; • Note the whole front section that comes down as you close it when you leave. Positives Negatives • Obersvation windows of mirrorglass, but • Very ugly and primitive looking; shooting is through the camera holes, two, in • For 1 or maybe 2 pax only; front, low; • Not perfect for heavy rains or really wet • Close, close to the subjects; • Very flexible; • Low cost production that does the job; • Sleeping bag and a big mattress is provided; • Since it is in an excellent site, the owner can ground. charge a lot for the product, despite the low techincal level. 59 |
| Permanent hide Source: Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe Exterior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A vulture watching hide in Madzharovo, Bulgaria; • A hide that is well proven to do its job. Positives Negatives • Obersvation windows of mirrorglass, but • A bit primitive; shooting is through the camera holes; • . • Observation windows at eye level; • Local materials that blend well in the landscape. 60 Interior |
| Floating pontoon hide Source: Staffan Widstrand / Arctic Safaris Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A floating pontoon hide in Båtsfjord, Varanger, Norway; • Specialised for arctic ducks that gather here in the winter; • One of the most economically successful floating hides in Europe; • Anchored at both ends in a place where the arctic ducks gather every day (a fish cleaning factory that dumps the leftovers in the same place). Positives Negatives • Does the job; • Pretty ugly and primitive looking; • Low shooting angle thanks to the very low • The pontoon is not balanced, uncomfortable camera holes; • for the photographers; Provides some shelter against adverse • For 2 or maybe 3 pax only; weather. • Very urban surroundings. 61 |
| Floating pontoon hide Source: Staffan Widstrand / Arctic Safaris Exterior Interior General public Nature lovers Photography enthusiasts High-end tourists General comments • A floating pontoon hide in Båtsfjord, Varanger, Norway; • Specialised for arctic ducks that gather here in the winter; • One of the most economically successful floating hides in Europe; • Anchored at both ends in a place where the arctic ducks gather every day (a fish cleaning factory that dumps the leftovers in the same place). Positives Negatives • Does the job; • Pretty ugly and primitive looking; • Low shooting angle thanks to the very low • The pontoon is not balanced, uncomfortable camera holes; • for the photographers; Provides some shelter against adverse • For 2 or maybe 3 pax only; weather. • Very urban surroundings. 62 |
| Rewilding Europe is working to make Europe a wilder Place With much more space for wildlife, wilderness and natural processes. Bringing back the variety of life for all of us to enjoy, and exploring new ways for people to earn a fair living from the wild. Any initiative aiming to rewild a continent will need a lot of support. We need your support in this effort. We would love if you, in one way or another, would like to become part of this groundbreaking initiative. You are invited to be a part of Making Europe a Wilder Place! www.rewildingeurope.com Rewilding Europe • Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED Nijmegen, The Netherlands • info@rewildingeurope.com 78 |
