Does the color of the clothes you wear while birding make a difference to the birds? Do certain colors make birds more likely to be aware of you? How about your simply being there?
Bird guides are likely to tell you that soft, natural colors are best. Consider the varying shades of green, brown and tan in camo clothing often worn by hunters. Birds have far better color vision than we do. Not being obvious is a good idea.
There is no question that our behavior is a factor. Approaching too close to the bird or making an obvious or noisy approach, those are bad ideas.
Walking and moving slowly are good ideas. So is avoiding eye contact with the bird. (Predators make piercing eye contact with their targets.)
The question continues: Which is more important, color or movement?
Some years ago a friend and I visited the Alaskan village Gambell. It sits in the Bering Sea, a sanctuary for Asian birds blown east off their migration routes. These rarities come one at a time. Seeing them is the point.
My friend brought a friend. Gambell is a cold, wet place, so bring warm clothes. My friend's friend brought a snowmobile suit, red from the collar down.
On the island with us was one of North America's most accomplished birders, a man named Paul. He was with us each day as we searched the few patches of vegetation around the village. Three days passed.
