A bird hide is a shelter, often camouflaged

Camouflage

Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...

, that is used to observe wildlife

Wildlife

Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....

, especially birds, at close quarters. Although hides were once built chiefly as hunting

Hunting

Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...

 aids, they are now commonly found in parks and wetlands for the use of bird watchers

Birdwatching

Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...

, ornithologists

Ornithology

Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...

 and other observers who do not want to disturb wildlife as it is being observed.

A typical bird hide resembles a garden shed

Shed

A shed is typically a simple, single-storey structure in a back garden or on an allotment that is used for storage, hobbies, or as a workshop....

, with small openings, shutters, or windows built into at least one side to enable observation.

Variant types of bird hide include:

• the tower hide, which has multiple storeys and allows observations over large areas
• the bird blind, which is a screen similar to one wall of a typical hide, with or without a roof for shelter
• the machan, a covered platform erected to observe birds and wildlife in high trees or on cliffs, particularly in India where it was originally used by tiger-hunters.http://web.archive.org/web/20091027111333/http://www.geocities.com/rs_suresh/article.html

File:BirdhideCorsDyfi-01s.jpg|
File:BirdhideCorsDyfi-02s.jpg|
File:Birdwatching bird hide blind.jpg|
File:Camouflaged hide.jpg|

External links

• Birds Australia Information Sheet No.8