Shooting bird video in the early morning lets you play with several kinds of light over a short period. The warm flush that turns white birds pink. The irresistible backlit glow that passes through feathers and skin. The sparkle that happens to water at this time of day and near sunset. Although many photographers disparage backlighting, white birds, like the pelicans here, are excellent subjects for backlit photography. You can stop down the iris to avoid glare, and still capture details in the white feathers. Several different light effects were offered as the pelicans swam toward the sun.
These techniques and more are in:
"You Can't Direct The Talent. A Photographer's Guide To Bird Videography" from Raven On The Mountain Video. ravenonthemountain.com or rm4birds@yahoo.com