Every bird photographer knows that patience and preparation are key to getting great shots. But sometimes that just isn’t enough. Maybe, after weeks of searching, you’ve found that Belted Kingfisher’s perch—yet no matter how carefully you approach, the skittish bird catches sight of you and flees. The solution is to go undercover with the help of a portable blind. Portable blinds conceal you and your gear, allowing you to get close to the objects of your affection without spooking them. Some, such as the hides highlighted here, blend into the environment. Others don’t pretend to be natural camouflage but still do the trick. “I do work a lot from my car,” says photographer Melissa Groo. “I’ll park on a dirt road in forest, or a parking lot where there are Killdeer nesting in the gravel. Sometimes I’ll even get in my car in my driveway to photograph the birds in the yard.” Whichever option suits your fancy, make sure to set up before the sun rises for...