David J Brooks wrote: > For those that do a lot of birds. you rang? :-)
> > I have a rather big yard, compared to modern subdivision lots, about a > tad over a 1/4 acre. Lots of big maple trees along the fences. > > We have birds come to the feeders in front, but if i try and get them > there, i have really bad backdrops, posts, door frames etc. shooting birds at home can be a challenge. Creating perches with better backgrounds or creating a background might help. Maybe hang a greenish painted muslin or something. It's gonna be out of focus anyway and I've heard of people getting good results. > > Would birds eventually notice if i move a few feeders to the back into > the trees. I moved some the other day, but i don't see any activity. > This would lead for what should be better shots, but maybe they are > stuck in their ways. The term "bird-brained" wasn't invented by accident. give them time, they'll find the feeders. Try moving them slowly, especially if there are object between the current location and the desired location. > We have various coloured finches and had a Cardinal, but he's not been > around for a while, and the Blue Jay is back. Lots of grey and > black/red squirrels. what are you feeding them? My yard is tiny. I live in a small townhouse and my fenced yard is only like 20 x20 ft. I have my feeders set up on a double shepherd's crook hanger outside the back fence and manage to cram in food and feeders for various types of birds. I have a suet log for woodpeckers, one feeder for sunflowers (cardinals and other big-beaked birds), peanuts for the jays and thistle seed in a mesh tube feeder for the gold finches. And a suet cage for other insect eating birds like catbirds and, unfortunately, starlings. so that I can get the most "natural" looking pictures, I've set up old branches and twigs as perches near the feeders. The idea is that the birds will land there first, then go eat, then maybe hop back to the perch. I also have a birdbath because all that eating is gonna make you thirsty! The view off my back deck has the feeders to the left, the bird bath on the inside of the fence and the perches to the right of the feeders. There is a grassy slope behind the perches which gives me a nice background. I'm only 25 feet or so to the farthest perch. And the birds don't seem to mind me standing out there in full view. The slingshot is at the ready by the back door for the frigging squirrels. My accuracy has improved in a short period (damn squirrel proof bird feeders don't work!). It's one shot, one "kill" these days (no actual killing, just a good scare). > > I sit out back a lot, and wait, but they seem to avoid me. Should i > 'camo up or is just sitting still enough. You just need to habituate them to seeing you. You can always use a blind (little tent-style blinds would work the best in a yard). > > BTW, this is how i get most of my bird shots. > > http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3755627 Nice! -- Christian http://photography.skofteland.net -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
