First attempt at feeder photography

Well it worked out well for the birds but not for me. I was there, in my chair being super still. 100-400 tripod mounted, in focus on the perch, feeder lower than the perch and closer to me so as to get the bird facing me.

Titmice, Nuthatches, Finches, Sparrows, Chickadees everywhere. White breasted Nuthatch was the only bird to come to the feeder while I was within 10 feet or so. The others would come if I was farther back.

The problem is that there are trees above me and around me and they were sitting there and then coming straight to the feeder. There was no usage of the solitary perch I set up near the feeder.

Should I place the feeder station in the center of my yard away from the trees and such? Should I use a blind of some sort next time for the other birds? I'm just wondering what direction I should go in order to make this work.

Thanks everyone!

Take a wide angle photograph of today's setup and your yard. Post it here. There are many variables that contribute, and unless we can see them all, it's hard to reply in anything but generalities.

From a blind I've photographed birds on perches near my feeders from 3 feet away, just as an FYI. From 10 feet, with the right technique and setup from a blind, even some pretty careful birds can be photographed.

Kyle, this is what works for me: I've set up a blind, of sorts, in my house. Each morning I open the window (no screen) and put up a plywood sheet with a round hole in it (covered with a heavy fabric flap). I set my camera with 400mm on my tripod and wait for the birds to come for breakfast. The "feeders" I use are 3-4 foot logs, usually with branches, that I place on large feeder poles (this puts them even with the window) about 20 feet from the side of the house (out in the open, but with trees nearby). As well as drilling a hole in the bottom of the log, so it fits on the pole, I drill a groove down both sides to fill with suet. Then I position the log on the pole so that when the birds come to eat they're in profile to my camera. If you keep the groove small and refill it daily you won't see much of the suet in the shot. I get nuthatches, titmice, warblers, juncos, chickadees and even downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers. The cardinals like to land there, but eat at the other seed feeders. After a month or so, I usually can take the plywood down and just shoot out the open window.
Hope this helps.

Kyle you'll need to be patient - very patient! Birds that are very skittish one day can be remarkably bold the next... or not. Often even the shyest of species will come close to you if you're there often enough and clearly aren't a threat. But it will take time for you to earn their trust.

As for the perch placement one thing you could try is to place your feeder away from the overhanging trees and place a perch partway between their preferred shelter and the feeder. That way the birds can venture out to your perch and take a moment to check out whether it's safe to continue on. Keep in mind that you're not the only 'predator' these small birds have to watch out for, even if you can't see them. Generally speaking the lower you are on the food chain the less bold you can afford to be.

Keep trying and remember to leave the birds lots of space and an easy escape route. And did I mention patience?

Patience??



I'll keep on trying, maybe if I back on up and gradually get closer in the next couple weeks.

I'd post a photo but I broke down the setup thinking it was no good. Sorry guys!

Kyle, The location of the feeder near trees should not make any difference. My setup is near trees but I actually hang my feeder from a small hickory sapling that is placed horizonally between two trees 3 to 4 feet apart. The birds use the sapling as a landing perch and the sapling gives a natural looking perch. I drill small holes in the two trees and place peanut butter and suet in these for the woodpeckers , titmice , and chickadees. I forgot to mention how much difference a blind makes. I use the bow-hunting blinds made by Ameristep. I use the smallest one available, and the current one cost $49 from WalMart.Using a blind makes a world of difference. Set it up near your feeder for a couple of days prior to using to give birds chance to get use to it's presence. I have used this setup to shoot all the local birds, but my favorite shots have been of the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks in the Spring. Try this setup, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Good luck. Ray

So how would you use a blind like that? just close up all the windows but one, sit still and wait for them to land on your perch? Would you use a tripod or not? How far back do you need to be inside the blind in order to not be noticed by the birds?