cadillactaste
Member
We use a mix with the sunflower seed you mention but has feed for the mourning doves...I also use a fruit and seed mix...I also use *Bluebird nuggets*. Which the last mentioned is $4.99 per bag, per day they ate it all...it was getting expensive so I mix it two parts bluebird nuggets one part peanuts. This is what brings in the Pileated. I have thistle as well.cadillactaste wrote:
Thanks Craig...I would almost put myself in the catagory of backyard feeder photographer. Except...I find myself wanting to go out in the wee early morning hours to catch a glimpse of the blue heron flying off in a pair. Or occassionally I see a kingfisher I would like to sit and lay wait for.Hey, I'm a pretty passionate bird photographer myself. I also have fairly complete MP3s on my iPhone to help with ID. It's a lot of fun. I also do ringing expeditions to barrier islands in order to tag gulls. Mostly, though, I do Florida Wading Birds which are pretty easy as they are so large and can be slow. I've also learned how to let them let me get very close at times. I've gotten so close I can almost reach out and touch them or hand feed some of them. If I wanted, I could probably pick up eggs and put them back, but I don't believe in mollesting nests so stay back.cadillactaste wrote:
Thanks Craig!You really can't turn your camera into a birding camera, easily, unless you're talking backyard feeder birding which is very popular. With that, a simple blind could help along with locating the feeders to allow you to get closer. You can also use dead branches to move close to the feeders as photo props.
Another solution if something called digiscoping, but it's not that inexpensive. You have to buy something called a field scope then the adapters to mount your camera on the scope. You get a tremendous telephoto reach, but at the expense of a somewhat slower aperture. You really can't use it for birds in flight, but for perched, it can be amazing. Just Google Digiscoping to see what I mean.
You might be able to find an inexpensive or used field scope. Make sure you can find the adapters to use for digiscoping prior to buying though. Expensive scopes like the Nikon Edge can cost upwards to over $2000.
Here is a tutorial on digiscoping. It's for Nikon but it's the same for other brands and will give you an idea. I think the last example works for any brand point and shoot.
There are a lot of other websites on digiscoping and you can get into this at a somewhat reasonable price using your camera. You can also exceed the reach of most any DSLR and lens made. The IQ can be wonderful. Most digiscoping people use rice or bean bags instead of a tripod. They are more stable.
Otherwise, most birding people like myself, tend to use somewhat expensive DSLR cameras and very expensive lenses. It would be hard to really get serious for under around $2500 and that would be a minimalist type birding system. Many birders spend upwards of $9000 just for one lens.
If you don't mind restricting yourself to sunny days, you could barely get by with a kit costing around $800 for starters. It would be something like a Sony a57, Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i with a Sony or Nikon 55-300 or Canon 55-250 kit telephoto zoom lens. These are great for backyards or somewhat close in wild birding. As with all bird photography, the most important thing is the photographer and his/her field craft ability. That means getting close without scaring the birds.
Take care and have fun with this. Don't be daunted by the pricing. There are ways. Remember to carry a notebook for keeping a journal on what you took and buy a Sibley's book to ID your birds.
Have a great time.
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Cheers, Craig
Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile
I think for now...I'll stick with backyard birding. The Pileated Woodpecker is actually now coming to the feeder with my sitting out on the back patio. He is the one I wish to capture better... You mentioned the Canon Ti that is the Rebel right? That was also suggested to me from a friend who has the higher end as you do in products.
I have the Sibley guide...it is great! I have a few others as well. One that has a MP3 player so you can hear the birds. One I tend to pull during migration periods is my Beginners Guide to Birds by Stokes. You just find the birds by color in the book. Real simple. I picked up the Ultimate Guide to Birds of North America only for the photos inside. Lol
If you decide you wish to get into inexpensive digiscoping or DSLR, let me know. I can help put together a kit at most budget levels. The Canon Ti or Rebel (same thing) are not bad, but would not be my first choice in DSLRs for birding. They just are not the best at low light capability. For the same price range, you could buy a Nikon D5100 or D5200 which have ninja like qualities in challenging light making them somewhat better choices. Also, Nikon offers the 55-300 for around the same price as Canon's 55-250 so you get that extra range on an equivalent lens. The Nikon also has full manual override for precise focusing if twigs are in the way, a huge benefit.
For some reason Canon has dropped a couple of years behind the other complanies on imaging sensor design for their entry level and medium level DSLRs. Right now, Nikon, Sony, and Pentax are all better at this. That could change in a year if Canon plays catch-up. Who knows? I just cannot recommend them right now for situations where light gets dim or challenging as in bird photography.
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Cheers, Craig
Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile
I guess I need to decide exactly how far I wish to go before buying equipment.
We live beside a ravine and put in a decent size waterfall with a creek bed along in it. We have a good 20 birds in and around our back patio all the time. The Pileated actually would fly around from tree to tree calling. I would then go inside so he would come into eat. But decided to see if he would come in while I was out. He perched on a branch near the feeders and flew off when I grabbed the camera. But the other day...he flew in...went from the same branch to another tree...to the feeder! I sat there on my back patio with the English bulldog at my feet watching him eat. I didn't attempt to take his photo. Figured to let him come in a few times first before I try that again. The Downy woodpeckers shoot they are characters practically landing on my shoulder! The Hairy and red-bellied come in as well as a red headed woodpecker. All while I am sitting not far away. They wait in trees for a turn at the feeder. So getting them in natural habitat can be accomplished. Just they sometimes are hard to find.
That's how I did it. I actually regularly get buzzed by hummingbirds, which are laughably brave and once was attacked by a goldfinch.
The trees and the area they move across is their natural habitat just watch for them to come in from there.
The only problem is owls and hawks will come in on occasion. Also, chipmunks will clean up the seed on the ground but the squirrels will gorge and take everything they can get back to their nest.
Blackoil sunflower seeds is most popular. Birdbaths will draw in birds that normally wouldn't visit. And I noticed now at Wal*Mart, 'freeze-dried' mealworms to also attract other species that wouldn't otherwise visit.
I also put out a bluebird nest and around front is a small orchard to attract those type birds (various kinds or orioles).
So you can teach yourself to become a pretty good photographer in your own yard.
I have one platform feeder...to feed the ground feeding birds. Which the chipmunks,squirrel,raccoon,baby opossum and then the vacuum cleaner ground hog. They keep the ground under the feeders clean of debree. Though we bring in the Droll spinner at night because it is on a locking pole and not one with a baffle. So we can watch the squirrels when the platform is empty...go for a ride. But...I have a picket fence section for looks in front of it and the raccoon just lean across and pull it to them and clean house.
I'll have to share a photo of my backyard area with waterfall. I've only taken iPhone photos of it though...and bird feeding patio.
