How do you find these....

[ArcticEd]

To all of the regular posters who seem to have a never-ending supply of incredible bird pictures - how do you find them? I've spent the past several weekends walking 4+ miles each (quietly & slowly, stopping often) and have only seen a few birds in passing. Some of you continuously post beautiful hawk, osprey, and other pictures as if they're waiting for you on the back porch - what do you do to get them?

Do you pick a spot & wait, do you put out some type of attractant (seeds, etc), do you have a blind of some type, etc. I've gotten lucky a few times but on most occasions I walk away without touching the shutter button. I've read about the habitats & habits of birds I'd like to capture (owls, hawks, other birds of prey) but never seem to make it.

If there are "standard" tips one might provide a newbie, it would make a great sticky.

TIA

[canonloader]

Find other people in your area who photograph birds. Go to the Forest Service offices and ask them. Join a Bird Watchers club or join a newsletter. Go to Refuges. Your in Florida, ask some of the guys here where to go. Being there you have more opportunities than anyone else in this country.

Personally, I hate walking, and wouldn't attempt to carry a heavy camera, lens and tripod very far. Luckily, you can drive to most places birds are found, or near to them, and either shoot from the car window or set up a blind. Eagles catch fish or ducks and will hang out at garbage dumps to scavenge. Ospreys only catch fish as far as I know. Owls hang out in deep woods but it's unlikely you will ever spot one unless you already know where they are.

For other birds, plan where to put feeders in your own yard where you can shoot from, like a window in the house or porch, then put up some sticks near the feeders for the little birds to land on and you have a clear shot at with the camera on a tripod. You might have to put seeds out in the open so the birds see them from the air, but eventually they will find the feeders and then they are hooked and you'll have a steady parade of them to shoot.

Anyway, that's what I did. ;)

[ArcticEd]

Thanks Mitch - I look forward to taking pictures half of your quality some day...

[hTr]

Ed

I'm not sure Walking 4 miles looking for birds is a bad Idea, but I can say for myself I would rather spend more time in a good area with a pair of Binoculars studing where to walk. I find very few good shots are taken from chasing birds. Find a vantage point where you can see a large area that the kind of birds frequent. Like Mitch said ask around Farmers, Mailmen, Wardens, biologists, Audobon or Park Rangers. You will still need to do your homework to get a Shooting location with Light and wind and the subjects.

I hope this helps

Good Luck

gary

[Mturnbo]

Location, location, location. Find where the best habitat is for the birds you're looking for then pick a good spot , conceal yourself and wait. You'll find that your automobile is also a very good blind.

[Papaw]

Mitch has excellent points. I can't remember the member who had the idea of attaching a limb with a branch or two to the front bumper of his truck and putting seed on the hood. His idea works great but between that and my feeders my wild seed expense is approaching the cost of a new lens.

[canonloader]

I can't remember the member who had the idea of attaching a limb with a branch or two to the front bumper of his truck and putting seed on the hood.
Raises hand... :p

Here's that thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=261439). :)

[Papaw]

Hey Mitch - it was you. Great brain fart.

[Reyno]

Try these areas in your area Tia.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/images/Default.cfm?Region=Northeast
http://www.floridastateparks.org/images/Default.cfm?Region=Central
Or you might wanna check the local wetlands in your area. If you'd like to, drive down to the Space Coast and you'll find a lot of what you're looking for. Best of Luck.

[ngannet]

Go here (http://birdingonthe.net/birdmail.html) and click on the Florida links, that will help you find birds in your area. Florida should be plentiful in wildlife. Anywhere near water is a good bet, as water attracts an abundance of birds, be they predator or prey. Ospreys especially like it, as they are 'fish hawks', eating exclusively fish. Eagles also love fish. You'd be hard pressed to not find egrets and herons near water. And along the coast of Florida, you should be able to see some great seabirds.

[sjaycee]

walk to a good spot, stop, settle down, have your camera set for the kind of shot you are hoping for, and wait......let the birds come to you, and they will
Stephen

[ArcticEd]

Thanks everyone - great information I hope to put to use soon. There are several nice spots around here (UNF, Hanna park, Timucuan Preserve, etc) where I've seen red shoulders, ospreys, an owl, cormorants & such but I never seem to get anywhere close to them like others do.

I'd have to clean my windshield before trying the truck branch idea!

[zacker]

youre in florida and cant find birds??? lol head out into the glades or into any of the parks there... there are so many birds down there.. a good spot is any of the rivers along the tamiami... osprey, turkey vulturs, herons, spoon bills, wood storks, Ibis, and all the assorted small birds there are. Do the "Loop" road in Big Cypress at dawn or dusk when all the birds leave / come back.. youll fill a 1 gig card in minutes!! lol

[zacker]

rent a big white lens... like the 500 L... that should get ya closer!!

[Blue Deuce]

This a real helpful link http://floridabirdingtrail.com/. They publish little guides for the geographic regions which are better then what the site offers. Edit: Under the faq you can find the guides in pdf format. It is better though to request them in booklet form so to keep with you.

From Thursday through Sunday this week there is a big birding festival in St. Augustine headquartered out of the ampitheatre. http://getaway4florida.com/bird_festival_2007/ Lots of field trips, seminars, workshops, exhibits etc. This would be a good place to start networking with folks from your area. I will be there taking a few classes to improve my photography. Good luck.

Look at my signature if you wish to rent a big lens.

[zacker]

spent a week in the pan handle a few years ago... in Alligator Point. there were the regular birds there in the swamps and lakes. a good place was at Wakula Springs..i forget the town it was in though...google it. good for gators too! take the boat tour.. its worth it.