Feeder Set Up / Perches

[Zipline]

Now that fall is here, my whale watching season is just about over. :( My attention will now return back to the birds that visit my yard. I have a few feeders set up, but I don't feel as though I have enough perches for realistic photos. For those of you who've set up feeding stations with perches so you can get more natural shots, would you mind posting photos of them here? Just trying to plan ahead to start designing. :)

[PBeeee]

It isn't always the perches themselves but the surrounding flora that birds use that create nice natural looking photos. The chickadees don't sit on the feeder, they take a seed and retreat to the lilac bush. The jays steal a peanut and head for the crabapple. Do you already have small trees and shrubs they use? Typically, feeders are most successful when cover is provided for the birds on the perimeter. If you have cover, focus on that for photos.

[gymell]

Basically just have somewhere that the birds can perch as they're approaching your feeders. Whether this is an existing tree/shrub near the feeder, or a branch that you've set up. Here's a photo from last year - this year I've been really busy with gardening and haven't done any backyard photography.

http://www.pbase.com/gymell/image/84925126/original.jpg

From the leftmost feeder I was able to get shots like this:
http://www.pbase.com/gymell/image/84715943/original.jpg

[snowyowl13]

Here's what I do. The logs and stumps are used by the birds as they come and go to and from the feeders and make excellent photo props.

[Zipline]

Thanks guys! Some cool ideas, will have to start planning! :)

[Hikin Mike]

Somebody just posted this here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=579601

[Lester Wareham]

This is a very helpful thread.

I trick I have heard of is using a branch or log and drilling some holes in it and stuffing it with peanuts. Anyone had any success with that?

[Guerry Dalrymple]

This is a very helpful thread.

I trick I have heard of is using a branch or log and drilling some holes in it and stuffing it with peanuts. Anyone had any success with that?

We like to go to a place called The Pond at Elephant Head and shoot. They put corn, nuts and oranges in the sides of trees and in their many props around the pond which are local dried logs, limbs and cactus skeletons. We put suit in the holes in choya skeletons in the back yard. We are going to try more nuts this winter.

[foxbat]

Basically just have somewhere that the birds can perch as they're approaching your feeders. Whether this is an existing tree/shrub near the feeder, or a branch that you've set up. Here's a photo from last year - this year I've been really busy with gardening and haven't done any backyard photography.

Instead of taping the perch to the feeder a more flexible method is to buy one of those cheap and nasty $10 aluminium tripods that comes with a non-removable pan-tilt head. The plastic handle on the head is hollow allowing a sizeable branch to be jammed in to it. You can then use the adjustability of the tripod to place and angle the perch wherever the light is right.

[snowyowl13]

This is a very helpful thread.

I trick I have heard of is using a branch or log and drilling some holes in it and stuffing it with peanuts. Anyone had any success with that?
I'm planning on smearing peanut butter on a branch as a way to get some nuthatch shots.

[Preita]

I'm really intrested in this. We have finally gotten settled in our new house (#6 in 5 years O_O) and I miss my feeders. My concern is that now that we are in california we seem to have an abundance of Palm Rats from the neighboring yards. Do you think a squirel baffler would prefevent these pests too? The last thing I want is a yard infested with rats! :P just birds! :D

[Byuphoto]

I have my homemade blind and I pushed 3/4" PVC pipe in the ground, That way every few days I can change limbs
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2865694295_949aa1f6ac_o.jpg

[Booswalia]

Love the PVC pipe idea. I'm going to try that. Thanks.

[gymell]

Yeah, great idea!!

[snowyowl13]

Love the PVC pipe idea. I'm going to try that. Thanks.
I use the same sort of thing for some of my feeders. I just pound a piece of PVC into the ground and place the feeder pole in it. It allows me move feeders easily for grass cutting.