Bird feeders

[dewmuw]

I know a few forum members are birders and some are bird feeders, but I just wondered how many of us feed the birds in our garden.

I have 7 feeders - almost exclusively sunflower seeds, but also some niger seed. I attract a lot of blue tits, great tits, green finches, gold finches to the feeders. I also ground feed and attract collared doves, wood pigeons, dunnocks, blackbirds, grey wagtails, sparrows.

Have you had any particular successes or failures? I found that live food (meal worms) didn't do anything for the birds, but suet cake sent the tits crazy. (careful:D)

FOR UK MEMBERS ONLY - anyone had any success finding owls? I have spent a lot of time looking and only ever caught a glimpse of a barn owl. I was rewarded with a great view of both green and greater spotted woodpeckers this weekend - but no owls!

[PacAce]

I have 3 feeder stations in my back yard. Two are filled with sunflower seeds and the 3rd is filled with niger exclusively for the goldfinches (they have to hang upside down to get at them which only goldfinches can do although I've seen one house finch try...had me rolling on the floor laughing at his stubborn and persistent attempts :lol: ...I should post a picture of it trying if I can find it...).

The birds I've seen in the backyard, in part due to the feeders are: house finches, goldfinches, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, white-breated nuthatches, downy woodpecker, robins, crows, starlings, common grackles, mourning doves, house sparrows, cardinals, northern mockingbird, cedar waxwings, dark-eyed juncos, cowbirds. And in part due to the birds that come to my backyard: a red-tailed hawk and a sharp-shinned hawk.

And, of course, the pesky gray squirrels and an occassional chipmunk. :mrgreen:

[dewmuw]

The goldfinches love the niger seed. I have planted teasels which they also love.

Forgot to mention the sparrowhawk that rushes in every now and then and grabs a bird! :confused:

Sounds like a real managerie you have there - I've never heard of juncos, cowbirds or house finches!

[Scottes]

I've got 5 feeders up - black sunflower, niger, suet, peanuts, and generic bird seed which goes suprisingly well. I've seen everything that PacAce has seen minus the hawks and waxwings.

The nuthatches and woodpeckers love the suet and peanuts. Everyone munches the generic seed and sunflower. The chickadees try everything but mainly eat the sunflower. The niger is hit or miss - sometimes it disappears quickly, other times it will be there for a while.

I want to try some fresh fruit this spring and see what happens.

[PacAce]

I've got 5 feeders up - black sunflower, niger, suet, peanuts, and generic bird seed which goes suprisingly well. I've seen everything that PacAce has seen minus the hawks and waxwings.

The nuthatches and woodpeckers love the suet and peanuts. Everyone munches the generic seed and sunflower. The chickadees try everything but mainly eat the sunflower. The niger is hit or miss - sometimes it disappears quickly, other times it will be there for a while.

I want to try some fresh fruit this spring and see what happens.
I tried the sliced fruits (apples and oranges) last year with the hope of attracting some orioles but haven't had any luck yet. I'll try again come spring. I've been trying to attract humming birds, too, but I've given up on that since I haven't had any success after two years of trying.

[musthavemuzk]

hmmm
since this is about birds i will ask how did you learn so much about birds?
is this the only place you shoot birds?
do you do the nature/birdwatch thing? watching and or shooting?

reason i ask is amongst the beginner and advanced photo classes i am taking in the next couple months there is a basic bird class. not a bird photo class, but to learn a bit about birds. and was curious if it would be worth my time and money to take this?
as i figure it is another photo op to put into the mix.

Monty

[Scottes]

In the Photography Forum there's a link on Wildlife Photography Tips. It's an assortment of great tips from many members here, and also has a list of books that I've found worthwhile.

If you're interested in birdfeeding/photo opportunities also do a search for "superfeeder" - several of us have made SuperFeeders and we get some great shots from them.

Combine the above stuff with some general Internet searches for birdfeeding and you should have plenty of info...


Now, in perspective... I spent several months reading and testing and shooting. I've built 7 different SuperFeeders over the months. As a result I'm not half bad when it comes to bird photography. A basic bird class could cut the time spent substantially - but the experience of getting out there and trying is what will do you the most good.

[musthavemuzk]

hmmmm

interesting indeed

so do you only shoot birds? or is that just one of many things you shoot?

thanx for the info

Monty

[chris.bailey]

Got about 10 feeders of various sorts and half a dozen nest boxes. Blue Tits, Great Tits, Gold Finch, Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Tee Creepers, a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Wrens, Dunnock, Green Finch and Chaffinch and a very cheeky squirrel. Had Yellowhammer last year but not this. I focus largely on the tits (Oh matron) which is what the nest boxes are for.

Regularly see Barn Owls and Little Owls but only at dawn and dusk so no real photo ops.

[Scottes]

so do you only shoot birds? or is that just one of many things you shoot?
I shoot mostly birds (mostly wild, some feeder-based), other wild animals, butterflies, then a smattering each of nature macro, landscapes, and my pets. Probably 1/2 to 2/3 is birds.

[PacAce]

hmmm
since this is about birds i will ask how did you learn so much about birds?
is this the only place you shoot birds?
do you do the nature/birdwatch thing? watching and or shooting?

reason i ask is amongst the beginner and advanced photo classes i am taking in the next couple months there is a basic bird class. not a bird photo class, but to learn a bit about birds. and was curious if it would be worth my time and money to take this?
as i figure it is another photo op to put into the mix.

Monty
In my case, most of the things I learned about birds come from watching nature shows on TV and reading books about them. And a couple of bird ID books is indispensable.

As much fun as it is to shoot birds at the feeder in your backyard, it's much more fun when you go out looking for them in their natural environment and habitat.

I'm not a bird watcher, per se. I don't go out looking for birds with my binoculars for the sole purpose of finding them, IDing them and putting a tick mark on a bird list. However, I do enjoy watching them simply because they are birds. And I like to photograph them, too.

I think that bird class you were talking about would be worthwhile to attend. If you plan to photograph birds, the more you know about them, the better your chances will be of capturing a good photograph of them.

And lastly, no, birds are not my only subject. I also like to photograph other forms of wild life, planes and racing cars, landscapes and travel pictures, and a few other things.

[robertwgross]

I could be wrong here, but I think some of us here are photographers first and birders a distant second or third.

I seldom paid close attention to the birds last year, partly because I did not have any decent "bird lens". I had a long one that was not sharp enough. Finally, last year, I got a sharp lens for birding, and I started to find the local spots to go after them (in fact, I just got home from there just now).

Birders are a different type of human. They are often out to put a check mark on a list, so some of them drive furiously from spot to spot when news is posted about some interesting bird sighting nearby. There is only a tiny bit of that in me. I'm much more interested in getting the best bird photo rather than producing the fullest list. If the bird photo is to document some species that is unusual, then that is OK, but what I really like to get is something with good color composition. Some people may use a term like "bird brains", but I like to capture a bird's face with expression. You generally only get into that with a rather long lens (400 or 500mm) for average size wild birds.

---Bob Gross---

[Scottes]

Yeah, I am definitely not a "birder" in any sense. I still chuckle at "bufflehead" among others, and rarely attempt to ID a bird until I compare the picture to other pictures in bird guides. There are several birds on my "list of birds to get" but maybe a dozen out of 9,000+.

However, birding books and groups have some of the best info, there's no doubt about it. There are only 3 (that I know about) bird photography books but thousands of birding books. And the birding books hold the good info, like habitat and habits. Knowing bird habitats and habits will most definitely help you get good bird photographs.

[RJSorensen]

I am like Bob . . . Little Birds were under my radar, until I got here and found out about such things as the Super Feeder 9000, etc. et al. Now I have a 'bunch' of bird books to name my catch . . . but I am a shooter first and a birder down there somewhere. If it moves I will shot it, if it don't move I'll find a way to make it move.

[robertwgross]

A year or two ago, if I had my camera out for some wildflower shots, and then some gray bird flew up and perched next to me, I would have practically ignored it. "Just another gray bird."

Now, I might be out for the same wildflowers, and some gray bird flies up and perches near me. I will think "Mockingbird, maybe." Then I will swing around and get the bird photo. I'll finish up on the flowers, then get home and study the bird photo with my Sibley book open. I seldom try to identify any bird in the field, and I'm carrying so much camera gear that I don't want to weigh myself down even more with a bird book.

There is a place where about twenty owls are roosting in one tree. The birders from about four counties drive there to view the owls. But it is about 80 miles from me, and I am not too crazy about driving that far just to shoot owl photos. If they were Great Gray Owls, that might be different.

I'll just wait until I am heading down to Belmondo's place for the Canon convention.

---Bob Gross---

[dewmuw]

Interesting responses guys. I am definitely not a 'twitcher' (do they call them taht in the US?) but I do love seeing them in the garden. Having said that I have spent time up on the moors watching Hen Harriers at dusk! :)

[PacAce]

The goldfinches love the niger seed. I have planted teasels which they also love.

Forgot to mention the sparrowhawk that rushes in every now and then and grabs a bird! :confused:

Sounds like a real managerie you have there - I've never heard of juncos, cowbirds or house finches!
I don't have a good picture of a junco but RJSorensen does:

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58413&highlight=junco

But I do have pictures of the other birds you've never heard of which I'd like to share with you. The first is a brow-headed cowbird and the second is a house finch making out like a goldfinch. :lol:

[PacAce]

Interesting responses guys. I am definitely not a 'twitcher' (do they call them taht in the US?) but I do love seeing them in the garden. Having said that I have spent time up on the moors watching Hen Harriers at dusk! :)
And here's a better look at the house finch next to a goldfinch.

Now, I've never heard of a hen harrier. Do you have a picture of one you can share with us? :)

[chris.bailey]

Thats not a Goldfinch this is

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/25339489.jpg

:lol

and did someone mention tit

http://www.pbase.com/chris_bailey/image/30865077.jpg

[dewmuw]

Nice shots Leo and Chris.

Chris, you're right - that is a gold finch! :) Funny how we have the same names but the birds are very different. I'll have to be honest, I've always wondered why 'our' gold finch wasn't called a red headed finch!

Leo, I don't have a picture but here is a link.

http://www.geog.nottingham.ac.uk/~michele/harrier.htm

I spent a few nights watching over the Hen Harrier roost as a volunteer. They are a very rare bird and only 8 pairs managed to breed in the UK in 2004. All at the site I am involved with. They are under threat from egg collectors and the like. They also spend the winter on the marshes near where I live and I have spotted them there a few times.

My G3 simply isn't up to birding - but I am saving for something with a bit more clout! I dabbled with digi-scoping but could never get decent results.

When I look at you pictures of the owls I am envious. Although to get the same species I would have to travel to Norway for the most 'local' population! :D

[musthavemuzk]

interesting info.
shooting birds would be another subject for myself.

Monty

[PacAce]

Damian, thanks for the link to the hen harrier. I kind of thought that it might be a raptor but I wasn't sure until I went to the link.

Chris, I guess that's the reason the official name of our goldfinsh is the American Goldfinch. :) But I do agree with Damian about maybe calling your goldfinch the red-headed (gold)finch. :lol:

[Solo175]

I am a bird feeder. Right now I am seeing mostly sparrows cause it's winter. I will get Magpies and one winter I even had Prairie chickens in the back yard. This picture that I am posting is not very good but it is of a goldfinch feeding a baby Magpie. I understand these birds will drop their eggs in someone elses' nest for another bird to raise. Go figure ;) .

[dewmuw]

Damian, thanks for the link to the hen harrier. I kind of thought that it might be a raptor but I wasn't sure until I went to the link.

Chris, I guess that's the reason the official name of our goldfinsh is the American Goldfinch. :) But I do agree with Damian about maybe calling your goldfinch the red-headed (gold)finch. :lol:

The Hen Harrier is really very rare. The male is a wonderful pale grey/blue colour while the female is a dull brown!! I was lucky enough to spend quite some time at their roost site and will be doing my turn again in the Spring.

I wonder if you have any chickadee pictures - I think they might be the birds we called tits.

[dewmuw]

I am a bird feeder. Right now I am seeing mostly sparrows cause it's winter. I will get Magpies and one winter I even had Prairie chickens in the back yard. This picture that I am posting is not very good but it is of a goldfinch feeding a baby Magpie. I understand these birds will drop their eggs in someone elses' nest for another bird to raise. Go figure ;) .

I have heard that cuckoos do this but never magpies - where are you living. Maybe this is another case were we call the same bird different things?

Nice shot - that 'baby' looks about twice the size of the parent. :shock:

[PacAce]

The Hen Harrier is really very rare. The male is a wonderful pale grey/blue colour while the female is a dull brown!! I was lucky enough to spend quite some time at their roost site and will be doing my turn again in the Spring.

I wonder if you have any chickadee pictures - I think they might be the birds we called tits.
Here's a picture of the black-capped chickadee. And the 2nd picture is that of a titmouse. I wonder if the titmouse could be closer to your tit.

[dewmuw]

Leo, the chickadee looks quite a lot like one of our tits, but a bit washed out!

http://www.workingforwildlife.org.uk/fun/misc/greattit.htm

[Solo175]

Thanks dewmuw

I live in Canada across the pond. I used to live on your side though when I was little.
The Magpies are a big bird when full grown and look nothing like this chick. They are a scavenger and I have seen them raiding other nests :mad: .
If I ever get a picture of one, I will post it up.
Here is another of Mom and Baby in action. I need the post processing practice :o .

[PacAce]

Leo, the chickadee looks quite a lot like one of our tits, but a bit washed out!

http://www.workingforwildlife.org.uk/fun/misc/greattit.htm
I think you're right about the chickadee and the tit looking so much alike. I'll have to check my Sibley's bird books to see if they are related to each other in any way (when I get home tonight).

[PacAce]

I am a bird feeder. Right now I am seeing mostly sparrows cause it's winter. I will get Magpies and one winter I even had Prairie chickens in the back yard. This picture that I am posting is not very good but it is of a goldfinch feeding a baby Magpie. I understand these birds will drop their eggs in someone elses' nest for another bird to raise. Go figure ;) .
Solo, I wonder if you are not confusing the Magpie for the cowbird. I know the cowbirds exhibit this behavior of laying eggs in other bird's nests. From what I have determined, the magpies build their own nests. So I was just curious.

[Solo175]

PacAce
You've got me doing homework. Looked up Magpies and Cowbirds on the internet and it seems that is closer to what it was (Cowbird).
I guess my source of the story is a little confused.