Bird Blind Tips

[Airedale1]

I have a bird feeder outside of my bedroom window. I am hoping someone has some tips as to how to shoot with the window open and not spook the birds. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Scottes]

1) Sit out there. Read a book. Don't move much. Let them get used to you. I've had several chickadees which will eat out of my hand. (Though I'll probably have to train them again this spring.) Though I try not to get them used to humans=food, it's sometimes impossible with chickadees. I like to make a lot of noise when putting seed out, but not when I'm reading with them.

2) Pull the curtains together and put a couple of safety pins to hold them together, 6-8" apart, and stick the lens through.

3) Make a "lens hood" from a carpet tube or some rolled-up construction paper. Mount it in a way that it moves with the wind. Leave it there forever.

4) Read another book with them. :-)

5) Build a SuperFeeder. They'll love you for it, and you'll love them.

6) A birdbath with water dropping is great, and I've heard that a mister is also good. Anything to attract them, really, and keep them happy while you're reading with them.

[Onwuma]

I am into nature observation and tracking quite a bit, and photography seemed to me like a good way to observe nature more fully. In my experience, i have found the best way to get birds to trust you is to do exactly as Scottes said. Go out and be with them. Set up a bird feeder and sit about 10 yards from it until the birds start to trust you and feed from it. The next day, sit under it, then remove the feeder and simply lay on the ground with some feed on your belly or in your hands and wait for them to feed from it. (If you do place it on your belly, try not to giggle when they finally come.) It also helps to be in a relaxed mood, and trying to think in terms of helping the birds, and not tricking them. For some reason they seem to be able to sense a persons intentions, and if you are tense or don't respect them, they can tell.

[Airedale1]

Thanks for the tips, much appreciated. BTW Scott, what exactly is a SuperFeeder?

[Scottes]

BTW Scott, what exactly is a SuperFeeder?

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=39558&highlight=superfeeder

[Airedale1]

Scott, thanks again.