Feeding question

Having just purchased the Canon 600 II, I'm learning more about birding. I've always enjoyed it. I've had feeders in my yard for a long time.

I usually stay on my deck about 20-30 feet from three feeders.

My question is: is it okay to seal off the rear facing ports so I get better vantage shots? It sure does make expensive food last a lot longer. But with large black birds eating, are they just intimidating the smaller birds?

I also put up a humming bird feeder and they were there within one day. I haven't covered any of those openings but am considering it.

In the winter, that seems kind of cruel, but in the summer - why not? You might get other interesting photos by placing some artificial perches near the feeders. A launching pad for them, if you will. Maybe you can get capture them flying from your perch to one of those back openings. There are other threads describing what kind of perches folks have put together.

FWIW MDJAK, I think you'll find over time that images of birds on feeders will grow old and you'll strive for "cleaner" captures. I agree with and subscribe to the added perch approach. I might also suggest you find a way to add perches as close as possible to your photographic position to achieve the best detail possible in your images. That way it doesn't matter how many feeder positions are available as the feeders are used solely to attract more birds. Good luck in your pursuit but be warned....it becomes very addictive very fast!

Seal the rear ports, no problem. Consider building a more natural looking feeding operation. Bore holes in a log, putty the holes with suet. Dig a trough in a horizontal log, place seed in the trough. Put up a 'bubbler', a water feature with recirculating water. Try to have your feeders look 'natural'. Just be sure to keep the area and the feeders clean. Also, get a good field guide and learn the birds. Join a local birding group. At least go on a few field trips with some local birders. The more you learn about birds will help with your photography.

Thank you all. Excellent advice.

Choose your feeders with the birds you want to attract in mind. I find the best feeders are the squirrel buster feeders and the hopper feeders with the adjustable weight perches. These feeders really help to keep the unwanted birds to a minimum. I also use squirrel baffles on all my feeder poles and nest boxes. The only seed the squirrels get is what drops on the ground. I do get red winged black birds but the grackles and doves only get any seed that falls to the ground.I also only use the upside down suet feeders. I have no problems with the songbirds having to compete with the less desirable birds. I do have one platform feeder that I put out a small amount of suet, fruit or peanuts for the Cardinals and other birds that can not access my peanut or suet feeders but I only put out a small amount from time to time.

Use a single port hummingbird feeder without a perch. You can get them at the feeder or when they back off.

Biffbradford wrote in post #16930225
In the winter, that seems kind of cruel, but in the summer - why not?

Using that logic, not placing a feeder out in Winter is cruel. The birds have survived Winters for millennia, they are adapted for it, and much stronger than one would think. Birds use feeders because it is calorically more efficient than foraging. Take a feeder down during Winter, and they will look for another concentrated food source. There is nothing cruel about it.

I use bird feeders as a form of observation, not to feed the birds. It just happens that they are attracted to food.

Personally, I use platform feeders (with mesh bottom) over the tube feeders for two reasons.
1. Easy to refill (huge reason)
2. All bird can be viewed at once, and they stay at the feeder longer.

I would think that if your goal was to photograph the birds, I would use a platform feeder with perches 3 feet above it and 2-3 feet to the side. Birds prefer to fly at a diagonal to their landing, not vertically.