ideas needed for garden hide/blind

I have been quarantined by my wife and family, not because I have corona but because I could pick it up from walking at the ponds where I to BIF. Since I am on social security and the wife has the pension and health care it is the "golden rule" SHE WITH THE GOLD MAKES THE RULES. So I am restricted to my own yard, at least I can still do astronomy and photography but it is not ideal, so looking for ideas. I have looked through all the threads where and mostly they are "long term" blinds. ALSO most places are not delivery things other than emergency supplies (amazon) I think Bass Pro still does but not sure.

currently I photograph birds out of my den window, but I can only really do that from 7 am to 9 am or so as I am looking SW to West and in the evening I am shooting into the sun. We live on a small lot (126x100 feet) and the side yard where the garden is, is about 25 feet wide, from my garden to the property line. Also I am point the camera at the neighbors house about 50 feet away. I can sit out in a chair and the finches etc still come but not the Cardinals, they are spooky.

I showed my wife the pictures of the blind (hide) I want to do, she thought it was neat and would work. Then I mentioned that I was going to put it in the garden and she blew up and me, now way you are putting that there!

I said the date of last frost is the middle of MAY and that we won’t be planting until the 3rd week of May like we always do. She said no way unless I make it totally movable and only put it up when I want to use it. I mentioned that the birds need to get used to it you can’t just set it up at dawn and take it down 2 hours later, no go it cannot be set up for the next month or so.

She suggested a ghillie suit and I said Ted has one, then she said no way as the neighbors would get upset. I can’t win!

I guess it will be sitting as far as I can with a 150-600mm lens at 600mm

This is the garden from my den window

Since I restricted to my yard now my new area to shoot, will see if I need to put up a camo screen

My first two pictures with it, overcast day

Jeff, I've posted pics before of blinds I use, would have to hunt down the link, you will probably find it sooner than I will.
I have many blinds, I do like the hub blinds (pop up camo) for their size and durability. You can spend from 80 to $400. The higher priced ones are designed for the bow hunter which I am but cost more than needed when using a camera, the less expensive will work.
Smaller blinds can be bought for less, I have one that was 20 dollars, it works but is small as in real small and I can't stretch or move much, kneeling is as tall as one can get, if sitting have to be on a low camp stool, soon it is uncomfortable.
I have made temporary blinds out of card board boxes, like stove or fridge boxes, work good, not water proof and not real pleasing to neighbors probably. I don't have any neighbors so not a problem for me.
Another quick method I use is fiber glass fence post, 3/8" diameter and 3 to 4 feet long. Thread them through some camo netting and can build a circle fast, pack it up and move fast too. Use these for turkey hunting here will work for photos as well.
Walmart, Bass Pro, Cabelas are places I get materials. Furniture/ appliance store is great place to get card board. Post I get at local farm store.
I think you will benefit from putting up a back ground too. I've seen post Tom has shared where he does this, should help in your crowded neighborhood.
If you stay in the house a couple full days I wonder if a blind and getting you outside will look like a great idea!
Keep trying, it's good to stay busy at something and it's enjoyable to you. Stay well.

I cannot kneel and a low chair requires help to get out of, so I need a regular chair.

I realized I have a bunch of galvanized pipe here that I have used for growing vegetables vertically and planting season here isn't for 2 more months and won't need the frames until June.
The only thing I need for my design is 4 90 degree with outflow fittings and I ordered them from Home Depot, have to get delivery since I have been locked down here to my yard. they should be here today which is fine as they are talking solid rain until Saturday, the next 5 days.

It will be less portable than a pop up shelter but the sun determines what I can do. due to all our trees I get sun starting about 7:30 on a couple branches. I have been shooting out my window this blind will be due South about 20 feet from the feeders although that can be easily moved, well mostly easily. The late afternoon is an issue as big pines and closer trees in my neighbors yard cut off direct sun on the feeders after about 1 pm for the rest of the day also the background is ugly. that is where my f/2.8 70-200 would help and setting up about 8 feet away. BUT the wife doesn't want the neighbors or the people who might be walking on the street to see the blind (it is in my sideyard) but if I am using CAMO they shouldn't be able to see it RIGHT?

Before this all started I had gotten some diecut camo netting so will post pics of the new blind later this week.

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Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19036550
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I cannot kneel and a low chair requires help to get out of, so I need a regular chair.
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Sounds like the regular old Chair Blind, made by Ameristep, would be a useful solution for you. . There is enough room inside the blind for you to sit in the chair and have your tripod set up in front of you with a huge lens attached.

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=KR4SzbuZyv4
( I apologize for the crass, low-class narrative of the one guy, but this was the most concise, useful video I could find on the blind )

https://www.google.com​/search?q=chair+blind&​oq=chair+blind&aqs=chr​ome..69i57j0l7.1935j0j​8&sourceid=chrome&ie=U​TF-8

https://www.amazon.com …round-Blind/dp/B07W3Q4PZM

https://www.ameristep.​com …iew-all/deluxe-tent-chair

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Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19035091
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I mentioned that the birds need to get used to it you can’t just set it up at dawn and take it down 2 hours later, no go it cannot be set up for the next month or so.
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I have not had experiences with yard birds needing to get used to a blind. . I have shot extensively from chair blinds, and the birds do not shy away because of their presence, even when they are only set up during the actual shoot.

You can certainly just set it up at dawn and take it down two hours later, and the birds won't react any differently than they would if it was set up permanently. . At least that has been my experience in many different states across the US, with dozens of different feeder bird species. . The whole deal about birds needing to get used to a blind primarily applies to birds of prey, wild ducks, and gallinaceous birds, not songbirds.


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Here is what I ended up with. The squirrels and the grackles and Blue Jays are very skittish and even in the blind it is tough to pull them in

Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19046412
Here is what I ended up with. The squirrels and the grackles and Blue Jays are very skittish and even in the blind it is tough to pull them in

Hosted photo: posted by Jeff USN Photog 72-76 in
./showthread.php?p=190​46412&i=i259342959
forum: Birds

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No doubt that is because it is not an enclosed blind, and they can see you from many directions as they fly around the area.

I don't think it is the blind itself they are scared of, but rather they are scared of the movement / human presence that they see in the blind. . The most effective blinds have a roof and are walled off on all 4 sides, and are blacked out on the inside.


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I will agree with Tom. You are just open on many angles and too much light as well. I have much more experience actually hunting out of blinds than photographing, but they are the same concept.
The pop up, ( hub) blinds work so well because they are fully enclosed and they block light as well as visual sighting. Even they will not work well if you open opposite windows, only one window open at a time, more than one and light will create shadow movements or you will be seen moving.
You should try this simple test if your material is large enough: simply take your camo material loose from the frame, sit in your chair and droop it over yourself so you are fully covered, have the camera through the hole already cut, then if you need to move do so slowly.
If you notice the chair blind that Tom shared in a link, though it is open in the front, it has a black interior and roof that helps create a dark interior and encloses all sides. If I were to use it I'd likely wear black or extreme dark clothing, move slow and not be seen very easily. Black clothing in a good blind will often work better than good camo clothing.

I have extra pieces and will make it a "box" , don't have any more camo but will try to get some

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Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19047377
I have extra pieces and will make it a "box" .....

That's good.
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Jeff USN Photog 72-76 wrote in post #19047377
..... don't have any more camo but will try to get some

Camo doesn't matter. . Old bedsheets will work, as long as they are thick enough that the birds can't see thru them (especially when the sun is behind you and bright). . If they're thin enough that your outline is visible through the fabric, then just double them up. . Old curtains work, too ..... especially the ones made of heavier fabric.

I also use yards of material that I buy from Walmart's sewing department. . There's usually some good heavy fabric in brown or tan or green or grey that is marked down really cheap.

Big sheets of cardboard will work, too. . Like discarded boxes from washing machines or refrigerators or whatever.

Just as long as you are completely concealed so that you can move without any critters seeing you from any direction; that is what matters.


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Tom Reichner wrote in post #19047425
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That's good.
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Camo doesn't matter. . Old bedsheets will work, as long as they are thick enough that the birds can't see thru them (especially when the sun is behind you and bright). . If they're thin enough that your outline is visible through the fabric, then just double them up. . Old curtains work, too ..... especially the ones made of heavier fabric.

I also use yards of material that I buy from Walmart's sewing department. . There's usually some good heavy fabric in brown or tan or green or grey that is marked down really cheap.

Big sheets of cardboard will work, too. . Like discarded boxes from washing machines or refrigerators or whatever.

Just as long as you are completely concealed so that you can move without any critters seeing you from any direction; that is what matters.

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That's really a great idea! But I can see the jokes about taking the kid's "fortress" or transmogrifier away

The commercial pop-up type hunting blinds can work quite well. I have used them for wildlife shots as well as for hunting. Many of the basic ones are pretty inexpensive, like around $100 or so.

I agree with Tom, it is movement that is what spooks animals the most

duckster wrote in post #19047476
The commercial pop-up type hunting blinds can work quite well. I have used them for wildlife shots as well as for hunting. Many of the basic ones are pretty inexpensive, like around $100 or so.

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Agreed. . And what is nice about them for the OP is that he can put a comfortable chair inside of one, as there is sufficient room to do so. . A chair that he can get into and out of easily and without pain.

It is best to see a blind first hand before purchasing one, but unfortunately both the Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops stores in Massachusetts are now closed because of the COVID-19 protocol. . So if Jeff wanted to get one son, he would have to order it by mail, and wouldn't be able to try one out before committing to a purchase. . But many things are being mailed very quickly, so there is no need to wait more than a couple of days. . I think that if Jeff ordered a blind today, he would receive it by Monday. . My friend ordered a blind during our trip a couple weeks ago, and had it shipped directly to the motel we were staying in. . He ordered it Sunday evening and it came on Tuesday (all the way from southern California). . We were in a very rural area of South Dakota, so I have little doubt that Jeff could get one just as quickly, being as he lives in a much more populated state with much more robust and responsive delivery options, many of which have not slowed down because of the coronavirus.

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