Tips: Bird Feeders for Photography

If you like taking pictures of birds, you probably love being able to photograph them from your windows. Over  the years I've increased the number of feeders in my yard so I get to watch the birds and squirrels during the winter. (I don't feed them in warm weather because bears are attracted by bird seed!)

Here are a few tips I've picked up along the way.

1. Set up feeders in clear view of your window, but not so close that you'll invite rodents to your doorstep.

2. Try to place them around the same distance from the window so that you don't have to refocus constantly. (This is important if your camera is painfully slow at focusing like my Nikon P510 is.)

3. Have at least one window without a screen in it that has a clear view of the feeders.  Keep the glass clean and place the lens close to the glass.

4. Select photogenic feeders and poles. I have a squirrel-proof feeder too — well, squirrel resistant. (Nothing is totally squirrel proof!)  Provide both seed and suet and keep the feeders well-stocked when snow is forecast.

5.  Provide additional places for birds to perch, especially if you aren't blessed with nearby trees that have open branches.  Here you can see a metal tree-sculpture plus a little branch that I stuck in the ground as an extra perch.

Although not all birds will perch on my devices, the ones that do can look charming! Photos of birds at feeders become repetitious so  other poses add variety. 

We even planted a little shrub this fall that I chose for it's attractive branches. I selected it's location to be the same distance from the window as my feeders.

Bonus tip: If possible select a window that's shaded or at least not facing the sun most of the day. Glare can be a problem. If it is, don't worry. The position of the sun changes and sometimes clouds move in, so just wait a while. If the birds' favorite time to visit is at the time of day when sunlight hits the window glass,  you might even consider an awning.

Of course, on a mild day you can go outside, sit quietly, and wait. Position yourself in the shade or use a lens hood.  The bolder birds will come back to feed.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday and The Bird D'Pot

and Camera Critters