Top tips please

[Freako]

Can anyone give me a couple of tips in setting up a feeding station, with a view of photographing any visitors. Is a hide neccessary? What distance should I be from the subject 100-400 pending, hurry up postie!

[JohnZ]

Just make sure there are plenty of branches nearby for the birds to sit on. In my humble opinion nothing looks worse than a bird stuck on a feeder. Jusy my opinion though.

[gymell]

Be mindful of the background and direction of the light for your outdoor studio. As for a hide, depends on which birds you're photographing. Some are tamer than others and will let you sit out in the open quite close to the feeder. Others will require a hide. If you have perches set up close to the feeders, you can get some nice shots that way. In general, make sure to keep your feeders clean and stocked with fresh food for the birds' sake.

[a.dancy]

You do not have to use standard feeders. Birds find food eventually and if regularly placed will visit the site as part of their itinarary. Find some logs etc that you can drill holes into and put foodmixes into the holes (good for nuthatches and woodpeckers).

If your chosen site is near human habitation where there are cats ,don't allow spilt seed to drop where ground feeding birds such as chaffinch can fall victims. Remember birds like to have a bath and drink so set up a bird bath or two, one with a nice stone edge and another where you can fill the water right to the brim where you can get some nice reflections , you will need good light to catch the reflections and activity.

Don't over stock or allow feed to spill in such quantities that it is left over night.

If you get a good set up ...invite me over:-O

[citrinella]

Don't over stock or allow feed to spill in such quantities that it is left over night.
That depends on objectives as well as the time available.

I presume your objective is to avoid rodents. Well I feed well away from habitation and am happy to encourage rodents. By doing so I am providing food not only for seed eaters but also owls, buzzard, fox and stoat. In addition I may be drawing rodents away from habitation by providing alternative feed sources.

Oh, and I feed on the ground, but move frequently to minimize health risk.

What are your objectives ?

Mike.

[chewie]

Can anyone give me a couple of tips in setting up a feeding station, with a view of photographing any visitors. Is a hide neccessary? What distance should I be from the subject 100-400 pending, hurry up postie!

1 got a 100-400 and as a guide, i use a popup hide, monopod and distance myself about 2m away from the subject which should get you a Robin full frame. (see my pics on link below)

however, in order to minimise and hide your movement (esp hands) try some dark gloves too.

it will take them a while to get used to you tho whatever you do.

[Freako]

Thanks Guys, I live with grazing land all around me, and there is a large fallen tree, which has obviously had a lot of Woodpecker activity in the passed, and other trees around have woodys. I have beed putting out sunflower hearts and a few nuts tooked in the bark etc. I have one nut feeder hanging, not to photograph on, but to keep them interested. It's just that I was wondering how near I should be, and I have to say, it aint easy:-O

[Claymore]

Thanks Guys, I live with grazing land all around me, and there is a large fallen tree, which has obviously had a lot of Woodpecker activity in the passed, and other trees around have woodys. I have beed putting out sunflower hearts and a few nuts tooked in the bark etc. I have one nut feeder hanging, not to photograph on, but to keep them interested. It's just that I was wondering how near I should be, and I have to say, it aint easy:-O
I made a universal feeding station which can be moved to enable different backgrounds, its basically a 4" square post with a cross section to stand on. I have then added approx 6/7 different branches from various trees/bark etc some with moss etc, all these are drilled to accept peanuts etc and are invisible to the camera.
Try moving it around to get different lighting etc (don't worry the birds always return to it within minutes as they like a free meal!) mine is approx 6' tall and very solid.
So far i have had everything from Robins to Sparrowhawks perched on it and for the last 2 weeks a family of woodpeckers (who needs Springwatch?)
Why not give it a go and you will be amazed at the results.
Cheers
Brian
Ps one very odd thing happened on the stand this morning a Woodpecker was actually feeding a Chaffinch

[a.dancy]

[QUOTE=a.dancy;1214540][QUOTE=citrinella;1214012]That depends on objectives as well as the time available.

I presume your objective is to avoid rodents.

Yes , and cats

Well I feed well away from habitation and am happy to encourage rodents.

Nothing wrong with that.

By doing so I am providing food not only for seed eaters but also owls, buzzard, fox and stoat.

:t:



I] In addition I may be drawing rodents away from habitation by providing alternative feed sources.[/I]


Not sure about that...the poulation dynamic will change.


[/I]Oh, and I feed on the ground, but move frequently to minimize health risk.What are your objectives ?

Maybe....? I'm not sure however that I'd want seed left out for rats and other rodents to urinate on to then be eaten up by chaffinches and yellowhammers etc. I would not encourage such a concentrated bio-diversity.

As regards my motives...I would have thought that that was apparent given reference to the question put:t:


Thanks

Adrian Dancy

[Robert L Jarvis]

Mick, try using ground up peanuts as well. With the different sizes of pieces this food attracts a good variety of birds.

Robert

[Jaff]

If you can get your hands on a copy of April's Birdwatching mag they did a whole article on setting up a photographic feeding station, has everything you need explained. One ponit I'll make that is covered in it is that you have to make sure the BG is some distance behind your feeding station and with a uniform apperance so you get a nice blurry BG with no distracting bits. It also recommends a hidden photography postion is best, be it a hide or open your patio doors with the curtains drawn if it's a small garden.

I'm in the process of getting my own set up too. :t: Regards.
Jaff