Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Natural Bird Feeders

I prefer natural backgrounds for my wildlife images whether I am shooting big game animals or small birds. With the small birds preparation for natural backgrounds begins with the design your birdfeeders.

This photo captured a White-throated Sparrow and a Northern Cardinal perched on the feeder with another White-throated Sparrow attempting to land. This feeder is made from a section of split and splintered hollow log with a plastic bowl attached to the back side. The bowl of seed remains completely hidden from the camera while the birds pose beautifully.



A Downy Woodpecker male finds an easy meal in another naturalized feeder. Willard constructed this one from a hollow branch with a number of holes in it. By packing some plastic sheeting firmly inside the hollow trunk to keep the bird seed from running through and attaching it to a tree in an upright position it provides an excellent place to capture images of our feathered friends.


13 comments:

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Fantastic pictures.I like the creative feeders.
Blessings,Ruth

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful shots of the birds. The Cardinal is gorgeous!

Craig Glenn said...

Nice post Coy, thanks for the tips!

Craig

Montanagirl said...

Terrific shots of the birds - love the Cardinal.

Rambling Woods said...

What interesting ideas. I wonder if I could turn one section of my feeders into a more natural setting. Something to think about.. I thought you might like my hawk encounter.. I spent a hour getting some photos and video through the door after a hawk hit one of our windows taking a starling and then ate in on the front lawn.....Michelle

Hawk with starling

Elaine said...

I like your feeder ideas. I'll have to think about what I can do here--it will probably have to wait till spring though when I can get some materials in the woods.

Brad Myers said...

Great ideas and even better photos Coy. I guess I will be on the look out for the right logs now to make natural feeders for my lawn. Living in a neighborhood it can be difficult to isolate to birds for photos.

Les Barr said...

Now, that's a different idea. Never thought of having a bird feeder that looks like that. It's a good idea. The Male Cardinal looks so pretty in his nice Red Coat. I can never seem to capture them here. They are just so darn quick.

Tom said...

Hi Salty
Just thought I'd catch up on you and your pictures... what pleasure it as been, nice to see the little birds you have round about you.... even your sparrows are colourful..

troutbirder said...

Duh! What a great feeder idea. It never occured to me so now I have a spring project. Thanks!!!

imac said...

You have such beauty birds in your area Coy.

Kerri Farley said...

Excellent idea Coy! They definitely make for fabulous photo opptys!! I use a grapevine wreath and sprinkle it with seed...works a bit the same way but not quite as picture perfect as these :)

EJ said...

Beautiful shots!

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