Time For Feeder Birds

With the cold winds of January blowing the outdoor photo opportunities are somewhat limited.  However there is no time like the present to capture some close up shots of the hungry birds flocking to our feeders.   

Tufted Titmouse

 Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinal Female

Oops, not a bird but in the feeder nontheless!

Feeder Fotos

When I awoke Monday morning the snow was falling at a rapid pace.  I decided that spending the day at the feeders was a more appealing option than driving the slick roads across two mountains to get to the office.

 

The following photos are the best shots of the day.  All photos were with a Canon EOS 6D, Canon 600 f4L IS USM.

 

Dark-eyed Junco

White-throated Sparrow

 

 Northern Cardinal Female

 Northern Cardinal Male 

 

 White-breasted Nuthatch

 



Tufted Titmouse

Trusting Titmice

The tufted titmice that visit our feeders have become exceedingly trusting.  One cold afternoon, wanting to try something different, I put the 24-105mm lens on a Canon 60D and placed a couple of sunflower seeds in the hot shoe on the other camera.

Since I hadn't refreshed the seed in the feeders the titmice wasted no time in beginning to feed from the top of the camera.

The ultimate though was feeding them from my left hand while holding the camera and shooting with my right. 

Winter is for the Birds

Tufted Titmouse

 

Searching for the next bite keeps the winter birds busy through the cold months of winter

 

And photographing the birds keeps cabin fever at bay for the wildlife enthusiast

Carolina Wren

 

Responsive Management recently conducted a study in Idaho.  Among their findings were the following:

 

90% value Idaho's wildlife, 90% approve of lawful hunting, 97% approve of lawful fishing.  35% participated in hunting, 53% participated in fishing while 78% reported that they had viewed or photographed wildlife around their homes over the past two years.  63% of respondents reported that they had taken trips of one mile or more to view or photograph wildlife. 

 

When queried about their intention in the coming two years 63% reported that they intended to make trips of a mile or more to view and/or photograph wildlife while 58% indicated that they would likely go fishing and 42% listed as likely to go hunting.

 

Wildlife viewing and photography is growing and wildlife managers are beginning to take notice.