 Red Breasted Flycatcher taken on 30D + EF 100-400 L at 1/50-f6.3-ISO1000
To turn the situation around for great success, consider creating an environment that will help bring the birds to you, instead of the other way around. With a small investment of time and money, you can create a lovely sanctuary for your feathered friends in your own front or back yard. Gardens make great spots for birdbaths while nearby trees provide the perfect place to hang a birdfeeder or a birdhouse.
Remember, when you go to take a photograph of a bird, you must take caution to move as slowly and silently as possible. Birds are very timid creatures, and it may only take one sound to startle a bird enough to fly away. A good approach may be to first sit quietly and wait for the birds to venture out into sight. Even still, do not take photographs right away, unless it is the most amazing shot. Allow the bird to first become comfortable, and then begin taking photos. (Make sure your camera is turned on its quietest settings.)
To draw the birds toward your own habitat, you may want to make subtle changes to the grounds surrounding your home. If you have gardens, cultivate them and let them grow healthy, beautiful flowers and plants. Allow your yard to grow lush green grass and ensure that your outdoor equipment, tools and other personal items are kept in the garage, shed or at least out of the sight of the birds.
To encourage birds to visit your gardens and your front and back yard, consider making one or all of these small enhancements to your home’s landscaping:
1. Add a birdbath to the natural décor of your yard or garden. For an innovative touch, look for a special birdbath design that can be suspended from a tree.
Especially in the warmer months, it becomes very necessary for birds to quench their thirst, just like any other creature. Another good benefit of a birdbath, though, is that it may inspire some birds to splash around and play in the water. No matter where you put your birdbath – in the garden, hanging from a tree or somewhere else in your yard – you will love the results it brings once birds become curious about the new structure. Just imagine the wonderful candid shots you can get if only a couple of birds decide to play in your new birdbath!
2. Sprinkle birdseed around the yard to lure the birds nearer to you. Try black oil sunflower seeds, which are popular among many species of birds.
What bird can resist a good treat when the coast is clear? On a day that you hope to take some photos of birds, sprinkle a little bit of birdseed here and there throughout your yard. Scatter it at least 10 feet, maybe more, away from wherever you plan to sit with the camera. Also, pour a small pile of birdseed where it will be in plain visibility. Just wait patiently for the birds to find your thoughtful offering.
3. Set up a small dish of birdseed in the corner of your garden or somewhere near pretty plants and flowers.
It may entice some birds to investigate the area and spend some time there so they can enjoy the food. Once the birds find this food, it will be your job to zoom in and take the very best photos of your own backyard birds with a beautiful backdrop of flowers and whatever other garden beauties you have grown.
4. Paint your own birdhouse or buy one that is already decorated. Hang it in a nice tree with attractive coloring and healthy branches and leaves.
There is just something poetic about a lovely bird snapped in close proximity to a nicely designed birdhouse. Constructing, designing and decorating a birdhouse can be a rather fun project if you have the time to complete it. It can also provide an enduring source of delight if a bird happens to adopt your birdhouse as its own home. Birdhouses come in many shapes, sizes, styles and colors. You can set up a bird hotel, a bird bungalow or a bird resort, boasting a series of birdhouses positioned all around your yard.  Rade's Accentor taken on 30D - EF 100-400 L at 1/100 - f7.1 - ISO 800
5. Plant a variety of beautiful flowers to serve as a pretty backdrop for the many pictures you will take.
Select some of your favorite flowers – the tried and true ones that you know will bloom no matter what. Then, get a little bit gutsy and plant something you’ve never grown before, just for kicks. Plant a really tall sunflower, or a bunch of little wildflowers, or something completely unusual. Consider the amount of shade and sun when you decide where to plant everything. Take good care of your flowers and make sure they get enough water.
6. Plant flowers and plants that bear seeds, berries or nectar to help attract birds.
These delightful treats will attract the birds and keep them coming back. Honeysuckle smells especially lovely and would make a beautiful addition to our garden – especially if you are hoping to draw in some birds. Raspberries, blackberries and other berry-bearing plants may also help to welcome some new birds to your yard. Remember, the friendlier a place you make your yard and garden, the more birds you will see.
7. Keep your yard groomed and tidy.
For best clarity and visibility when photographing birds in an outdoor setting, be sure you have a clear shot. A wildly overgrown yard is not conducive to capturing great image of birds, so keep your lawn reasonably manicured. Allow lush green grass to grow, but also leave room for some dandelions and other weeds or wildflowers to grow. Sometimes birds enjoy the natural elements more than anything we could do artificially to interest them.
8. Avoid using pesticides when possible.
Pesticides can really hurt small animals, and especially birds. If you grow a vegetable garden or fruit trees, take extra care not to endanger small animals. Use only the lowest recommended amount of the chemical, if possible. Try to avoid using the pesticides on at least a single tree or a small portion of the garden.
9. Set up several nesting boxes on tall posts or trees to encourage birds to have their young near your home.
Nesting boxes give birds a safe place to lay their eggs and protect their babies. Although you may not have a clear shot of the nesting box itself once you set it up, you should notice increased activity from the adult birds. They may fly about seeking pieces of straw and string to build their nest, and they will be looking for food for their young, of course!
10. Set up a perch for yourself, not too far away from the birds’ haven. You want to ensure clear and close shots!
While the majority of the focus of your project goes into creating a friendly section of your yard for feathery friends, remember why you decided to do this in the first place. If you want to take simply amazing photographs of birds in your yard, you will need to be patient and prepared above all else. Like fishing, it is important to be patient yet also to pay attention to the situation at hand without becoming bored. If you begin to lose interest and start drifting off to sleep or daydreaming too intensely, you may lose your chance – whether a fish steals your bait or whether a bird swoops down to your birdbath and back up into the sky in the blink of an eye.
Set up a nice wooden or metal swing with a canopy top, or a decorative bench so you can relax while you wait for the birds to appear. If you think a bench or swing is too elaborate, a simple picnic table or even a lawn chair will do.
No matter how you decide to furnish your own paradise for the birds in your neighborhood, remember to keep your camera handy with the battery charged. You never know when the most beautiful bird may stop by for a bite to eat, a quick dip or merely to surprise you.
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