Trying my hand at a bird feeder

[GeoBoy]

I have two bird feeders, the one I put out on Thanksgiving day and leave out until around April. The other one is me, I feed my Chickadees out of my hand, they love nuts, namely peanuts or cashews or walnuts. I have one female chickadee that will find me if I am out in my yard and demand to be feed.

[clovishound]

Hey, just to remind you. I am REALLY enjoying all the bird pics. Fantastic.

Thanks. Been having to hang around the house a LOT over the last 6 months. Only got a chance to go on a photography outing once, so taking pictures in the back yard has helped to scratch the itch, and does help me get used to the new gear, and hone skills.

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[North Country Gal]

You sure have it all dialed in for some great pics. Great hobby.

[Shakey Jake]

I enjoyed your pictures. Nice!
Jake

[clovishound]

I was outside a little while ago and a pileated woodpecker showed up. They are HUGE. Ran and got my camera, and of course, he's gone.

I stuck around and got a few more shots. I am getting a little tired of the Carolina Chickadees. They are attractive birds, but they seem to be the ones that are always hanging around. I'll bore you with a few more.

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And finally one that needs a caption.

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Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.

[markiver54]

" Now I lay me down to sleep "

[clovishound]

I believe this is a white breasted nuthatch.

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[GeoBoy]

My birds like Lyric Supreme bird seed and Chewy has the best price on it. I usually purchase it from my local Ace hardware store but the price now is around $70.00 for a 40 lb. bag and I was able to purchase 2 40lb. bags with a $20.00 off coupon from Chewy for $80.00!

[clovishound]

Another newbie, I think it's a female ruby crowned kinglet. Might be a male, I don't remember getting a good look at the top of the head. Fortunately, Lightroom came out with a new mask feature. The subject mask often picks up too much, or not enough of the actual subject. Using the new object mask, I can crudely outline the subject I want, and it will usually very precisely mask off exactly what I want. This is particularly useful with the pictures I take of the birds in the trees, as the exposure difference between the bird and the background can be quite a bit different, making the bird too dark, and the background too light. The info is all there, I just have to make a few adjustments to even things out. It often makes the difference between a decent image and one for the trash can.

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[markiver54]

It sure looks like you've got it figured out. Excellent photography!

[daytime dave]

It sure looks like you've got it figured out. Excellent photography!

I agree.

[clovishound]

Thanks for the kind comments.

I'm afraid a lot of my bird pictures are starting to look much the same. It starts to get difficult to get something different unless you spend a lot of time and take a lot of pictures, or go to a different location. I need to think of a way to shake things up. I'm looking forward to a few half day outings with the Pup. We went on our first since last early spring on Wed of last week. It was great to get out together and take some pictures again.

[cooperhawk]

I quit feeding the birds a few years back when we started going South. I didn't want them to be
dependent and then I was gone, anyway, It's really cold and my old feeders are still hanging there, empty.
I saw birds coming there even though they've been empty for years, so, I couldn't stand it. I put on my
quilted flannel shirt over my sweats, my good Red Wing Boots, leather gloves and a cap and took a pail
full of seed out and filled the feeder. I also filled the Thistle feeder as well.

I'm just a softee.

We get Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmouse, Finches, Flickers, and Nuthatches all Winter long.
Add to that the Turkeys who come and clean up what's spilled.

Did I mention it's really cold. 0 F.

[cooperhawk]

I quit feeding the birds a few years back when we started going South. I didn't want them to be
dependent and then I was gone, anyway, It's really cold and my old feeders are still hanging there, empty.
I saw birds coming there even though they've been empty for years, so, I couldn't stand it. I put on my
quilted flannel shirt over my sweats, my good Red Wing Boots, leather gloves and a cap and took a pail
full of seed out and filled the feeder. I also filled the Thistle feeder as well.

I'm just a softee.

We get Cardinals, Chickadees, Titmouse, Finches, Flickers, and Nuthatches all Winter long.
Add to that the Turkeys who come and clean up what's spilled.

Did I mention it's really cold. 0 F.

And Squirrels. Did I mention those varmints.

[cooperhawk]

Well, that didn't take long. Birds are already swarming the feeders.
I forgot the Juncos. Lots of them as well.

[clovishound]

Ironically, now that the weather is cooling down here, the visits to the feeders have diminished significantly. The only thing that still gets visited as often is the suet block, and that is now pretty much limited to the downy woodpeckers.

I would have thought the visits would increase. Of course, it doesn't get and stay that cold here. In fact, it's not unusual to run the A/C on Christmas day. It's supposed to get down to 20 later this week. That will likely be either close to, or the coldest weather we have this winter. Hope I haven't jinxed myself with that statement.

And, yes, the tree rats are still nosing around, although I seem to have discouraged them from the hanging feeders. For now.

[markiver54]

And, yes, the tree rats are still nosing around, although I seem to have discouraged them from the hanging feeders. For now.

Ditto!...lots of them. I counted 9 of them all at once the other day.

[clovishound]

How many hungry disadvantaged folks would 9 squirrels feed?

[cooperhawk]

There was a time in my life that Squirrel was good stuff. I had a West Virginia Hill Billy friend that
loved to hunt them when his wife was away. Then we'd par boil them, roll them in seasoned flour,
and fry them up. Good stuff. He also made Squirrel stew. That was also very good.

His Wife, (and mine), thought otherwise.

[markiver54]

How many hungry disadvantaged folks would 9 squirrels feed?

I'm willing to help feed them.