Shootin' Whitetails

Back Yard Birds

Thu, January 19, 2012

This past weekend I decided to pass on shed hunting as late winter antlerless only season was winding down. I still managed to spend quality time outdoors enjoying nature and photographing birds in my back yard.

Saturday morning I was greeted by a multitude of chickadees, tit-mice, and finches as I went out to check on my feeders. My back yard set up consists of two thistle feeders, two seed feeders and two suet feeders.  Thistle feeders are the favorite of finches, both house finches and American gold finches were present at the feeders. I like to use oil sunflower seed in my seed feeders. The sunflower seeds attract a wide variety of birds including cardinals, nut hatches, tit-mice, and chickadees. The suet feeders are the favorite of wood peckers but you are likely to see other birds feeding at them too.

I decided the light snow falling Saturday morning would make a good back drop for photographing birds coming to the feeder. I then set up my one man chair blind and hunkered down to photograph the birds.

Sunday dawned bright and chilly and as I went out to check the feeders.  I could hear geese lifting off from Lake Springfield, which is behind my house. They didn’t sound quite right and I was surprised to see a flock of speckle bellies pass over. Shortly afterward this mature bald eagle came over the house; I’m guessing it had something to do with getting the geese up.

The afternoon I once again spent in the blind photographing birds as they came into feed. I also set out a prop, an old deer skull, with some strategically placed seeds. The birds obliged by perching on it while I took pictures. I need to work on this technique some more, maybe bird seed pasted to the skull with peanut butter would work?

Back yard bird feeders can be a great way to experience and watch birds close to your home. It can also be a great way to educate children and get them interested in learning about nature. 

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