Bird feeders. Need some advice

Bob&Glennie

Hi, we're new here. Learned about Smugmug in Outdoor Photographer. We're probably going to join as Power or Pro users but not until after we get moved and settled. and that brings me to our question. We've sold our house in our beloved rural eastern Ontario and bought in our capital, Ottawa. So now we can't just walk out our back door into the great outdoors. It'll take a little travel time now. We'd like to put some bird feeders in the tree in our new back yard to pass the time that we'll be missing in our lovely landscape, but we know nothing about feeding birds.

What sort of birds should we be trying to attract or discourage and what do we feed them. This could add a new dimention to the work of a pair of dedicated landscape photographers and I suspect we have a LOOOOOT to learn. B&G

Steve Cavigliano

Bob&Glennie wrote:

Hi, we're new here. Learned about Smugmug in Outdoor Photographer. We're probably going to join as Power or Pro users but not until after we get moved and settled. and that brings me to our question. We've sold our house in our beloved rural eastern Ontario and bought in our capital, Ottawa. So now we can't just walk out our back door into the great outdoors. It'll take a little travel time now. We'd like to put some bird feeders in the tree in our new back yard to pass the time that we'll be missing in our lovely landscape, but we know nothing about feeding birds.

What sort of birds should we be trying to attract or discourage and what do we feed them. This could add a new dimention to the work of a pair of dedicated landscape photographers and I suspect we have a LOOOOOT to learn. B&G

Welcome to Dgrin Bob and Glennie We're nutz about pitchas too

If you live in the city as I do, maybe you could start out with a modest little feeder. See what you get and go on from there. You can pick up feeders at any pet store and they also sell wild bird seed. All you have to do is fill the feeder and figure out where you want to hang it. If you can hang it so the perches catch the morning and evening light you'll probably get some really nice photo ops. Also, bird feeders means squirrels. If you like shooting them then don't be concerned with getting a squirrel proof feeder. If you'd like to keep those hungry rodents away from the seed, then look into feeders or accessories that minimize their opportunity to mooch....lol

For the Spring and Summer you can get a hummingbird feeder. They are very inexpensive and all you have to do is boil some water and sugar (2 cups to 1 cup) then let it cool and add a few drops of red food coloring. It'll last about 3 weeks and take it from me, watching and shooting hummers is a blast


You folks have some colorful little birds back there. I wish you luck and hope to see some of what you capture posted here

Steve

pmccurdy

Howdie
Welcome!

I'm a relative newbie here, but I think you'll find it a friendly, supportive environment.

I recently put up a couple of hummingbird feeders and discovered a number of local gluttons. I also put up a seed feeder and have seen nothing. If you don't get results with one kind of seed, maybe try another...

Do post your pix, though. Don't be shy. People here won't overly criticise, but you will sometimes get well-considered feedback.

Cheers,

Patrick