Setups for Backyard Bird Photography

These are some of the things that I do to try to get bird photos in the backyard.

I cut down a couple of small trees, dug a couple of holes next to the feeders and deck and stuck the trees in the holes for the birds to perch on. As you can see I also let the volunteer sunflowers grow up to attract the birds.

I took the screen out of the window to take pictures of the birds on at the feeders and the dead tree perches. Sometimes I have a camo netting hung in front of the camera to minimize spooking the birds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker on one of the dead tree perches.

To get a little closer I drape myself with a camo netting that I bought a hunting supply store. It is about 60" by 12'. I folded it in half and sewed up one side leaving an opening for the lens. I'm sitting on a stool with the camera on a tripod. I still have to move very slowly as quick hand movements will spook the birds.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird taken from camo-netting blind about 6 feet from the feeder.

My new bird photo setup is a log that I mounted on some saw-horse type legs, and screwed another perching branch on the end. I hollowed out the back of the log with a chain saw to add bird seed and positioned it just outside of the bedroom window. The birds will perch on the log and on the branch while waiting to get some seed or while cracking open a sunflower seed.

Here you can see the tray that I cut in the back of the log for bird seed. I also drilled some holes with a big spade bit. I took the screen out of the window and have camo netting hung in the window when I have the camera and tripod set up.

A Goldfinch sitting on my photo log.

A House Wren on the photo log.