Camoflaging feeder poles.

magicaxeman

magicaxeman

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Both my feeder poles are black,they really stand out when they get in my shots and as I can't move much at all to get a different vantage point they frequently do end up in my shots.

So I know this sounds crazy but what do you think of wrapping them in realtree camo duct tape?

It seems like a reasonable solution to the problem and shouldn't put the bird off feeding.
 
I can't think it will put the birds off and may work, but how about making a feeder out of a dead branch?

Bore a few holes in one side and pack them with - seeds, suet, peanuts.

If they are set up carefully the holes won't be visible.

Dave
 
Set up some dead branches nearby for perches. My feeder has a branch taped to the top for birds to perch on. Then there's a thin branch to the right, for birds to perch on when the feeders are busy and a thicker branch that has a crack in the rear for peanuts, held in place with peanut butter.

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Thanks for the idea's guys, my main problem is I have to have the perches about 2 metres high so I can see them from my window, but I had an idea of connecting my two feeding stations with a couple of branches as well as trying to get others strategically placed.
 
Hi Ian, the tape will have no effect on the birds. I believe you are confined to your bed, not really knowing what your garden and your view of the feeders is like then it is hard to advise too much. If I was nearer to you then I could have paid you a visit to have a look at things. Perhaps a member of TP who lives local could pay you a visit if you so wished. You could then discuss having something set up where you have some additional branches to use. Only a thought :shrug: If that idea sounds feesable then do not hesitate to put a shout for help up in perhaps the talk Photography section.
 
Thanks Rich, yes a member who lives just up the A12 has offered to come and help, I'm just waiting on getting some branches then I will take him up on his offer,.
 
Hope you get it sorted Ian as I know it can be frustrating.

One short perch attached to the feeding station might look stupid but it will result in a predictable landing spot if it's the only available perch. Once you get used to the pattern of the birds you will get the odds in your favour and you'll never know the feeder is just out of frame.

Hopefully somebody can get one set up for you.

I've a few in the garden but this one is set up for shooting out of a window. I just change the twigs now and again.

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Phil, that at last has put things into perspective!
I've been astonished at the amount of posts asking for setups and been ignored :thumbs:
 
new2me said:
Phil, that at last has put things into perspective!
I've been astonished at the amount of posts asking for setups and been ignored :thumbs:
Click to expand...

new2me - I only got into bird photography fairly recently after a disability left me unable to go out (drive) doing my landscapes. Trial and error on my part and I'm still figuring it out but if it helps here's a few ramblings....

Hope this OK to put in your thread Ian ?

This one is just outside the kitchen window. It's about 12 feet away and comes in very handy in the winter when it's freezing or when it's raining (that's when many birds feed) as I can shoot through the open window staying warm and dry.

In terms of the position I considered:

The background trees are far away so I'll get a nice out of focus backdrop.
I know that the light will always be from behind me.
I'll not have sky as a background which makes life difficult.
I can also put the big 500W outside light on when the light starts to fade :lol:

The branch is just stuck in the ground and then attached to the metal feeder at the other end. This stops the branch wobbling when a bird lands on it which is important as a lot of the time they only land for a second before moving onto the feeders. A thicker branch wouldn't move but some of the tiny garden birds do suit a thin perch.


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As there's only one branch (all about stacking the odds in your favour) I don't have to worry too much about where the birds are going to land so I just set up the camera settings before the bird arrives.

First test - 400 mm at f/5.6 with ISO 100 = 1/125 sec which probably isn't going to be a fast enough shutter speed for handheld shots or for twitchy little birds.
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Up the ISO to ISO 400 = 1/500 which should be fine
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Then it's just a case of waiting a few mins. If the light changes whilst I'm waiting I'll just keep adjusting the ISO keeping it as low as possible but to making sure the resulting shutter speed is going to remain fast enough. Once a few birds are on the feeders the next birds naturally land on the perch. I just try and focus on the eye using centre point focus. The bird will just be middle of the frame but I know there will be room to crop the composition regardless of whether the bird is facing left or right.

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............


The branches I just pick up from anywhere - here's my new hairy one LOL

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This is my other feeder (a bit Heath Robinson) which is in a different spot in the garden. Again there's a variety of branches stuck in the ground to provide perches based on direction of light and background relative to where I shoot from.

Unfortunately I have cats - chicken wire jump protection and fortified bird table.

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But enough cover to get a shot

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believe me Phil, you have given myself and others hope :thumbs:

the likes of myself have been frustrated by the lack of pp advice, almost tempting us to disbelieve the scenario a capture has been recorded :D

i Have to say though ... the cat pic s hilarious, but the final goldfinc dosen't lok right
 
That's my daughers kitten. Little devil he is LOL

Goldfinch is a random pic from that perch - others garden bird piccies here on those perches mentioned if you wanted a nosey.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dinners85/sets/72157624660958584/

Again - I'm just figuring it out as I go but it's addictive and there's lots of better inspiration on the forum.
 
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nah Phil, you've previously stated your limitations of 'aged' equipment and that is more inspirational to me .... hammet can go 'diddle deeee diddle' all he likes, but he's no page ;)
 
new2me said:
nah Phil, you've previously stated your limitations of 'aged' equipment and that is more inspirational to me .... hammet can go 'diddle deeee diddle' all he likes, but he's no page ;)
Click to expand...

Very true.

that said - Fade to Black > D'yer Mak'er though.
 
dinners said:
that said - Fade to Black > D'yer Mak'er though.
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Oooooooooooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you'd said Call of Ktulu then i'd fully agree, lol!!!!!!!!!

[YOUTUBE]x4DEurqpIYQ[/YOUTUBE]

Saw them in Brum with Burton and still hear hear him in that tune
 
So sorry for taking your thread awol Ian

Cliff = Orion

Seen them many many times and (aherm) even gigged a whole metallica set both on bass and guitar (Hetfield bits not Mustaine / Hammet) I might add.
 
** PUT IN PLACE ***

;)
 
Not with them for gods sake LOL

Think we should take this to the music thread now (sorry Ian)
 
new2me said:
Phil, that at last has put things into perspective!
I've been astonished at the amount of posts asking for setups and been ignored :thumbs:
Click to expand...

With all due respect the advise for setups has been asked a thousand times before on here, and advise has been duely given in most circumstances. Here for instance is a thread started by Rich, if you go to page two you can see his layout, also bits of other useful information throughout the thread. The problem is people ask about these things and without putting a picture up of their garden or bit of back door space it is difficult to advise as each persons needs will be different ;)

On another note myself and a lot of others have tried to give advise where we can to a lot of newcomers, most of that is individual advise is not a cut and paste job. You will be surprised that after going to all that trouble the OP will fail to reply back to the thread, as you can appreciate it makes you feel like you are wasting your time trying to help. Do we give up? No we sometimes just take a break from it for a while ;)
 
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This is the view I get from my bed, so it shows how narrow a field of view I actually have as I can only move between the positions shown in these two pics...

The new feeder station is hopefully going in on sunday and I have my carers hunting for dead branches when they take the dog out lol..

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u8myufo said:
... it makes you feel like you are wasting your time trying to help. Do we give up? No we sometimes just take a break from it for a while ;)
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Sorry Rich, seemed to be rambling drunkenly all the place the other night :nuts:
 
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