A Beauty and a Cutie

[gjtoth]

Nuff said:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2160145944_d8a24510a3_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/2160145262_e010582820_b.jpg

[LensBaby]

How sweet is that little bird? Cute.

[gjtoth]

How sweet is that little bird? Cute.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh.... BUT! It's just a sparrow. People complain because that's all they ever get at their feeders. Big deal. Make the shot!

[dkippen]

Gary -

Love the color in the cardinal. I'm one of those that don't really care for the sparrows - they're always taking over the bluebird house in the spring and fighting with the purple martins that have tried to make our backyard home. But these pictures are still great!

[gjtoth]

Gary -

Love the color in the cardinal. I'm one of those that don't really care for the sparrows - they're always taking over the bluebird house in the spring and fighting with the purple martins that have tried to make our backyard home. But these pictures are still great!

Thanks very much, Debbie. I normally don't take many sparrow pictures but, this li'l guy was a poser. Some of them have some REAL personality. More than some people I know. heheheh

That cardinal sat there for quite a while. They're normally pretty skittish. He was just begging to be photo'ed.

[Snappers]

You've made my mind up Gary, I'm hoping to go to a store today to get a bird feeder and put it up outside, I'm not sure what it will attract but we will wait and see. Only problem I have is that my windows are double glazed so I do not think I would be able to take photos through them.

Any thoughts?

The pics are great by the way. I love the red bird. So vivid.

[gjtoth]

You've made my mind up Gary, I'm hoping to go to a store today to get a bird feeder and put it up outside, I'm not sure what it will attract but we will wait and see. Only problem I have is that my windows are double glazed so I do not think I would be able to take photos through them.

Any thoughts?

The pics are great by the way. I love the red bird. So vivid.

What kind of birds you attract depends on the food you put out for them. Finches love thistle seed and just about everyone loves black-oil sunflower seeds (commonly called, "oilers") and corn (mix cracked and whole kernel). Woodpeckers like suet (I'm about to try my hand at making it but its relatively cheap). I did a little research before I put them up. Found out that MOST birds do not like millet (some tropical birds like budgies do), so avoid that. Even a dab or two of peanut butter works really well. Providing a source of water helps, too. A birdbath is ideal. I made a heated one which is REALLY in use with our ugly, freezing weather. If you're interested in that, I can provide photos (of course :))

I have double glazed, Andy. Just make sure they are very clean. and wear dark clothes if the sun is shining on you -- cuts down your reflection glass. OH -- NO FLASH!! Chances are, 80% of it will only be reflected back at you and screw up your shot. Consider a circular polarizer, too -- even with no flash, you're going to get some glare.

Hope this helps but, there is no end to the info online.

There are all sorts of tips and LOTS of feeder styles on the web. I go cheap :D or homemade, if possible. The birds really don't care.

[Snappers]

Thanks Gary. I'll have a look and see what I can find.
I already have a polarizer on my lens so hopufully I'll be ok.
Where is the best place for getting the ingreedience for the food from then?

[dkippen]

Andy -

We usually go to a local pet food supply store where they carry a large variety of bird food. Different varieties/brands are available for specific birds, some for the different groups of birds, some individually such as millet, corn, thistle. In rural areas, a farm/garden feed supply store will also carry bird seed.

Typically, we end up getting a sterile/santized mix. By sterile/sanitized, in theory it's not supposed to take root and grow. Since many birds are messy eaters, some of the bird food ends up on the ground, thus you could end up with a whole new mix growing in your grass.

[Snappers]

Thanks Debbie, I'll have a look at the local pet stores.

[gjtoth]

Typically, we end up getting a sterile/santized mix. By sterile/sanitized, in theory it's not supposed to take root and grow. Since many birds are messy eaters, some of the bird food ends up on the ground, thus you could end up with a whole new mix growing in your grass.

Fortunately, I'm putting in Zoysia this Spring. It chokes out anything -- weeds included. heheh So,this *shouldn't* be a problem for me any longer.