Bird Focusing Techniques?

[SEPkent]

Hello to you all. I have a Canon 300mm f4L and an Eos 50D. When photographing birds, may I ask what focusing methods you guy's usually use/prefer?
:bonk:

 

[the undertaker]

AI Servo with autofocus.

 

[Liam]

I know the 50d has some custom functions for focusing, this may help:

http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=153591&hilit=50d+focusing

 

[dreameruk]

i've got my 40d set up to focus with one of the buttons on the back of the camera, use centre focus spot, focus on the eye recompose then shoot

 

[TomWoozle]

Thanks for asking this question - as I have been meaning to. Have been trying to take photos of birds in flight with my humble A200 and Tamron 55-200mm and been having a lot of trouble!

Decisions such as shutter vs aperture priority also come up. But with focusing, should I spot focus or another setting etc.? Also general techniques for tracking the birds etc.

I've been using aperture priority, set to widest, then setting the ISO so that I know I can get a shutter speed of 1/640 or more. Then I use spot focusing and try to get in a position to get birds flying along a stretch of sky (so nothing will be behind) long enough to track, get focus and get some shots off. Of course the birds are never very helpful and so far my results are shocking!

Any tips for these types of questions?

 

[SEPkent]

Thanks very much.
Been looking into it and it seems there are alot of variations as usual, but thanks for your opinions and facts and links.

 

[Levidog]

Continuous Servo A with birds in flight

Single area focused on the eye stationary birds

This seems to work well with exposure compensation for birds in flight