Feeding station

[Joshwain]

Right, I have some big plans for a bird station that I am almost certain won't get destroyed by anyone seeing as it's more or less in wasteland.

There's this patch of land about a 10 minute walk from my house. To get there I have to cross a train line and make my way through a wooded area to this open spot. There's plenty of light there and all the times I've been there I've never seen another person...

Anyway, seeing as I'm certain it won't get disrupted I'm planning on making myself a little place to sit and wait for a decent shot. Obviously I'm going to try and hide it a little but I was just wondering how far away I should put it to make sure the birds won't be disrupted?

I'll be using a 55-250mm lens so I know heavy cropping is going to be necessary but seeing as I'm using my 20D I can't crop too much...

 

[Brian Sayle]

Ever thought about setting the camera on a tripod and getting a infrared remote to trigger it?

 

[Joshwain]

Ever thought about setting the camera on a tripod and getting a infrared remote to trigger it?

I would but I don't have the funds for that. I'm a full time student without a weekend job :thumbsdown:

I've already had to make the decision of getting a new lens rather than a tripod

 

[Just Dave]

I'll take a photo of the my feeding station tomorrow, I can sit in the car 10ft or less from the birds and theres a little fence they come to thats a foot from the car, so your feeding station doesnt have to be out in the wilds, as for a hide I use camo skrim and a couple of branches I find if I need a hide, or just throw it over me

 

[Joshwain]

I'll take a photo of the my feeding station tomorrow, I can sit in the car 10ft or less from the birds and theres a little fence they come to thats a foot from the car, so your feeding station doesnt have to be out in the wilds, as for a hide I use camo skrim and a couple of branches I find if I need a hide, or just throw it over me

It's only about 10 minutes away and it's the perfect spot so I don't think there would be a problem

I think I'm going to make kind of a wall out of some branches, not too obvious though

 

[Just Dave]

It's only about 10 minutes away and it's the perfect spot so I don't think there would be a problem

I think I'm going to make kind of a wall out of some branches, not too obvious though

Ive done that when I was stalking a kingfisher

Dave

 

[Joshwain]

Ive done that when I was stalking a kingfisher

Yeahh, a bit like that

But the area is more open and is grassed. I think I'm going to make something like that in a corner depending on where the sun is and what not and then put a few logs 10ft or so away.

Then I'll need to try and attract something

 

[Just Dave]

Yeahh, a bit like that

But the area is more open and is grassed. I think I'm going to make something like that in a corner depending on where the sun is and what not and then put a few logs 10ft or so away.

Then I'll need to try and attract something

Dont for get the birds like cover to get to easily if they need to so out in the open isnt really a good idea

 

[u8myufo]

Before going to too much trouble Josh I would suggest buying a piece of cammo net from an army surplus store if possible or from an online shop. A piece about 2mtrs square or there about would be plenty, just a case of sticking two fairly sturdy stakes or branches in the ground like goal posts and then tie the net across with a bit of wire. You can then set your feeders up and see what comes along, the net would be easy to roll up and take back with you, if you are lucky and get plenty of visitors then you can make something a little bit more elaborate if need be I take it that in order to cross the train track that it is an official crossing point :shrug: If not then not only are you are tresspassing which will carry a hefty fine if you are caught, but you are putting yourself in danger as well.

 

[SThornton]

I got a tripod on eBay for £10.00 (delivered) that I still use now and remotes are about the same price. These would be very useful.

 

[Tringa]

Are you going to make the feeders out of branches and logs too? Takes a bit more time but looks more natural and cheaper than buying feeders.

This may be of use for finding the distance you need to fill the frame with a particular lens.

1. Find the dimensions of your camera's sensor, horizontal and vertical, and possibly diagonal too.

2. Divide the focal length of the lens being used by one of those dimensions.
If the camera is used in landscape then you'll need the vertical dimension to see if the subject will fill the frame from top to bottom, but depending on the orientation of the camera and the subject one of the other dimensions will be needed.

3. Multiple the size of the subject by the answer from number 2 to get the distance from the subject needed to make sure the subject fills the frame.



Just did a quick calculation. My camera's sensor is 15.6mm vertically. If I was taking a photo of a Jay(about 200mm high from head to feet), for example, with a 210m lens, I'd need to be about 2.7m away to make sure it filled the frame.

This, of course, ignores that you'd be lucky to get that close to a Jay

Dave

 

[Joshwain]

Dont for get the birds like cover to get to easily if they need to so out in the open isnt really a good idea

Well, when I say open I mean it's an open spot on the edge of a wooded area. So I presume that would be fine as long as I'm close enough to some cover?

I would suggest buying a piece of cammo net from an army surplus store if possible or from an online shop. A piece about 2mtrs square or there about would be plenty

I'll have a look online, any pointers to save a few quid?

I take it that in order to cross the train track that it is an official crossing point :shrug: If not then not only are you are tresspassing which will carry a hefty fine if you are caught, but you are putting yourself in danger as well.

It isn't official but it's unfenced and there's a kind of dirt path at each side of the line so it's obviously been used a few times. The patch I'm thinking of is quite a bit off the dirt path though

I've lived here 17 years and know a train only passes once a day, I also have eyes so I'm willing to take that risk

Are you going to make the feeders out of branches and logs too? Takes a bit more time but looks more natural and cheaper than buying feeders.

I'm going to give it a go, yeah. Trial and error is going to be my approach

This may be of use for finding the distance you need to fill the frame with a particular lens.

As for the calculations, I'll only have a 250mm lens so it's probably going to be a silly distance that isn't very sensible. I think I'm just going to have to go down there, have a little play and make myself accept I'm going to have to crop quite a bit

 

[Joshwain]

Possibly going down Friday, got the day off. If not, definitely Saturday

Then I have all next week off so we may see some results!

 

[Joshwain]

Just bought a 55-250mm lens off eBay, should have it in a few days

Going to go to the spot on Saturday to see what I can do Things are getting exciting!