Dear Rae Zimmerman...When I first started photographing birds I mistakenly thought that just the bird and bokeh in the background was the goal. Later I began adding the branch and leaves under and behind the bird as my goal. Now I am at the point where I enjoy a 3D effect of natural items behind; beside and even in front of the bird if the bird's eye and body is in excellent focus. I don't really like to see the feeder in the image, but there are times that one of my shots is so excellent that I decide to include a tiny portion of the feeder rather than throw the image away. The enclosed portrait of a Grackle is an example of such an instance where the bird is still the subject despite the corner of the feeder showing.(I realize the majority of bird photographers on UHH will vehemently DISAGREE!) Won't be the first time I thought my wandering outside the box ain't always bad. I often wonder, who makes up these unbreakable rules anyway.