STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Okay. How do I click on your "my list". I would really like to see an image knowing what the crop factor is. And I'm so glad to hear "one good shot out of 200 or so". Maybe I'm not a totally hopeless case.

Thanks, Bigal.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks to all of you who responded. It sounds like mainly bait and wait. Which I've been doing. Currently, health matters keep us from trekking through the woods and all of my shooting is from the back of the car or from the front porch. About two months ago I put out a bird bath, feeders, and started scattering corn on the ground. The birds have only recently deigned to attend our feeders even though they have been everywhere nearby. We have cardinals, jays, woodpeckers, thrush, dove, quail, blue birds, wrens, robins, mocking birds, chimney sweeps, and many others I'll have to dig out my bird guide to identify. Hawks daily fly overhead to do their hunting and there are always cattle egrets in the pasture across the road. I sit on the front porch, camera on tripod at eye level. It is peaceful and quiet. I miss a lot of good shots because I still have to think about what I'm doing and the birds just won't hold their poses long enough. So, okay, practice, practice. Forget about immediate gratification. Can't imagine how long before I'll be able to get a BIF!

The water birds at the beaches and piers are a lot easier to approach than these yard birds. They are very accustomed to people and love stealing bait and your catch, if they can!

Thanks, Mogul for directing me to MTShooter's thread.

jimni2001, I'm not sure I'm going to thank you. Didn't you read the part where I said I had already overspent? NOW I have to add a digiscope to my wish list. And before, I didn't even know they existed! Just kidding - thanks for your input.

BigAl Loc: Lincs UK

click on the name on anyone's avatar..then click on "list" of topics created

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

The following explains "crop factor" thoroughly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

I was referring to a thread that I had posted on Sunday.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-120336-1.html

I think this link will get you there.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

look at these e-books by Alan Murphy he tells you how to get close to birds http://www.alanmurphyphotography.com/ebook.htm

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Feeding the badgers, now isn't that sweet.... Wat r your going to do afterwards????? And on top of all that they are getting acclimatized to humans and will have less fear of em, nice work mate.... Just sayin

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

Had one "Pro" tell me that what he does is to keep his tripod betsween himself and the birds, move slow - couple of steps at a time - then stop and wait for the birds to stop looking around and go back to feeding before mcving again.

Not a birder and don't have the patience so don't know how practicle the suggestion is

VHD-Tex Loc: Mc Allen Tx.

STV--You might try building a PVC pipe blind to sit in. Cover it with camo, put out some perches, feed, and water. Find a place where birds hang out. I have presented lots of pictures on UHH using this set up and it works for me.

pdhitt Loc: Austin, TX

This would be a good place to start to look for a "Cloak of invisibility".
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/austin/now-you-see-it--ut-develops-Really Right Stuff L-plate-of-invisibility

sundancer2004 Loc: oak island, nc

good morning ST, oneof the answers lies in the photo of ST. My boss is a well known birder with one hell of a website.He uses a 500mm lense. We, who cannot justify the thousands for that lense purchase the less expensive one, the Sigma 150-500. We have to try harder to match his. I believe that luck plays a large part. Lucky to find the subject matter and patience to cultivate it to its extreme. I just missed a great shot of a Pileated woodpecker because I kept trying to stalk closer. from that I learned that I should take the shot at a distance for cropping then continue to stalk hoping for the wonderful shot. the Sigma is awonderful lense, keep playing with it, both with a tripod/monopod and hand held with high ISO, its great. I'm sure I havn't expressed myself well, so let me thank all those on here for sharing their expertiese.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Here is how I do it:

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-120410-1.html

The part with the towel was done as a joke. I just sit real still and the birds seem to ignore me; just like my wife.

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

I'm no expert in bird photography...but...I would tend to agree with "mooseeyes" remarks. I would add that like almost any area of photography the more you know about your subject the better your work will be. If you truly understand different birds and their natural habits I am sure you can make adjustments that will result in better images. Also, take a look at some of the cheap, pop-up blinds deer hunters use. They aren't worth much, in my opinion, for deer hunting...but they make pretty good photo blinds. Easy to carry, many you just let go of and they pop into a small blind...you can fold them up into a disk, put them back in their sack and even attach them to your camera bag...add a Walkstool seat and you are in business. (Did I mention monopods...?)

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

Another approach...I've noted that if I drink enough Irish Whiskey I become invisible. People act like they don't see or hear me...guess it works...sometimes I can't see or hear so well either...

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I don't have anything longer than 400 (not yet). I use the Canon 400/5.6 (cheap, light, but good). Mostly you'll have to be patient and good opportunities will come.