That's right... the birds are gone.
Well, you have a choice... You can use aperture priority and let the camera help you... or you can use AUTO. I'm not apposed to Auto settings. I didn't say that I only use manual settings and nothing else. I love to use the Sports mode to freeze fast moving subjects. When I don't have time to think about anything else and the bird is flying by.... that's when AUTO SPORT is perfect... and anyone that tells you you're cheating because you don't use manual all of the time has probably lost a few really good images because they "... only use manual settings."
Here are some photos that I took last summer on the Oregon coast in Auto mode. The last two were a seagull feeding frenzy that happen so fast I didn't have time to breath. I put the camera in auto and got some beautiful images. Sometimes you have to defy the purists and use your common sense.

Thanks for responding. I'll have to try Program mode. I've never used it and I suppose I should have during the process. I haven't heard anyone say anything about the Scene Modes. I find that interesting and I have to admit that I haven't used them either. I've been so focused on Manual and getting a good focus that I have overlooked a lot of things. I mostly shoot outdoors so I was thrilled when someone on UHH pointed out that I needed to be in AFC and try the back button focus. That was a giant leap for me.

Chris, welcome to the Hog. I guess if that reason was compelling for you, hey, it's your choice. My cats love sleeping on top of my camera bag. If they pooped in the camera bag, shame on me for leaving the door open, and the bag open as well. But I, 1, would certainly not hold it against my cats, nor 2, would I change brands.
So let me tell you very briefly why I shot a Canon.
When I started I wanted a Nikon, but was using a hand-me-down Canon 20d.
So I was shooting sports and nature, and trying to do some portraits. I had been researching the Nikon d200 that I wanted and knew all the lenses. So I took a look at Canon, just in case, since so many seemed to use it, they couldn't all be wrong.
I found out that for portraits, the Canon guys were using 85mm f1.2 lenses. And the Nikon long lenses didn't even have VR and were really heavy, and the focus motors made sooo much noise, you'd be lucky to even get a shot.
But my dream lens was a 200mm f1.8 for indoor sports.
Chris, I'm not a rocket scientist like you when it comes to picking cameras, as I actually had to do my homework. But when my cat sleeps on top of my 200 f1.8, it's actually ok, as the lens trunk is sealed.
I just hope that someday you too will have the oportunity to use those lenses as well, but it's not likely to happen till you go back to the poopy brand. Just the way it is! Have fun with your Nikon. ;-)
SS