How to Photograph Birds and Wildlife in Your Backyard

Isn't it amazing the variety of birds that are attracted to your feeders right in the backyard? Did you ever want to get a closer look? Here's how.

Start with a nice variety of feeds. Suet attracts many different species of brilliant colored woodpeckers. Thistle is good for the wild canaries and finches. It's so neat to see the canaries turn that bright yellow in the summer. Any mix with sunflower seeds is a good attractant. Cardinals, blue jays, wrens, and many other birds love sunflower seeds. I have two pair of the giant Pileated Woodpeckers that frequent my yard. They are constantly hammering away at dead stumps in the yard. If you can, leave some dead trees standing. If you live in the right region of the United States, chances are you will see one of these rare and beautiful giant woodpeckers. They are attracted to the numerous insects that thrive in dead wood.

I put up several birdfeeders in my wooded backyard two years ago. Using binoculars, I got some great views of the incredible details of our winged friends. But I wanted to get closer, and wanted to take some photos too. The birds were very skittish and always aware of my presence. If I attempted to even open the back door, they would fly away. We have an outdoor cat that keeps the birds on constant alert mode. But I can't get rid of that pesky feline; he keeps all the mice and snakes away from the house.

As a deer hunter, I came up with an idea.

I purchased a tree stand. The kind deer hunters also call a ladder stand. They are made of metal and are usually camouflaged. I painted mine with camo paints so it would stay weather proof. It is twelve feet tall and has a waterproof cushion on the metal seat platform. I erected it, according to the instructions, and strapped it to a nice size tree. I also bought a camouflaged blind. It's just cloth-like material that a hunter can use on the ground to blend in with the foliage. I nailed together a small frame and attached it to the tree and stand where I would be sitting. Then I tacked the blind onto the frame, creating a tent around my viewing area. This entire project cost me about one hundred dollars.