Male House Sparrow

Setting Up Your Garden for Bird Photography

Today, we’re diving into the wild suburban wilderness of… well, your garden! Why? Because no matter how lovely and lustrous the landscapes of far-off lands might be, sometimes the best wildlife is right under your nose, or in this case, perched on your garden fence. Here’s a quick guide on Setting Up Your Garden for Bird Photography.

Keep those water sources and feeders topped up and clean
Keep those water sources and feeders topped up and clean

Step 1: Going Native, Naturally!

First off, let’s get this straight – wild birds aren’t keen on neat lawns and prim flower beds. They are a bit like me on a Monday morning; they prefer things a bit rough around the edges. We’ve let our garden go mini-Amazon with forests of horsetail and wildflowers – it’s like ‘Bird Disneyland’ here!

Bird photography perches collecting from the local wood
Bird photography perches collected from the local wood

Step 2: Setting the Stage with Perches

When it comes to perches, remember, not all branches are created equal. Fallen branches with a bit of moss or lichen are like the red carpet for birds. It’s a bit of a workout, but taking a gander in the woods for these gems pays off. You can set them up in locations where you’ve observed your feathered friends hanging out.

My Work in Progress Pallet Hide
My Work in Progress Pallet Hide

Step 3: Food Placement is Key

If you want to be a bird-magnet, you gotta learn the ABC of food placement. Always place food near your prime shooting spots, but make sure they’re a safe distance from potential predators (sorry, neighbourhood cats). Bushes and trees offer great camouflage and make your little friends feel right at home.

Step 4: Mind the Light

Now, onto the nitty-gritty – camera settings. Since we’re dealing with flighty subjects, a fast shutter speed is crucial (I’m talking 1/2000th of a second fast). ISO settings will depend on the time of day and weather conditions.

But remember, your garden isn’t a static stage; the light changes throughout the day, so be prepared to adapt. All my photo’s are taken between 400mm and 500mm in my garden. We get good light so I manually set the ISO low.

I sometimes turn to manual focus and focus in on one perch and wait patiently for that perfect moment.

Step 5: Cleanliness is Next to Birdliness

I know, I know, it’s not the most glamorous part of wildlife photography, but keeping your bird feeders clean is crucial for preventing avian illnesses like Bird Flu. Plus, it gives you brownie points with the birds.

Step 6: Water Source

If there’s one thing birds love as much as food, it’s a good bath. Set up a shallow water source for your visitors to drink and bathe. It’s like a bird spa retreat, and it offers fantastic photo opportunities.

With these steps in place, your garden can become an oasis for birdlife, giving you the chance to watch and photograph our feathered friends daily. It’s also a grand way to keep track of local species, witness fledglings grow up, and if you’re really quiet and patient, spot a hedgehog or a bat (who said birding was only for the birds?).

Twice this Sparrowhawk has visited our garden
Twice this Sparrowhawk has visited our garden

5 Interesting Facts About my Garden Photography Setup.

  1. Sparrowhawks, known for their bird-catching prowess, are among our rare garden visitors.
  2. Starlings, House Sparrows, and House Martins often nest in the eaves of houses.
  3. Garden birding is a fantastic way to observe broods of fledglings grow up each year.
  4. Many birds appreciate a shallow water source for drinking and bathing.
  5. A well-set garden can even attract nocturnal wildlife, like bats and hedgehogs.

Alright, there we have it, folks! From your garden to the wild, I hope this guide helps your photography take flight. And remember, it’s not just about the perfect snap, but the joy of inviting nature into your backyard.

So, keep your feeders filled, your camera at the ready, and your sense of humour in check (you’ll need it when a woodpigeon photo bombs your shot of a rare finch).

Be sure to bookmark my site, check back often for more tips and tales from the lens, and maybe share your own wild garden snapshots, too!


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Twiggy the Hedgehog