My favorite bird photography tip is the easiest for most people to implement and is one that I’ve written about before, use the tools you have in hand…like your yard. In my case it’s my friend Brenda Berry’s yard, but the point is that you can make some great images without traveling all over the country. And the more often you are there the better the images will be. You’ll learn the birds routine and then you can manipulate that behavior to get the shot that you want.

Bird Photography Tip: Create a Perch

The easiest ways to manipulate the birds in order to make better images is to create pretty perches. In this case I took a branch from Brenda’s American Beautyberry and simply stuck in the bird feeder. The bird feeder was setup with a great background and in the right light. Then I setup my camera, sat in a chair and waited for the shot. I’ve written about this with hummingbirds before…HERE. It really is not much easier than this…

Pretty perch setup using a bird feeder by Jeff Wendorff

Pretty perch setup using a bird feeder

Dark-eyed Junco on an American Beautyberry perch photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Dark-eyed Junco on an American Beautyberry perch

I made all of these in just a couple of hours hanging out in the yard on a sunny morning…nice way to enjoy the day.

Spotted Towhee hunting for food on a colorful bush photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Spotted Towhee

Steller's Jay in fall colors photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Steller’s Jay

First winter Golden-crowned Sparrow photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco in fall foliage photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Dark-eyed Junco

Black-capped Chickadee hiding in the foliage photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Black-capped Chickadee

Bird Photography Tip: Watch and learn the birds behavior

This hummingbird was photographed coming in to the feeder. I was watching and learned that they usually hover for a few moments before landing on the feeder. Photograph them at that moment so you don’t have to photoshop out the feeder…

Male Female Anna's Hummingbird in flight approaching the feeder photographed bY Jeff Wendorff

Male Female Anna’s Hummingbird in flight approaching the feeder

Female Anna's Hummingbird posing on a branch perch photographed by Jeff Wendorff

Female Anna’s Hummingbird posing on a branch perch

Bird Photography Portfolio

I should make a gallery for all of the images that I’ve made in Brenda’s yard, but in the mean time you can browse all of my bird photography online. I know that’s pretty fun, but wait there is more, you can order a print if you like or license the images for your own needs. Check out my bird photography…HERE.

Photography Workshops

I lead photography workshops around the country specializing in Wildlife Nature and Creative Photography. Check out my website, I’m sure i have a workshop that you would enjoy. Wildlife Workshops is…HERE.