22 replies to this topic

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Since the forum has been slow recently I thought I'd put together a birding (birdwatching) topic. I hope you all find this interesting and entertaining. First off let's go over the basics of birding.

 

 

1. Vocabulary

 

Birding = Birdwatching

Birder = Someone who watches birds

Lifer = A bird you haven't seen before

Life List = A list of all the birds you've ever observed usually tracked using Ebird

Ebird = An app made by Cornell university that tracks your location and allows you to report bird during an outing.

 

 

2. Basic Birding Ethics

 

When birding the goal should be to either observe, photograph, or record the birds without disturbing them. Some unethical birders will use a camera flash to photograph owls at night or make bird fly off to get a better angle on an image. Littering is a violation of any good birders philosophy. A good saying for all birders is "Leave no trace" or "Take only photographs". 

 

 

3. How Do You Bird?

 

Birding can be whatever you want it to be. You could just look at your yard birds with some binoculars and be content. You could go on long trips to Costa Rica with thousands in camera gear and Swarovski binoculars. Personally I do my birding in my yard or on trips whenever I can. I use a mid quality set of binoculars ($150) and a simple yet effective camera setup ($200). Birding can be dirt-cheap of cost thousands. It just depends on what you like to do. 

 

 

4. Where Should I Go To Bird?

 

Anywhere! You could go to the coast, mountains, suburbs, scrub lands, ocean, etc. Any state, any country, any season, birds can and will be found if you look. 

 

 

5. Why Should I Bird?

 

Birding can be a very relaxing hobby that promotes healthy habits like going outside and enjoying nature. It raises environment awareness through observations you make yourself. You may notice an invasive species bullying native species and realize how harmful they can be. You may see garbage all around nature and disapprove. Birding also has some aspects similar to ant keeping. Both birding and ant keeping have variety, interesting observations, searching for new things, and meeting others into the same things. If you like ant keeping birding could be your next hobby!

 

 

5. How Do I learn More?

 

I recommend going to BirdForum. BirdForum has lots of knowledgeable people who have been birding longer than I've been alive! I go by OrnithologyDevotee on BirdForum. Youtube has a lot of good YouTubers such as Bagerland Birding, The Dutch Birder, Hummingbird Spot, The Birding Voyage, Tim Siggs, Lesley The Bird Nerd, Doug Hitchcox, and more!

 

 

6. My Photography

 

Currently I use an old Nikon D300 with a 70-300mm lens for my bird photography. These are some of my favorite photos I've taken recently. I have a lot more but these are the highlights. My life list is now 49!

 

Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Allen's Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Red-whiskered Bulbul, Pycnonotus jocosus at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. They are an invasive, yet beautiful species.

 

Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis at The Huntington Botanical Gardens.

 

Orange-crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata at The Huntington Botanical Gardens. Warblers are one of my favorite types of birds!

[AntBoi3030]

Beautiful pictures! This is definitely one of those hobbies that are just good for you. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Beautiful pictures! This is definitely one of those hobbies that are just good for you. 

Thank you! I like how it gets me traveling more. I'm going down to San Diego and San Luis Obispo next month and a Korea trip with my friend in July! All for seeing birds.

[rptraut]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

I've enjoyed nature, and birds in particular, since I was a kid.    I was fascinated as I watched birds return in spring, build their nests and raise brood.   I saw those fledglings learn to find food and survive.   I would encourage everyone to consult the Cornell Labs site for general bird information, especially if you need help with identification.    https://www.allabout...rg/guide/search

 

 

 

Fox sparrows are seasonal visitors to our bird feeders as they refuel and continue on with their migration.   

 

 

We should all do as much as we can to improve our environment for birds.    We have three acres in the country where we've tried to create a sanctuary for birds, but we're surrounded by acres of agricultural fields that provide little or no habitat for birds or any wildlife.   By planting various types of trees, shrubs, and food plants in our gardens we try to provide elements necessary for birds to thrive.    

 

 

 

I don't have a formal life list, but being able to observe Bluebirds, attracted to the Arboretum where I volunteer, was definitely one of the highlights of my birding life. 

 

 

We've promoted the kinds of elements that encourage birds by providing input into the development of public areas such as our Arboretum, Community Center and school properties.   We educate through our Horticultural Society and home school groups.    Consider what you can do to improve the habitat for birds and wildlife.  

 

 

 

 

When we began to develop our gardens, we decided to focus on plants and plantings that would encourage butterflies and hummingbirds like this Ruby-throated immature male.   

 

 

We have plantings that provide food, shelter, hiding places, and nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.  There are nesting boxes, and we maintain bird feeders of many types.   Our tall spruce trees are favourite nesting places for Grackles and Sparrows while Turkey vultures often roost in those trees at night.    Monarchs roost there too on their annual migration.   Thick cedars and other shrubs provide cover and nesting sites for Cardinals, Catbirds, Thrashers, and nesting boxes are used by Screech Owls, Flickers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wrens, Flycatchers and Deer Mice.   

 

Food producing shrubs like Serviceberry, Chokecherry, red and black Elderberries, Dogwood, Raspberries and my fruit trees provide medium height cover, a transition zone between the tall trees and the plantings on the ground.    Our dog protects our birds from predators like outdoor cats.   The reward for all this effort is that our property is animated with the activity and songs of birds making our time outside interesting and entertaining.   We love our birds.   

 

 

 

 

The flowers in our gardens attract many pollinators, various kinds of bees, butterflies and even a Hummingbird Moth.   

 

 

I encourage you to think about the ways you can improve the habitat for birds in your neighborhood.   Think of it as improving the environment for nature's outdoor entertainment!

RPT

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gcsnelling]

I enjoy watching, trying to photograph birds, The app Merlin is a big help at time although you must use the Ids provided with caution. However I make a distinction between birders and true bird watchers. I am sure my next comment is going to ruffle a few feathers but I tend to define birders as those that are rude and do not follow any of the "rules" for responsible bird watching.

Edited by gcsnelling, April 4 2025 - 1:11 PM.

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

GASP! A CANADIAN GOOSE, HERE IN CANADA THEY WILL TRY TO STEAL YOUR SOUL AND HARASS YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TOO CLOSE.

 

Anyways, nice photos I think the hobby is nice, in fact, I also love photography and I want to start doing it soon. Some of the Canadian geese have already returned to Canada.

Edited by OwlThatLikesAnts, April 2 2025 - 4:57 AM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I enjoy watching, trying to photograph birds, The app Merlin is a big help at time although you must use the Ids provided with caution. However I make a distinction between birds and true bird watchers. I am sure my next comment is going to ruffle a few feathers but I tend to define birders as those that are rude and do not follow any of the "rules" for responsible bird watching.

Honestly I have to disagree. I know many "birders" who go out, travel, and observe birds in a respectful manner. I also run into many "birders" who are kind and point out interesting birds they saw in the area. Of course a few bad apples exist. Such as those who scare off rarities by trying to get a good photo. In my opinion a "bird watcher" is someone who appreciates wildlife and has begun to observe birds. A "birder" is usually (not always) someone who is much more into birds and visits places to observe new birds. 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

GASP! A CANADIAN GOOSE, HERE IN CANADA THEY WILL TRY TO STEAL YOUR SOUL AND HARASS YOU BECAUSE YOU GOT TOO CLOSE.

 

Anyways, nice photos I think the hobby is nice, in fact, I also love photography and I want to start doing it soon. Some of the Canadian geese have already returned to Canada.

Honestly, that's probably because Canada Geese are very aggressive. It's more for your safety than theirs. I've seen some Canada Geese attack people before.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

I've enjoyed nature, and birds in particular, since I was a kid.    I was fascinated as I watched birds return in spring, build their nests and raise brood.   I saw those fledglings learn to find food and survive.   I would encourage everyone to consult the Cornell Labs site for general bird information, especially if you need help with identification.    https://www.allabout...rg/guide/search

 

 

IMG_7314.JPG

 

Fox sparrows are seasonal visitors to our bird feeders as they refuel and continue on with their migration.   

 

 

We should all do as much as we can to improve our environment for birds.    We have three acres in the country where we've tried to create a sanctuary for birds, but we're surrounded by acres of agricultural fields that provide little or no habitat for birds or any wildlife.   By planting various types of trees, shrubs, and food plants in our gardens we try to provide elements necessary for birds to thrive.    

 

 

IMG_7038.JPG

 

I don't have a formal life list, but being able to observe Bluebirds, attracted to the Arboretum where I volunteer, was definitely one of the highlights of my birding life. 

 

 

We've promoted the kinds of elements that encourage birds by providing input into the development of public areas such as our Arboretum, Community Center and school properties.   We educate through our Horticultural Society and home school groups.    Consider what you can do to improve the habitat for birds and wildlife.  

 

 

 

IMG_6526.JPG

 

When we began to develop our gardens, we decided to focus on plants and plantings that would encourage butterflies and hummingbirds like this Ruby-throated immature male.   

 

 

We have plantings that provide food, shelter, hiding places, and nesting sites for a wide variety of birds.  There are nesting boxes, and we maintain bird feeders of many types.   Our tall spruce trees are favourite nesting places for Grackles and Sparrows while Turkey vultures often roost in those trees at night.    Monarchs roost there too on their annual migration.   Thick cedars and other shrubs provide cover and nesting sites for Cardinals, Catbirds, Thrashers, and nesting boxes are used by Screech Owls, Flickers, Nuthatches, Chickadees, Wrens, Flycatchers and Deer Mice.   

 

Food producing shrubs like Serviceberry, Chokecherry, red and black Elderberries, Dogwood, Raspberries and my fruit trees provide medium height cover, a transition zone between the tall trees and the plantings on the ground.    Our dog protects our birds from predators like outdoor cats.   The reward for all this effort is that our property is animated with the activity and songs of birds making our time outside interesting and entertaining.   We love our birds.   

 

 

 

IMG_7601.JPG

 

The flowers in our gardens attract many pollinators, various kinds of bees, butterflies and even a Hummingbird Moth.   

 

 

I encourage you to think about the ways you can improve the habitat for birds in your neighborhood.   Think of it as improving the environment for nature's outdoor entertainment!

RPT

Incredibly well said! I agree with everything you have stated. I have many feeders setup in my yard for hummingbirds and urban birds. I also don't spray pesticides on the lawn so the birds can eat the bugs. Though around the house is sprayed because my family is deathly afraid of spiders. Sadly I don't have as many birds that someone in the woods would have. It's interesting because over the past few years you notice things. Some birding spots have less of one thing and more of another (usually house finches). There are many non-profits you can support such as the ABA and the Audubon society. The more I read about extinct birds the more I realize the stories are similar. Almost always related to human greed or human expansion. I got gifted a book called "atlas of extinct animals" some time ago and found it quite interesting.

[rptraut]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

It must be obvious by my comments that I have a deep respect for nature, and I've spent most of my life promoting its preservation and conservation.    Just like canaries in coal mines used to warn the miners of poisonous gas by dying before the miners did, I feel indicators of our planet's health, like birds, show us that our planet is suffering by their declining numbers and diversity.    We should never forget that we depend on nature and natural processes for fresh air, clean water, food, shelter and disposal of our waste.   

 

Nature needs us to nurture it and strike a healthy balance between humanity, and the resources required to support the human population that, I fear, has already passed the tipping point for long-term sustainability on this planet.   But that doesn't stop me from planting trees and doing whatever I can to promote the expansion, preservation, and conservation of the natural resources that remain.  If we each do our part, we can have a positive impact.

RPT

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

It must be obvious by my comments that I have a deep respect for nature, and I've spent most of my life promoting its preservation and conservation.    Just like canaries in coal mines used to warn the miners of poisonous gas by dying before the miners did, I feel indicators of our planet's health, like birds, show us that our planet is suffering by their declining numbers and diversity.    We should never forget that we depend on nature and natural processes for fresh air, clean water, food, shelter and disposal of our waste.   

 

Nature needs us to nurture it and strike a healthy balance between humanity, and the resources required to support the human population that, I fear, has already passed the tipping point for long-term sustainability on this planet.   But that doesn't stop me from planting trees and doing whatever I can to promote the expansion, preservation, and conservation of the natural resources that remain.  If we each do our part, we can have a positive impact.

RPT

I agree. One of my greatest fears is by the time I'm old most of what I saw in my youth will be gone. Thousands of acres of forests covered in pavement, logging killing species before we even discover them, reef ecosystems slowly bleaching away, nepenthes on high mountains poached to extinction, and sadly much more. If everyone does their part I hope we can slow the decline of nature. I spent my morning and early afternoon cutting up fallen branches to be turned into mulch for a non-profit. 

[OwlThatLikesAnts]

 

Hello MyrmecologyMaven;

 

It must be obvious by my comments that I have a deep respect for nature, and I've spent most of my life promoting its preservation and conservation.    Just like canaries in coal mines used to warn the miners of poisonous gas by dying before the miners did, I feel indicators of our planet's health, like birds, show us that our planet is suffering by their declining numbers and diversity.    We should never forget that we depend on nature and natural processes for fresh air, clean water, food, shelter and disposal of our waste.   

 

Nature needs us to nurture it and strike a healthy balance between humanity, and the resources required to support the human population that, I fear, has already passed the tipping point for long-term sustainability on this planet.   But that doesn't stop me from planting trees and doing whatever I can to promote the expansion, preservation, and conservation of the natural resources that remain.  If we each do our part, we can have a positive impact.

RPT

I agree. One of my greatest fears is by the time I'm old most of what I saw in my youth will be gone. Thousands of acres of forests covered in pavement, logging killing species before we even discover them, reef ecosystems slowly bleaching away, nepenthes on high mountains poached to extinction, and sadly much more. If everyone does their part I hope we can slow the decline of nature. I spent my morning and early afternoon cutting up fallen branches to be turned into mulch for a non-profit. 

 

I agree, I’m very young right now but old enough to know that many species have gone extinct during my lifetime, it’s a sad thing that has been becoming a worse and worse problem, and I have noticed that people don’t seem to give 2 flying fudges about nature as much as me, and does not value its importance. I feel like the problem is that people will make a big deal about these things but it always ends up not happening because of money reasons or people just don’t care…

 

I really love nature, it’s been my interest since I was young. Hopefully there will still be cool animals to see when I grow up…

[rptraut]

Hello OwlThatLikesAnts;

 

During my lifetime I've seen the decline of many natural systems, but I've also seen reasons for hope.    When DDT was proven to affect birds' eggs preventing them from hatching properly, it's use was banned, and many birds have made a strong comeback.    In 1980 I had to travel all the way to British Columbia to see a bald eagle.  These days I see them all around the countryside and streams.   The same is true for other predatory birds like Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned hawk, Kestrel, Osprey, and various Owls.   I didn't see many of these birds when I was young.    This shows how society can work together for a common goal.

 

 

 

Home gardening is changing for the better as well.    The norm used to be what I called "scorched earth gardening" where each annual plant was surrounded by naked soil.  Today, perennials are preferred, and mulch keeps weeds down and moisture in.      Pollinator gardens and planted boulevards are often seen in residential areas.    More people are growing their own food and getting fresh air and exercise at the same time.   Trees are being planted.   All this gives me reason for hope.   Nature has an amazing ability to heal itself, if it just gets a little help.

RPT

 

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I went down to The Arboretum And Botanical Garden in LA today and came across a lot of very cool birds. This post is just some of my favorites birds I saw. If you want to see more photos and everything I managed to see take a look at my Ebird report. https://ebird.org/checklist/S222960677 I saw a Great Horned Owl in a tree.

 

 

A bit later in my walk around I saw a bunch of birders with huge camera systems on tripods. They made my Nikon D300 look like a toy! I went over and it turned out they found a nesting Great Horned Owl! Two owls in one trip! 

 

 

I came across a very interesting Wren I haven't seen before. It was digging around the dirt looking for bugs so fast most of my photos were blurry. This photo is the only clear one I got, but sadly it's in bad lighting. The Bewick's Wren is so small I thought it was a mouse at first! My vision is partly to blame for the brief confusion. I'm getting glasses next week. 

 

 

I heard from some friends that introduced parrots from the pet trade had been seen in the area. After hearing them in the gardens I finally got a view of them. They are very loud!

 

Red-crowned Amazon parrots

 

I got some good images of Allen's hummingbirds. I managed to get my shutter speed high enough that I was able to freeze the wings instead of having a big mess of blur.

 

 

I saw some Indian peafowl also know as peacocks. Very pretty birds. They were walking around the area even in the parking lot!

 

 

I also saw lots of Red-whiskered Bulbuls. I suspect the second photo is a nest. I saw two birds go into the nook at once.  I saw a bunch at The Huntington last week.

 

 

 

Some Canada Goose in the area as well. Very pretty "calm" birds.

 

 

Thanks for reading/viewing. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

 

 

 

[Artisan_Ants]

I also enjoy birding and have found 91 species within the state of PA. Its the one hobby that I really I got into when much younger (actually found my first queen ant birding). I also recently started bird photography last year in October and have recently got some nice pics! I’m still a newbie at it, but I’m slowly improving my skills. Most of these are pretty common besides the kestrel and teal (sorry if it’s hard to see, but teal is in the center of pic. Distant because I’m using an 55-250mm lens. Hoping to get a 150-600mm telephoto soon) and that’s because I practice on pretty much any bird I see even if I already found it in general; to enhance my skills. Here are few pics (all shot w/ Canon 70d):
1: Belted Kingfisher (Male)
2: American Kestrel (Female)
3: American Robin (?)
4: Mallard (Male)
5: Mallards (Male and Female)
6: Green-winged Teal (Male)

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Edited by Artisan_Ants, April 5 2025 - 1:29 PM.

[MyrmecologyMaven]

I also enjoy birding and have found 91 species within the state of PA. Its the one hobby that I really I got into when much younger (actually found my first queen ant birding). I also recently started bird photography last year in October and have recently got some nice pics! I’m still a newbie at it, but I’m slowly improving my skills. Most of these are pretty common besides the kestrel and teal (sorry if it’s hard to see, but teal is in the center of pic. Distant because I’m using an 55-250mm lens. Hoping to get a 150-600mm telephoto soon) and that’s because I practice on pretty much any bird I see even if I already found it in general; to enhance my skills. Here are few pics (all shot w/ Canon 70d):
1: Belted Kingfisher (Male)
2: American Kestrel (Female)
3: American Robin (?)
4: Mallard (Male)
5: Mallards (Male and Female)
6: Green-winged Teal (Male)

 

Very nice photos! If you don't mind I'd like to share a few critiques! So first of all some of your photos are very dark. Like your mallard photos. You may want to try a lower aperture setting such as f/4 or f/6 to allow more light into the lens to make the images pop! Some images such as your first one of the belted kingfisher are overexposed. A higher F-stop (aperture) like f/11 can help but probably won't fix it. Photos straight at the sky are difficult, especially when it's cloudy out. Your second photos of the kestrel is not properly focused. If you are using autofocus maybe try to adjust the focus manually. Older generation autofocus without eye-tracking technology sometimes have trouble focusing on the bird.

 

Remember improving your photography is all about learning from your mistakes over and over! I have a solid foundation of photography from a photography class I took for a few months a year or two back. Your camera setup is superior to mine in image quality. Your newer sensor allows for better quality image that are brighter than my D300.

 

Upgrading your lens may be a good idea. Your camera has a 1.6 times crop factor (crop sensor) so your 250 mm x 1.6 gives you a 400mm equivalent. My lens is 300mm with a 1.5 times crop factor (450mm equivalent). The more reach the better for bird photography. When I took the photo of the owl in the eucalyptus tree there was a huge crowd of birders. They had huge camera lenses (at least 800mm lenses) tripods and were trying to get good shots of the owl. They also had very nice camera bodies that cost thousands without the lens. My 300mm lens and small sensor couldn't get images even a fifth as good as theirs. If you look online and search for your camera setup photos you will find amazing photos. Photo quality can vary drastically depending on the photographers still level. My advice to you (that I have been given from people far better than me) is to not upgrade your body until you have mastered your "learner" camera body. 

 

Thank you for sharing your photos! Let me know if you need an explanation of anything camera related. Feel free to share more of your work on this thread!

[MyrmecologyMaven]

Get ready for some amazing photos! I have a new camera body (Nikon D7200) with much better shutter speed, less noise, and much better image quality arriving soon! I also have a nice big camera bag to carry all my gear. I found a nice Sigma 50mm f/2.8 macro lens for a good deal on eBay. I grabbed it and will use it to take some nice photos of insects on my birding trips. I'll also use it to take some better quality photos of my colonies. 

[Artisan_Ants]

I also enjoy birding and have found 91 species within the state of PA. Its the one hobby that I really I got into when much younger (actually found my first queen ant birding). I also recently started bird photography last year in October and have recently got some nice pics! I’m still a newbie at it, but I’m slowly improving my skills. Most of these are pretty common besides the kestrel and teal (sorry if it’s hard to see, but teal is in the center of pic. Distant because I’m using an 55-250mm lens. Hoping to get a 150-600mm telephoto soon) and that’s because I practice on pretty much any bird I see even if I already found it in general; to enhance my skills. Here are few pics (all shot w/ Canon 70d):
1: Belted Kingfisher (Male)
2: American Kestrel (Female)
3: American Robin (?)
4: Mallard (Male)
5: Mallards (Male and Female)
6: Green-winged Teal (Male)

 
Very nice photos! If you don't mind I'd like to share a few critiques! So first of all some of your photos are very dark. Like your mallard photos. You may want to try a lower aperture setting such as f/4 or f/6 to allow more light into the lens to make the images pop! Some images such as your first one of the belted kingfisher are overexposed. A higher F-stop (aperture) like f/11 can help but probably won't fix it. Photos straight at the sky are difficult, especially when it's cloudy out. Your second photos of the kestrel is not properly focused. If you are using autofocus maybe try to adjust the focus manually. Older generation autofocus without eye-tracking technology sometimes have trouble focusing on the bird.
 
Remember improving your photography is all about learning from your mistakes over and over! I have a solid foundation of photography from a photography class I took for a few months a year or two back. Your camera setup is superior to mine in image quality. Your newer sensor allows for better quality image that are brighter than my D300.
 
Upgrading your lens may be a good idea. Your camera has a 1.6 times crop factor (crop sensor) so your 250 mm x 1.6 gives you a 400mm equivalent. My lens is 300mm with a 1.5 times crop factor (450mm equivalent). The more reach the better for bird photography. When I took the photo of the owl in the eucalyptus tree there was a huge crowd of birders. They had huge camera lenses (at least 800mm lenses) tripods and were trying to get good shots of the owl. They also had very nice camera bodies that cost thousands without the lens. My 300mm lens and small sensor couldn't get images even a fifth as good as theirs. If you look online and search for your camera setup photos you will find amazing photos. Photo quality can vary drastically depending on the photographers still level. My advice to you (that I have been given from people far better than me) is to not upgrade your body until you have mastered your "learner" camera body. 
 
Thank you for sharing your photos! Let me know if you need an explanation of anything camera related. Feel free to share more of your work on this thread!

Thank you for the advice MyrmecologyMaven! Yeah I realized just how dark my mallard photos were compared to other birders with better cameras (and primarily settings) from the same location. They were very bright and popped out compared to mine when I checked ebird. I believe I took the picture at my lowest aperture to allow in as much light (f-stop 5.6) but I was using a very low ISO (100-400 I think, I’ll have to check my camera for the specific details) and it was also cloudy out (all these photos were from the same location) so I think that’s the problem. I watched of video on it a couple days after and realized I’d have to experiment with ISO and aperture quite a bit to get a good photo so that’s what I started doing. I figure in low light conditions (in a forest specifically) on a clear day, f-stop 5.6-6.3 and ISO 3200 work really well. I also realized when shooting at the sky (cloudy), I need low ISO. As for the kestrel pic, I believe I used manual focus the entire time for the practice. Every time I used autofocus long distance it would always take time to correctly focus on the bird (but I’m pretty sure that's just because of my settings). I’ll still be experimenting with different settings, and will have all week to take some new pics!

[MyrmecologyMaven]

 

 

I also enjoy birding and have found 91 species within the state of PA. Its the one hobby that I really I got into when much younger (actually found my first queen ant birding). I also recently started bird photography last year in October and have recently got some nice pics! I’m still a newbie at it, but I’m slowly improving my skills. Most of these are pretty common besides the kestrel and teal (sorry if it’s hard to see, but teal is in the center of pic. Distant because I’m using an 55-250mm lens. Hoping to get a 150-600mm telephoto soon) and that’s because I practice on pretty much any bird I see even if I already found it in general; to enhance my skills. Here are few pics (all shot w/ Canon 70d):
1: Belted Kingfisher (Male)
2: American Kestrel (Female)
3: American Robin (?)
4: Mallard (Male)
5: Mallards (Male and Female)
6: Green-winged Teal (Male)

 
Very nice photos! If you don't mind I'd like to share a few critiques! So first of all some of your photos are very dark. Like your mallard photos. You may want to try a lower aperture setting such as f/4 or f/6 to allow more light into the lens to make the images pop! Some images such as your first one of the belted kingfisher are overexposed. A higher F-stop (aperture) like f/11 can help but probably won't fix it. Photos straight at the sky are difficult, especially when it's cloudy out. Your second photos of the kestrel is not properly focused. If you are using autofocus maybe try to adjust the focus manually. Older generation autofocus without eye-tracking technology sometimes have trouble focusing on the bird.
 
Remember improving your photography is all about learning from your mistakes over and over! I have a solid foundation of photography from a photography class I took for a few months a year or two back. Your camera setup is superior to mine in image quality. Your newer sensor allows for better quality image that are brighter than my D300.
 
Upgrading your lens may be a good idea. Your camera has a 1.6 times crop factor (crop sensor) so your 250 mm x 1.6 gives you a 400mm equivalent. My lens is 300mm with a 1.5 times crop factor (450mm equivalent). The more reach the better for bird photography. When I took the photo of the owl in the eucalyptus tree there was a huge crowd of birders. They had huge camera lenses (at least 800mm lenses) tripods and were trying to get good shots of the owl. They also had very nice camera bodies that cost thousands without the lens. My 300mm lens and small sensor couldn't get images even a fifth as good as theirs. If you look online and search for your camera setup photos you will find amazing photos. Photo quality can vary drastically depending on the photographers still level. My advice to you (that I have been given from people far better than me) is to not upgrade your body until you have mastered your "learner" camera body. 
 
Thank you for sharing your photos! Let me know if you need an explanation of anything camera related. Feel free to share more of your work on this thread!

Thank you for the advice MyrmecologyMaven! Yeah I realized just how dark my mallard photos were compared to other birders with better cameras (and primarily settings) from the same location. They were very bright and popped out compared to mine when I checked ebird. I believe I took the picture at my lowest aperture to allow in as much light (f-stop 5.6) but I was using a very low ISO (100-400 I think, I’ll have to check my camera for the specific details) and it was also cloudy out (all these photos were from the same location) so I think that’s the problem. I watched of video on it a couple days after and realized I’d have to experiment with ISO and aperture quite a bit to get a good photo so that’s what I started doing. I figure in low light conditions (in a forest specifically) on a clear day, f-stop 5.6-6.3 and ISO 3200 work really well. I also realized when shooting at the sky (cloudy), I need low ISO. As for the kestrel pic, I believe I used manual focus the entire time for the practice. Every time I used autofocus long distance it would always take time to correctly focus on the bird (but I’m pretty sure that's just because of my settings). I’ll still be experimenting with different settings, and will have all week to take some new pics!

 

Photography is all about learning new things! A better camera will always help because older cameras have lots of noise at a higher iso. My 70-300mm lens is f/4-5.6 which is a solid in decent light, but a bit limiting in low light. I may just be spoiled from using f/1.8 and f/2.8 lenses for landscape photography. Remember, if you want to learn don't use auto mode! Use full manual mode so you can set everything ideally and practice. My D300 gets super noisy above 1200 iso. My new D7200 will have better specs and settings with double the megapixels. I'm taking a trip to San Diego in early May and will be hitting a bunch of birding spots along the way. Make sure to go out and practice when you can! Share some of your favorite photos here!

[Artisan_Ants]

Headed up to NYC yesterday to visit relatives. Stopped at Central Park at the end and got some absolute crisp flicks! The combo I used here was f-stop 5.6 and ISO 1250 for all shots (cloudy day)! I wanted to head up towards the reservoir, but only stayed briefly as I had to head back soon. I was able to get to the Great Lake otherwise where I got the duck shot. The best part about being around here is that the wildlife hardly shy’s away from everyone because of the constant influx and people and urbanization; allowing for amazing closeups! As a matter of fact, I got some of the honey roasted nuts over there and while passing by, a gray squirrel hopped right next to me demanding a nut, which I gave. Will continue to experiment with different combos though!
Following species:
1. Mallard [Domestic] (Male)
2. House Sparrow (Male)
3. Canada Goose (?)

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Edited by Artisan_Ants, April 19 2025 - 1:45 PM.