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| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
I love everything about being outdoors. The fresh air and sunshine, the tall forest canopies, the woodland trails, the open meadows, rivers, lakes and oceans. I could go on and on. Unfortunately, though, Pennsylvania winters aren't the most accommodating to an amateur photographer whose favorite subjects include close-ups of flowers, insects and other small creatures. To get through the long winter months, I like to attract lots of different birds to my bird feeder, not only to photograph but also to simply view and enjoy. If you have a yard with lots of trees, your options for feeders are endless but if you live in a small apartment on an upper floor, a
small and simple window feeder that attaches directly to the window works perfectly for viewing and photographing birds. Another option is to attach a
decorative plant hook outside of the window to hang a
feeder from. There are all types of feeders in many shapes and sizes including
spheres,
tubes and even
lady bugs! Whichever one you choose, be sure to hang it at a level for optimum viewing. An advantage of hanging a feeder from an upper-level window is that it is much more difficult for squirrels to steal the food before the birds can get to it.
One of of my favorite birds is the
Tufted Titmouse. I love its large, round eyes and adorable little gray "tuft" of feathers atop its head. This little guy was photographed clinging to my fire escape on a cold and snowy day
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Tufted Titmouse
https://www.zazzle.com/flutterography*
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The
House Finch is another interesting bird to watch. The red feathers on the male's upper-half make it look like it dove head-first into a bushel of berries!
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| House Finch (male) |
There are many different varieties of feed to choose from depending on the types of birds you want to attract. A
sock feeder is a good option for attracting finches such as the House Finches pictured above and can also easily be hung near a window. Being I enjoy seeing not only finches but also many other different types of birds stopping by my feeder, I prefer to use a
seed mix that most birds will
love.
When I decided to switch to a
suet feeder to try something new, I had the treat of getting an up-close view of a
Red-belied Woodpecker. This striking bird couldn't get enough of the homemade suet I bought at a local farmers market. Many recipes can be found online with instructions to
make your own suet and even some
kits but if that isn't your thing, there are several varieties of pre-made
suet cakes available for purchase.
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker (male) |
If putting up a feeder isn't something that interests you, taking walk around your neighborhood or a a trip to your local park are some good options. The bare trees and lack of vegetation during the winter months are prime for observing birds and other wildlife.
You may even catch the magnificent
Red-tailed Hawk circling overhead searching for prey.
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| Red-tailed Hawk |
A nice set of
compact binoculars as well as a
field guide for bird identification are good things to have on hand before heading outside but are also useful for watching birds from the comfort of your living room. Either way, taking time to enjoy our feathered friends are a great way to chase away the winter blues!
