The Zen Birdfeeder

Hummingbird Success with Birdcam

 
Three times I had tried to use the Wingscapes Birdcam to take motion-activated images of hummingbirds at my feeders. Each time, a whole day of shooting produced nothing.  I had the sensitivity set HIGH, the camera up close and set on the appropriate distance, the number of pictures per event set at between 5 and 10, the aim was right, the rest in between event set at 2min.  But no luck. Admittedly it was set up on the shaded side of the house, but I've taken Birdcam pictures in deep shade before.

I talked to Birdcam developer Bart Stephens and my friend Melissa Morgan of Wingscapes while they were at the Wild Birds Unlimited vendor mart; they were very interested in the problem I was having and suggested moving the camera back. They asked me to keep them posted.

Last week, I set up the Birdcam in a position slightly above the feeder (I had previously had it aimed upward toward the feeder).  And I moved it back a little, just at about 2 feet.  At the end of the day, I checked my memory card with much anticipation:  SUCCESS!
 
 

I think the difference was the aim of the camera. Aiming at the feeder from below it may have caused the motion sensor to miss the action ABOVE the feeder. Aiming slightly downward from a camera position above the feeder may have helped catch these tremendously fast birds.
 

I'd be interested in hearing from other Birdcam users about your experiences taking images of hummingbirds.
 

The Wingscapes Birdcam is available at Wild Birds Unlimited - Saratoga Springs NY and at many other WBU stores across the country and in Canada. By purchasing the Birdcam at your local WBU store, you'll be able to talk to experienced folks, many of whom have tried the Birdcam and would love to share their experiences with you!

Birdbath Activity (Captured by BirdCam)

Had the Wingscapes BirdCam aimed at the heated birdbath one day last week.  Not super busy, but here's what visited:

Grey Squirrel

Tufted Titmouse

Black-capped Chickadee

Tuftie coming in for a landing

Heated Birdbaths and Wingscapes BirdCams are available at many Wild Birds Unlimited stores.

Wingscapes BirdCam Blog

The Wingscapes BirdCam Blog recently featured us in their "BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder" post.  Back in December, I highlighted just some of the many images and videos of birds taken with the motion-activated BirdCam.  If you didn't get to check them out back then, here's the links: 

Monday: Downy-ing the Suet
Tuesday: Eliminator Squirrel-Proof Feeder
Wednesday: Captured Critters
Thursday: Bathing Beauties and Odds & Ends
Friday: Avian Avideo 

Here's a recent picture taken with the Wingscapes BirdCam

Check out the post on the Wingscapes BirdCam Blog.  And many thanks to Bart and Melissa over at Wingscapes.

Great Start to a New Year at the Feeders

Holidays like Christmas and New Years Day make great Project FeederWatch days.  With over one foot of snow over the past two days, the activity at the feeders is extremely strong.  Here's some images from the day.

Dark-eyed Junco feeding on a coneflower head sticking through the snow.

Black capped Chickadee

Hairy Woodpecker at cedar suet log filled with hot pepper suet (no squirrels!)

Pine Grosbeak, Blue Jays, and Hairy Woodpecker sharing a feeder

Mourning Dove all puffed up

American Tree Sparrow and Common Redpoll sharing a seed cylinder

To finish, here's the activity I had all day at my finch feeding station, packed full of Common Redpolls.  Video images were taken on the Wingscapes BirdCam.

Happy New Years to you all!

Wingscapes BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder

Avian Avideo

Our final day of Wingscapes BirdCam Week features videoclips that were captured this summer and fall with the BirdCam.

Day at the Birdbath

WBU Finch Feeder Activity

A Day at the WBU APS Setup

A Good Bath Ruined

I'll be back behind the Wingscapes BirdCam soon and will post BirdCam new images and videos periodically on The Zen Birdfeeder.  Stay tuned!

Wingscapes BirdCam is available at Wild Birds Unlimited Saratoga Springs.  Take a moment to check out the Wingscapes BirdCam blog.

Wingscapes BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder

Bathing Beauties

All these images were captured this summer and fall with the Wingscapes BirdCam.  Click on any image to enlarge.

American Goldfinches

Blue Jays

Chipping Sparrows

Blue Jay

Odds and Ends

American Goldfinches on WBU Mesh Finch Feeder w/Decorative Dome and Tray

Blue Jay on WBU Peanut Pantry with Tray

Tomorrow:  Avian Avideo

Wingscapes BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder

Wordless Wednesday - Captured Critters

 

Tomorrow:
Bathing Beauties

Wingscapes BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder

Eliminator Squirrel-Proof Feeder - Squirrels Not Allowed!

All these images were captured this summer and fall with the Wingscapes BirdCam.  Click on any image to enlarge.

Red-breasted Nuthatch and male Purple Finch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Goldfinches
Black capped Chickadee
American Goldfinch and Black capped Chickadee
Female and male Purple Finches

These images are a testament to two great products. Obviously, the BirdCam did a nice job in capturing images of birds visiting my feeder throughout the day. This feeder is on the wooded, shady west side of the house, but it took many nice images.  When it got too dark to take images, it stopped automatically.

But the BirdCam also captured the Eliminator Birdfeeder doing IT'S job - feeding the birds and NOT the squirrels.  All the time the BirdCam was aimed at this feeder, not a single squirrel picture was taken.

Tomorrow:  Wordless Wednesday - Captured Critters

Wingscapes BirdCam Week at The Zen Birdfeeder

All this week, I will feature images and videos I captured this summer and fall with the Wingscapes BirdCam.

Ever wonder what goes on at your birdfeeders or birdbath all day long?  I found out by putting out the Wingscapes BirdCam, which captured digital photos or 10-second videoclips of my birds all day long.

   

Caught Downy-ing the Suet

Tomorrow:  Eliminator Squirrel-Proof Feeder - Squirrels Not Allowed!