There is a new project to help support birds in our yards that informs us how to plant gardens that attract and benefit birds – resident birds, migrating birds, foraging birds, resting birds – even nesting birds. This new outreach project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, "Garden for Birds," is bringing birders in the United States and Canada together to better inform us about how the plants that we add to our garden impacts birds and biodiversity. But even more than a "garden," we are truly talking about landscaping our yard, and like us, birds need food, water, shelter, and safe places to raise their young. To meet these needs, birds require quality habitat.

Birding festivals are many things to many birders. Perhaps most of all, they provide great opportunities for you to seek out and view new species of birds on field trips led by local birders who are familiar with the area who will help you improve your ability to identify birds and provide insights about bird behaviors you witness. In addition to well-established birding fests, each year we see communities and organizations start new birding festivals to serve local birders, school groups, and birders who travel to see birds and learn more in the context of a social event during a peak birding period. 

An apparent breakthrough that should be instrumental in protecting birds from crashing into windows and tall buildings when migrating at night. Photometrics AI, a street-lighting optimization company, is now using bird migration forecasts as part of its lighting management platform. Cities can now use the Photometrics AI platform, which provides an automated feature that dims lights when information from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's BirdCast bird migration monitoring system signals a big migration night that poses high risks for bird-window collisions. Their new AI technology helps to protect birds by automatically dimming lights when it matters most.

A second spring breakthrough of Snow Geese and other waterfowl broke through Thursday with almost constant flocks flying northwest. Primarily Snow Geese, but the first flock I viewed was a serious mix of Arctic nesting geese – White-fronted Geese, Cackling Geese, Ross's Geese, plus blue morph and white morph Snow Geese – what a great way to usher in a "repeat migration" event in south-central North Dakota. There were plenty of raptors headed north too, including 8 Bald Eagles, 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Merlin, and 3 Northern Harriers that included 2 males and the first female of spring. 

German Precision Optics (GPO) is introducing a new binocular that will elevate your birding experiences: The GPO Passion 10x42 HD Binoculars are German designed and engineered to combine quality, features, price, and value to benefit the most discerning birders. They feature a harmonious blend of size, weight, and magnification, packed with premium features to make them a standout choice for birders. Unleash the power of double-laminated HD objective lenses that provide unparalleled clarity, and the GPObright high-transmission coatings infuse every view with brilliant light that lets you search for every detail.

The Right Pack is a favorite backpack from JanSport, and for good reason. The Right Pack features an internal laptop or tablet sleeve, a side water bottle pocket, and a suede leather bottom for extra durability – and it is available in 11 colors. The Right Pack backpack is highly praised for its design, quality, size, and it is made with a premium Cordura fabric. Adjustable padded shoulder straps provide comfort even when the pack is filled, and the fully padded back panel provides added comfort, and laptop protection. The large front organizer pocket includes a key clip, and the roomy main compartment has a quality liner. 

A unique bird feeder with a twist, the new All Weather 3 Seed Twist Feeder has 3 chambers to offer 1, 2, or 3 different kinds of seeds or seed mixes – see which seeds are most popular in your yard. Available from Duncraft, the new All Weather 3 Seed Twist Feeder is easy to fill, clean, and hang. It measures 4 inches in diameter by 16 inches long, and holds up to 2½ pounds of seeds – just remove the roof to fill the feeder from the top. Designed for year-round use, this all-weather feeder provides birds with 6 perches to accommodate more birds at once. 

A Phoenix Petrel was identified and photographed to document it as the first record of this species in the American Birding Association (ABA) Area – and the First State Record for Hawaii! Four other First State Records were also documented, including a Yellow-billed Loon in Maryland, a Sage Thrasher in Ohio, a Neotropic Cormorant in eastern Oregon, and an inland Red-footed Booby in Alabama. Two more record-setting birds recorded by birders included a Fourth Provincial Record Whooper Swan in British Columbia, and a Seventh State Record Barnacle Goose in the New Hampshire, and there's more: 

Spring is a season of renewal, so this first week of spring I thought it would be a good plan to revisit a few basics that will help you improve the percentage of quality bird photos you take, just by following some simple bird photography techniques. The information is pretty basic, but ultra-important! So let’s get started by delving into 3 especially important bird photography topics – Lighting, Positioning, and Timing. This information will be good reference material for more advanced birders, but for newer bird photographers it is information you can use immediately that will make a huge difference on your photographs now, and in years to come – maybe even during your next outing. Let’s get started so you can enjoy more productive birding episodes with your camera right away. 

Lighting can make or break any given photograph, and bird photography requires good light as much or more than other forms of photography. Because birds are found outdoors, sunlight will be your primary light source that illuminates your subject. Sunlight provides the brightest, truest colors, it “activates” iridescent plumage, and it adds a spark of light reflected in the eye of the bird when you are in the right position. Sunlight also provides the chance of using the fastest possible shutter speed to ensure sharp photographs, especially during action photography. 

Conversely, if there is no sunlight or inadequate sunlight from the correct direction to illuminate the bird or birds before you, the colors are subdued, at best. Also, the reduced shutter speed may affect the sharpness of the birds’ image in the photos you take, especially when you are taking action photographs, including photos of flying birds. With lighting in mind, I plan all my bird photography outings by asking the questions, “Is there sunshine?” and “Will there be sunshine?” I usually find something else to do under cloudy conditions, although non-photography birding is still an option under the clouds. But you are best off waiting for the next good sunlight period to use your camera, unless you’re happy with just getting some practice time. Good lighting is all-important for bird photography. 

Positioning:  To make the best use of good sunlight, you need to be positioned between the sun and the bird. As a quick reference, your shadow will point to where you really want the bird or birds to be positioned to take advantage of optimum lighting on your subject. Try to position yourself so your shadow points directly at your subject. Get in the habit of checking your shadow as soon as you walk outside so you know the direction of the light, then plan your birding walk or drive so you will be in a position to edge into the best position with your shadow pointing toward your subject. Another way to double-check your positioning and where you need to be is to keep the sun at your back (but also check for your shadow in front of you).

The way you position yourself can also be related to your proximity to a bird. Become familiar with the range of your telephoto or zoom lens, and how close you need to be to your subject to make your photo worthwhile. In most cases you will want to fill about half of the photo frame. With that in mind, you can gauge how close you want to get in order to take the best possible photos. But if you can’t get as close as you would like to be, remember that you can always crop extraneous background after you get a sharp photo in the field. Always be sure to keep the birds in foremost in mind by not disrupting their activities by trying to get too close. With time, you will learn how birds act and react, and you will usually get an indication of when they become uncomfortable with your approach in advance. 

Keep in mind that it can sometimes be effective to photograph from a lower profile – squatting or kneeling to get closer to the bird’s level when that is possible, or when it’s effective. For example, you may want to emphasize birds as they swim or wade in water, or while they forage along a beach, marsh, or woodland edge. 

Positioning can also refer to your posture: Whenever possible, make a good base by spreading your legs slightly and stabilize your camera-lens combo in the best possible way – lean your lens against a stationary object when possible, like a tree trunk, branch, post, building, vehicle, etc. It also helps to tuck your elbows into your chest or the sides of your rib cage to help stabilize yourself and your camera, rather than holding your elbows extended out from your shoulders – and hold your breath when you take a photo. (These tips are good for stabilizing your binocular views too.) 

Timing: To make the most of my time in the field, I plan photo outings when the sun is shining, or when it will be shining. So I constantly refer to weather reports to plan ahead for good sunlight periods – especially when I’m planning an extended drive or birding trip. A strong wind can be a factor too, especially because birds tend to lay low and be less active during strong wind, especially in open areas including water features and grasslands.

Timing and good lighting are often interwoven, with the best light options during a given day often dictated by the time of day. The best photo time is when the sun is at a 30- to 60-degree angle above ground level (90 degrees is straight overhead). From late spring to early autumn, when the sun is overhead during midday, the best times to photograph birds is during the morning and late afternoon hours. But during late fall and winter the sun is at a relatively low angle in the south throughout much of the day, so you have a greater period of good sunlight angles for bird photography – as long as the sun is shining. 

Part of trying to optimize your photo periods is to avoid shadows on the birds. For example, when the sun is overhead, the underside of any bird will show a shadow that shows darker in a photograph than it does in your view. Even if the sun is shining, if the bird is in a shaded location, the colors, contrast, and sharpness will be muted. It’s all part of bird photography, and it’s a very important part. 

Another important aspect regarding timing is that when you are positioned to take advantage of the best light with a bird in your photo frame, keep in mind that birds are quick. Take an initial photo as quickly as possible, then keep the bird in focus and wait for the next, possibly better photo chance to push the shutter button. Even just the turn of the bird’s head can provide a different perspective and an optional photo. But birds are quick, they are here, and then they’re gone, in an instant. They perch, then they move, hop, fly, or run to the next position. Try your best to anticipate such movements, and make the most of them to take action photos in addition to portrait images. 

Although birds are as unpredictable as any animals, it’s always good to try to predict what might happen next, and anticipate their movements in advance so you are prepared and ready to take action photographically. Even at your fastest, it takes a split second for you to react, so in the sometimes fast-paced action of bird photography, try to predict birds’ movements and be prepared. When the bird’s action warrants it, take a series of photos – with the hope that your prediction and reactions pay off with a select photo, or a series of 2 or 3 images. 

Today, our digital cameras are so advanced that we can rely on their exceptional technical qualities, which permits us up to concentrate more on real bird photography – the extension of birding that I believe provides the greatest rewards and the most exciting encounters with birds. So much of what I know about photographing birds comes from experience. Eventually, your mind and body work together, sometimes instinctively, sometimes out of practice, and sometimes with the advantage of experience. Above all, get out there and seek your own bird photography experiences: Use some of my suggestions, learn in the process, and improve your own photo techniques and preferences. Do what works for you, and enjoy yourself and the photos you create.

                       Article and Photographs by Paul Konrad

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