Another Day, Another Birdcam
This may qualify me for the "Off-The-Deep-End" list, but I have installed a second BirdCam. This one is sited at the edge of a canopy formed by large Douglas Firs, with an understory of smaller trees and garden plantings. The so-called "edge effect habitat" is known to be ideal for wildlife diversity and sightings. Hopefully this concept will also apply to backyard landscaping.
Siting a BirdCam station is similar to locating feeders, with a couple of extra considerations:
- Close to cover and escape routes so the birds will feel safe
- Straightforward access for both birds and people
- Convenient to the house to make it easy to replenish feeders and to inspect and maintain the BirdCam
- Away from predators such as cats (our local coyotes take care of that)
- Away from nest boxes; feeder traffic may discourage use of nearby nest boxes
- Good lighting for photos as with any camera; the BirdCam tends to produce blurry or poor quality images in low light
- Sheltered from wind which might jiggle the BirdCam
- Locate where there is an appealing background for bird photos; avoid too much clutter to keep the birds the primary subjects
I set up the suet feeder a few days ago before the BirdCam arrived. While I was installing the camera, a Red-breasted Nuthatch came for breakfast. As I attached the mounting arm, he took his snack within two feet of me. I have had the same experience with Chickadees and Wrens. I expect to see more of all of these species in this location, along with Flickers and maybe even a Pileated Woodpecker. Seeing a Pileated at the old suet feeder was the inspiration for acquiring the first BirdCam. Catching a photo of these beautiful birds remains my ongoing quest.