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This Woman Set Up A Feeder Cam For Birds In Her Yard, And The Results Are Extraordinary (30 Pics)
Birds have always been a symbol of freedom. But because of their liberating ability to fly, they seem so unreachable and mysterious to us. Luckily there is a way to meet with nature face to face and explore all types of birds in their natural setting without scaring them away or causing any harm.
Lisa, who goes by the name Ostdrossel on her social media, has always been fascinated by nature and different bird types, so when following her love to Macomb County in Michigan from Germany, she had an urge to get a little closer to the colorful birds in her yard that are uncommon in her homeland. She began exploring the ways to make it possible, and as a result, she has thousands of cool photos capturing different gorgeous bird species, their funny expressions, majestic poses, and sometimes crazy behavior. We showed some of her shots on Bored Panda 2 years ago, but since then many more beautiful birds have visited Lisa’s yard for the treat.
While experimenting with all kinds of foods to lure the birds in, she’d also set up up a camera trap that helps her implement her idea of exploring the birds from up close. She uses a bird feeder cam, which consists of a camera box, a macro lens, and an attachable bird feeding platform. She uses a tiny camera equipped with a motion sensor so that when a bird comes to eat, the camera photographs in a non-intrusive way. Her usual evening routine is going through an impressive number of photos taken during the day that can reach up to 7000. A photoshoot takes place every day in Lisa’s yard under any weather conditions.
The birds come back to Lisa‘s yard regularly, and some of them visit so often, you can actually recognize them among the rich gallery and notice their personalities shining through. From goofy doves to sad blue jays to hilarious bluebirds, enjoy the amazing insight into the life of beautiful birds.
More info: ostdrossel.tumblr.com | Facebook | Instagram | twitter.com | Etsy
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#2
This bird has teeth!
FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago (edited)
Did anybody else think he actually had teeth at first or was it just me?
Elicio Ember 6 years ago
Corvids are as smart as many primates. Notice: -Only corn kernels from a bowl where most seeds are sunflower seeds. -He is not eating them, he is gathering as much as possible to either take them to a stash or to share them. -He is staring DIRECTLY at the camera... he of course knows something is there.
Amazon QT 6 years ago
A lot of birds are smart, but there’s some that are very smart!!
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Broken Bay 6 years ago
The name "grackle" sounds like it should belong to a bird with teeth.
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Bobbi Newell 6 years ago (edited)
It's a little-known fact that Grackles like to make believe that grains of corn are human teeth, similar to human children at Halloween time pretending that pieces of candy corn are vampire teeth.
Coreen Kerr 6 years ago
With that being said do they actually have teeth? Thanks & take care Coreen
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Raffaelina Andreoli 6 years ago
This bird is smart as f**** to just pick out only 1 kind of seed from all the seeds in the bowl!! He is now my hero !!
#3
The birds had lots to say today.
LanteiaTG 6 years ago
Only in the last 3 years have we started getting North Eastern Bluebirds in our yard. They're beautiful and always entertaining.
danielw 6 years ago
we just had an article on NPR this week, talking about how migration patterns are changing with the weather (specifically, chickadees in maine, where they're arguing about which chickadee, since, apparently, Massachusetts took the black capped and the other probably won't go down as far.)
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Lingon 6 years ago
They look like they have been married for a very very long time and he just complained about the dinner she made.
David Salley 6 years ago
Given that they're a female and male of the same species, they may actually be a mated pair. :)
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#4
"Don King came over and performed some seed magic."
danielw 6 years ago
I was thinking... in a bronx accent, "are you look'n at me? are you, huh? are you?!"
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sh 6 years ago
Blue Jays are so gorgeous, but are such bullies. They will dominate a bird feeder and run off the other birds.
Smargs 6 years ago
You're wrong here. Grackles and starlings and House sparrows run other birds out. Blue jays are actually the first to alert the other birds when there's danger.
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Becky Plowman-Hahn 6 years ago
"I think the ladies are going to dig this new gel!"-Rebecca Hahn On a more serious note, and to set the record straight on Blue Jays, while they might have a loud and annoying call, this bird is amazing! Blue Jays have the largest vocabulary of all of the songbirds which means that they can communicate with most all of them; which they do whenever a bird of prey is in the area. When that happens, one Blue Jay will immediately call out, within seconds you will hear a second Jay in the near distance radio that call and repeat the same message. Like a telegraph system, these Blue Jays are keeping thousands of birds safe each day.
Amazon QT 6 years ago
Great info on a beautiful bird. We’ve got a few in our condo complex, they fly around so much making noise.
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#5
Doves in lurve.
LanteiaTG 6 years ago
We've got a lovely family of doves in our yard. It grows every year with the new offspring finding mates from other dove families. There's a three grandparent sets now, two parent sets, and their children from this past summer. Looking forward to what occurs this spring!
Jess De La Souza 6 years ago
Is there a way you could document this? I would love to see it
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#7
"How I have missed seeing this crest"
FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago
Yes. They are the state bird in the state I live in, so I see them all the time. The females look exactly like their male counterparts shapewise, but are brown.
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diane a 6 years ago
Sadly we have few brightly coloured birds in the UK. We have the Robin - male gets a bright red breast in winter. The Kingfisher - flashes of bright blue. The Jay - bright blue flashes again. And the Red-headed woodpecker. Some of our birds have slight colour, - Blue-tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Yellowhammer etc, but the colours are very muted.
Load More Replies... FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago
When you're caught straying from your "diet" you said you would follow through with.
#8
Incoming gold!
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
Much to the flock's embarrassment, Larry insisted on making airplane noises when landing.
Amazon QT 6 years ago
Love the Goldfinch. They almost look like a chickadee.
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#9
Such a charmer.
diane a 6 years ago (edited)
Gloria Swanson of the birld world - or it could be Bessie Dove. Not Walter Pigeion
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#10
That's what I call a good hair day.
Janiska Nordstrom 6 years ago
The blue jays at my house look in the window like that when the feeder is empty. If I am not fast enough, they start pecking on the glass door!
Aunt Messy 6 years ago
A youngster, though. He still has a little baby fluff left.
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Deb J McLachlan 6 years ago
I fed.bluejays in a Boreal forest where i lived for 22 yrs in Canada. I called them "blue chickens" they puff up and are dominant feeders. Possibly a bit greedy.
#11
It‘s not too much if you can carry it all at once.
Lori Egan 6 years ago
Mine will always take whatever is the biggest. They are hilarious.
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Christine M Quigley 6 years ago
I used to put peanuts out for the jays, but they turned out to be such bullies with the other birds, I stopped! Beautiful birds, but a bit too brash for me..
Amazon QT 6 years ago
I get the reference... clever! Was the first thing I thought of when I saw this photo.
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#12
Such a friendly, handsome young man.
Candy Pfau 6 years ago
Rosy-breasted Grosbeak. I had them one year in winter. Not this winter.
#13
Starling performance art.
Dawn Soehren 6 years ago
Starlings are really beautiful birds....just wish they were back in England and not an invasive species.
Alice Laughs 6 years ago
Don't let them fool you. They're pest birds in North Carolina and drive native birds away and damage agriculture on a huge scale, among other issues.
Deb Anderson 6 years ago
Mean birds, ran off my chickadees, finches and sparrows. Blue Jays and Starlings are beautiful bullies.
Ute Kowert 6 years ago
Starlings are so funny and awsome....do you know they can imitate other birds, animals , even telefonrings and the alarm system of cars?
Catherine Russell 6 years ago
We have Starlings in England. They are beautiful, intelligent and perform mass flight performances at Dusk, known as 'Murmurations'. I didn't realise they had spread to USA. In what way are they a nuisance in your country?
Penny Leas 6 years ago
I read once that several of them were brought here many, many years ago by a theater group who was performing one of Shakespeare's plays in a park... They wanted to give the play a realistic feeling of life in England. When the theater group was done with the play, the birds were released into the wild. They adapted very well to life in America. They are clever and hardy birds who can often out-compete some of our native birds. I know they don't technically "belong" here, but I love them anyway. They're just trying to get along in the world. They didn't ask to be left here.
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#15
"We were all worshipping the sun today."
Wyndmere 6 years ago
And thank Him for this food that you are about to eat.
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Dena Temple 6 years ago
At the top of the photo is what appears to be the beak of a second bird!
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
Oh my goodness, good eye!!! I never noticed that!!
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Alexander Nord 6 years ago
Here is the rare and elusive 'Teapost yellow breast' while in its mating dance.
#16
Doves can be the picture of pure elegance and beauty. But they are also the biggest goofballs.
Alusair Alustriel 6 years ago
Aww noone likes to be photographed while eating. I always look terrible xD
Mary Rose Kent 6 years ago
All birds have eyelids, and most have at least two sets--the inner set is called nictitating membrane and works as a shield so that the bird can shield its eyes from debris but still see while flying.
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#17
"Christmas Day brought some visitors that I have not seen at the booth in a while "
Elizabeth Butler 6 years ago
Ah! We can finally see the 'red' belly on the Red-bellied Woodpecker. (This is a male....red from beak to neck)
Bruce Barr 6 years ago
Yes! At first glance I thought it was the common Flicker.
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#18
The Bluebirds seem to have gotten a family discount for hypnosis class.
Sharon Angelo 6 years ago
BEAUTIFUL! I am an amature watercolorist and wondered if i could have permission to try and paint a couple of these gorgous birds. We don't have birds like these in Arizona!
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
(F) "I told you: there's a camera at this feeder!" (M) "Yeah I can't believe I didn't notice sooner. Is it... Y'know, recording...?" (F) "I think so." (M) "...This is ridiculous, I can't eat..." *stares at lens* (F) "Ugh, me either..." *stares at lens*
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
looks like a male and female, probably together finding food for the family.
#19
"First Hummingbird pic of the season :) Conditions today are far from perfect, it is rainy and cold, but that also makes the birds hungry and willing to experiment."
LanteiaTG 6 years ago
Lovely shot of a hummingbird! I wish I could catch them in flight like this. Watching hummingbirds zip about chasing each other and defending their territory is a highlight of my summers.
Julie Greer 6 years ago
My favorite past time... sitting on patio watching them dart about.... and waste time chasing each other. Amazing little creatures
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Alexander Nord 6 years ago
Those guys zip around like fighter jets in my yard during the summer!
Load More Replies... Jennifer Knapp 6 years ago
Wow! You are so blessed with your bird species. Of course, we don't get hummingbirds in England... and who can blame them?
Mary Rose Kent 6 years ago
I'm lucky to live in a part of California where we have Anna's hummingbirds year-round.
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
I agree, you're lucky! ^_^ Aren't there like ten species of hummingbirds on the west coast or something? East of Minnesota, there's only one...unless you count the occasional stray Rufous, lol, getting blown into the upper Midwest by a storm.
Load More Replies... Amazon QT 6 years ago
I love watching my Hummingbirds come to my feeder, I’ve got several slow motion videos of them flying around chirping loudly. With slow motion video they sound so different, really cool. If I’m out in my backyard, they zipby me to feed at the feeder. It’s amazing. Wish I could post video on here, they are stunning to watch.
#20
The best kind of orange!
Alexandra Storm 6 years ago
Not sure about jello, but this is an oriole and they only eat jelly at bird feeders.
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Gretchen McPherson 6 years ago
They also drink at hummingbird feeders if the holes are not too small. I get Hooded Orioles at mine in California.
#21
Fall is definitely her season.
BobbiJo Rogeret 6 years ago
When you contemplating on how you should’ve had lunch at noon like everyone else but you waited and there’s nothing left and telling yourself that tomorrow, you’ll be the first in line!
#22
"Despite the snow storm, it was such a lovely day today. After a week of not feeding them, they still came back"
Amy Doug 6 years ago
I so love Blue Jays!! I raised one which I rescued one Spring time and it was still a baby - all mouth and no feathers! Grew up and flew away after staying around my house for months, following me around as I did my gardening! Ate all the Hornworms off my tomatoes too! I loved that boy!
Liz Sahlin Johansson 6 years ago
Hm! That looks like the tomtits we have here in Sweden. Just thinner.
Rainbow Unicorn 6 years ago
Does anyone else kind of want to scratch their little bird tummies? I would never actually try such a thing, but they always look so soft.
#23
"I’ve been that excited about food before too."
Kate Hughes 6 years ago
Waiter, there's a worm in my... Hang on, 1,2,3....8. There are 8 worms in my food.
Annabella Li 6 years ago
I'm surprised there aren't any squirrels yet, all I ever get is godforsaken squirrels
#24
It looks really cool how the adult feathers are coming in on the Grackles.
Sveta Smirnova 6 years ago
I am getting confused by looking at its eyes actually... Hahaha
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Nicolas Schirvel 5 years ago
He look just like my father, the day my 102yo Great Grand-mother made a sex joke about her late husband and her XD
#25
"More from the vault, and these get me into the mood for spring"
Jasmine Walker 6 years ago
All we need is to photoshop a wave cap and AirPods on him and he can be jamming with jam. Haha.
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#26
"It wasn’t just the weather that made everybody more at ease. It was also that there were hardly any Starling there today. This was one of the only pictures with a Starling I got. It is rather impressive and intimidating, but their presence today was thankfully not."
Donna McMahon 6 years ago
“I’m going to sit right down on it and you won’t get any if you don’t behave!”
#27
"This morning was rather cold, and I noticed several Starlings in the yard. The winter crew is slowly settling in."
Some guy 6 years ago
Their murmerations are a work of art though. When I was a kid we had them take over our town hall and the adjacent tree and were s******g over everythingand nothing could deter them but most people have never seen their murmerations though. I would recommend anyone who is in a starling area find out where they fly at dusk and watch. It's stunning beyond comprehension.
Jennifer Knapp 6 years ago
So true. Even in England this happens. Amazing indeed.
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Amazon QT 6 years ago
There’s a few birds on here I don’t see your bird names. Do you not know their names?
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Nona Riley 6 years ago
I have a pet starling his name is echo he is an awesome guy he talks he says give me kisses and thank you for the kisses...what's that
Cheryl Johnston 6 years ago
Didn’t know they look like they’ll close up because I’ve never seen one Close up thought they were ugly but they aren’t😊
Shauna Hanley 6 years ago
Until we added a birdfeeder to our yard this season, I had never noticed the colorations on starlings before! Makes them more tolerable to have around, they tend to be pests....
Sharon Palmer 6 years ago
Murmerations are fascinating, but I end up in a battle with the starlings (uk) I put plenty of food out in/on different feeders but they absolutely demolish everything and bully my other little buddies. One sits guard in a tall tree waiting for new food to be put out. Within less then five mins there can be up to 20 descend and take everything. Very clever and pretty birds that seem to love a challenge!
Mary Elko-Kelly 6 years ago
They may be pretty but they are awful birds. They kill bluebirds and destroy millions of $$$ in crops annually.
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Kitty Hugenschmidt 6 years ago
Yeah....so I got drunk, passed out, and the rest of the Frat Birds paint spots all over me! REAL FUNNY you guys!!!
#28
Be nice to each other and feed the birds!
Jasmine Walker 6 years ago
Comes to this awesome place because he was told that for his modeling, food will be provided. He's the Hard Luck Harry of birds.
Kitty Hugenschmidt 6 years ago
WHOA!!!! I ate so much I don't think I can Fly!!!!! Should'a paid attention when Mom was reading me "Peter Rabbit'!!!
#29
"I woke up to an empty nestbox this morning (Thursday), and can hear the babies softly calling in the trees. They must have fledged very early today. Cannot wait to see them in the yard soon :) The Bluebirds have not fledged today, so Syrup has to wait a bit longer to meet her siblings. I have a feeling it is going to happen tomorrow. Which would be good because we are expecting a heatwave."
Helen Wilmot 6 years ago
Love this. Am now in senior housing and miss my birds......was on edge of woods and saw all kinds. The only one that ever got on my nerves was the whip-o-will, who kept me awake.
Sharon Palmer 6 years ago
My baby blue tits took three days to all fledge, was beautiful watching them leaving the nest box for the first time
#30
"The BBs behaved like the yard is theirs. I don’t blame them and am delighted"
KarmaQueen 6 years ago
Took me a second to figure out that his beak/mouth is completely open with a cranberry in there. I thought it was part of the nose.
FortnitePlayerGirl 6 years ago (edited)
At first I thought a blue jay was in the background, but then I realized it was apart of the bird. Thumbs up!
Barbara Gilman 6 years ago
Absolutely stunning. I didn't know the names of some of the birds . . . would like to have been able to have read them . . .
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What do you think ?
diane a 6 years ago
Wonderful photos and amazing variety of gorgeous birds. Wish there had been a name/description with each as we are unfamiliar with many of them in the UK.
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
I could try to label them all for you, if you wish? I'll do my best. I love songbirds!
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C H 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your post! You have such a wonderful variety of birds that come to your feeder.
Jane Zimmerman 6 years ago
I couldn't agree more! Thank you so very much! Enjoyed this more than I can say!!
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sh 6 years ago
This is what I came to comment! The birds are awesome, but the seasons are great too. Definitely not in FL...
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Mascha Claessens 6 years ago
As someone from Europe, and a biologist and bird-lover, the greatest thing visiting the US east coast (Chesapeake bay) was the entirely different arrangement of bird sounds in the forest and basically everywhere. That was the first thing I noticed. :-) Except for the starlings, they're native here, and they're awesome. I once saw them making a spoiled 10-year old boy cry, and that made my day. XD
Rhonda Sage 6 years ago
I absolutely love every single one of them! I want to do this in my yard but I'm not sure how. What type of camera? How do I set it up to take photos automatically? So many questions. Thank you for sharing these, they are amazing.
Doncar 6 years ago
Rhonda, all the answers to your questions are in the introduction of this post. It helps to read it. The camera/feeder setup is a Bird Photo Booth 2.0
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Alice Laughs 6 years ago
BIRDS 😍 I'd just gotten into birding a couple falls ago when I had the opportunity to visit a conservancy in the Maasai Mara. I'm stretching my neck to memorize these wonderful birds and ignoring the elephants when lo and behold our guide pulls out a field guide for Kenyan birds and hands it to me. Heyooo, fellow birder!
Grumble O'Pug 6 years ago
This is so great!!! My feeder gets a lot of woodpeckers (2 distinct species, including a little cute one) and finches, with the occasional mourning dove, starling, and now the red wing blackbirds are here. (They finally kicked out the starlings - sorry they are invasive). How fun to see this
Amazon QT 6 years ago
I only get Hummingbirds at my feeder. I need to put out a bowl full of seeds.
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
Ooooh, what kind of hummingbirds? I've only ever experienced Ruby-throated...never been further west than North Dakota. :(
Load More Replies... diane a 6 years ago
Wonderful photos and amazing variety of gorgeous birds. Wish there had been a name/description with each as we are unfamiliar with many of them in the UK.
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
I could try to label them all for you, if you wish? I'll do my best. I love songbirds!
Load More Replies... C H 6 years ago
Thank you so much for your post! You have such a wonderful variety of birds that come to your feeder.
Jane Zimmerman 6 years ago
I couldn't agree more! Thank you so very much! Enjoyed this more than I can say!!
Load More Replies... sh 6 years ago
This is what I came to comment! The birds are awesome, but the seasons are great too. Definitely not in FL...
Load More Replies... Mascha Claessens 6 years ago
As someone from Europe, and a biologist and bird-lover, the greatest thing visiting the US east coast (Chesapeake bay) was the entirely different arrangement of bird sounds in the forest and basically everywhere. That was the first thing I noticed. :-) Except for the starlings, they're native here, and they're awesome. I once saw them making a spoiled 10-year old boy cry, and that made my day. XD
Rhonda Sage 6 years ago
I absolutely love every single one of them! I want to do this in my yard but I'm not sure how. What type of camera? How do I set it up to take photos automatically? So many questions. Thank you for sharing these, they are amazing.
Doncar 6 years ago
Rhonda, all the answers to your questions are in the introduction of this post. It helps to read it. The camera/feeder setup is a Bird Photo Booth 2.0
Load More Replies... Alice Laughs 6 years ago
BIRDS 😍 I'd just gotten into birding a couple falls ago when I had the opportunity to visit a conservancy in the Maasai Mara. I'm stretching my neck to memorize these wonderful birds and ignoring the elephants when lo and behold our guide pulls out a field guide for Kenyan birds and hands it to me. Heyooo, fellow birder!
Grumble O'Pug 6 years ago
This is so great!!! My feeder gets a lot of woodpeckers (2 distinct species, including a little cute one) and finches, with the occasional mourning dove, starling, and now the red wing blackbirds are here. (They finally kicked out the starlings - sorry they are invasive). How fun to see this
Amazon QT 6 years ago
I only get Hummingbirds at my feeder. I need to put out a bowl full of seeds.
Dawn Welton 6 years ago
Ooooh, what kind of hummingbirds? I've only ever experienced Ruby-throated...never been further west than North Dakota. :(
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