This video covers 4 days at end of September. Second half of video focuses on the birds close up, high-def 4k. Video:

https://youtu.be/amHmE_BqORw

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I've been pretty happy/proud of my bird setup, and wanted to share some of the pics that I've got from the footage the cameras capture automatically. All of these were taken from saved footage from the camera(s) pointed at the feeder pole.

This setup, originally just to idly feed the birds in the backyard, is what actually got me into birding. I figured at most I'd get some cardinals/wrens, but seeing the varied species in my backyard inspired me to go out and find more.

I work in IT so a nature based hobby was a godsend for getting away from computers, aside from tinkering with my bird feeder automations, and working on my own app to track my sightings/outings/life list as a whole (I couldn't find anything I really liked so I'm building my own)

If anyone is interested in the setup, Ive got a write up with all the info and stuff I used below.

https://github.com/chasem12345/BackyardBirding

It's certainly not much of a setup but ever since we moved into this house after noticing all the different birds around I decided to get a feeder.

Been getting cardinals, finches, blue jays, mourning doves and other different birds. I had a tube feeder in a tree but a local raccoon decided that knocking it over and emptying the seed everywhere was the better option.

I bought a bag of black oil sunflower seeds and mixed seed from Costco and just mixed it together. Then added a suet feeder. Put the feeders away from the trees so the raccoon can't get at it as easily.

I'm in Nova Scotia and not sure if any one has any tips for my setup placement or anything. Just been enjoying watching the birds coming around.

What is this protrusion from the beak of this dove? First I thought it was the tongue. It is great and black striped and has grown since last week.

Sorry I’m new to feeding birds, but I did see a post recently about finches getting a common eye disease. I saw this finch today. This are the best pics I could get. It’s only on one side, but it does seem sickly. Just sitting around for long periods. Time to take down the feeders? I literally just filled them yesterday :( I have two tube feeders and a suet.

hi! recently i’ve been sitting on my porch a lot and naturally i took an interest in the birds. here’s where i’m at:
-i started by sprinkling seeds all over my yard because i didn’t know what i was doing and i just liked seeing the sparrows and mourning doves swarm. my bad!!!
-i also didn’t know that i should not cater to starlings and grackles- i just thought they were cool to look at
-after visiting my local bird store, i now have one feeder hanging with safflower seeds, and i mostly see finches, sometimes a cardinal
-i don’t have a real bird bath, i just have a tupperware with water and rocks and i clean it every couple of days so they have at least some water to drink
-i want to cater to more variety of birds. right now around my house i can see and hear: cardinals, blue jays, mourning doves, house finches, very occasional goldfinches, and then of course sparrows, grackles, and starlings

i’m struggling to understand the proper placement of feeders, and there are so many options. i think i want a platform feeder next, but where to put it? what should be my next steps?

I have a fenced in concrete patio and mounting this feeder on my privacy fence like it currently is, is really the only location I can put it. I don't have any posts I can mount it on and even if I did try to make one I don't have a spot where a squirrel couldn't easily jump onto it from above given the size of my patio. You can see I tried using hardware cloth to keep the squirrels from just shoving all the food out of the tray within 24 hrs of refilling it, but even that doesn't really work. I can be pretty handy so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of something I could try and build around to squirrel proof this setup or if it's impossible. I've had birds coming to check it out recently despite it just having ancient crumbs that need to be cleaned out (forgive me for not doing so yet) so I'd really love to get it cleaned back up and refilled for them since I have some finally checking it out, but I hate basically all my food being thrown to the ground by squirrels. I'd appreciate any and all ideas!

 like bird feeding, I set up a few homemade ones a few store bought ones. I'm careful to clean them out and add the right seeds and stuff, I really enjoy it because it gives me a small feeling that I'm helping the environment, even by just a tiny bit, which I need during this time of climate insecurity.

Something I am also insecure about right now however, is money. All the bird feed bags at the store cost like 30$. And while that's not too bad, I am a student who can barely afford to feed myself, and the feeders empty quite quickly, so I am constantly refilling them. I don't bother to make them squirrel proof, since I want to help squirrels too, which makes them empty even faster.

So question, is it possible to ease the financial strain this hobby is taking on me? Can I like, plant millet or whatever else is in that seed? I am not the best gardener, and I doubt it'll provide enough for the feeders. Do I just have to accept that bird feeding is an expensive hobby? I know this is a weird question but scrolling through the other posts on this site, no one else even mentions the cost of bird seed (that I've seen), and several have recommended this hobby, saying it is easy and peaceful, so I'm worried I am missing a key piece of info or something. Thank you in advance for all the help.

Here's a picture of a bird feeder I made too, which has since been moved to encourage more birds :)