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teehjaeh57 #401526 02/21/15 03:22 PM
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Very nice! I need a lens with a little more reach to do bird pics. For now I am sticking with landscapes and family as the lens budget is gone.

liquidsquid #401530 02/21/15 06:45 PM
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Yeah LS,
I take a lot of pics, but just realized they are for documentation purposes and not for enjoyment, like TJ and others. I think photography would be a nice hobby to get in to. Thousands of pictures, and not one on the wall.

teehjaeh57 #401946 02/24/15 03:14 PM
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Thanks guys appreciate the direction and feedback. I did discover photoshop tools to help sharpen some of the 200x shots which were a tad fuzzy - I hope using photoshop tools isn't cheating!?!? Just uneducated over here.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402068 02/25/15 10:47 AM
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TJ,
Jodi was researching "photoshop" tools last night; seems like there are a lot of options. Which one do you use?
Dan


1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
teehjaeh57 #402071 02/25/15 11:06 AM
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Just the sharpening one, for fuzzy long range shots - and sometimes I'll crop a photo if it's off center.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402074 02/25/15 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted By: teehjaeh57
Thanks guys appreciate the direction and feedback. I did discover photoshop tools to help sharpen some of the 200x shots which were a tad fuzzy - I hope using photoshop tools isn't cheating!?!? Just uneducated over here.


Nah it's not cheating. Sure there are those who shoot film and find that digitally enhancing or processing a photograph is cheating. In fact there are competitions wherein the rules are film and no digital processing, and even competitions wherein digital cameras are allowed but no post-processing.

If you've found something you like to improve your snaps, use it. smile

Check out The Gimp. No financial cost, just your learning time. There are oodles of filters that you can apply, tons of tools, etc. It's essentially the free version of Photoshop. Or look into Lightroom, a commercial application with less features than Photoshop but an easier learning curve and feature rich.

Again if you start delving deeper into photography consider shooting in RAW, because post-processing RAW snaps versus compressed JPEGs makes a world of difference. And challenge yourself to continue to work on ISO, Aperture, and shoot daily. All scenes and lighting - it will help you learn and will be enjoyable.

From just having a camera on your person to take a pic that you stumble upon:



To identifying scenes of interest and trying to capture them for yourself:



To capturing silly stuff:



To entering the world of macro:

teehjaeh57 #402087 02/25/15 12:25 PM
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TJ, if you get a little heavier into any of the Adobe photo products, Kelby Training has some excellent options. I also like Outdoor Photography magazine.


AL

teehjaeh57 #402203 02/26/15 12:16 PM
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BassLover, thanks for the info... I'll pass it along.


1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
basslover #402205 02/26/15 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted By: basslover
Originally Posted By: teehjaeh57
Thanks guys appreciate the direction and feedback. I did discover photoshop tools to help sharpen some of the 200x shots which were a tad fuzzy - I hope using photoshop tools isn't cheating!?!? Just uneducated over here.


Nah it's not cheating. Sure there are those who shoot film and find that digitally enhancing or processing a photograph is cheating. In fact there are competitions wherein the rules are film and no digital processing, and even competitions wherein digital cameras are allowed but no post-processing.

If you've found something you like to improve your snaps, use it. smile

Check out The Gimp. No financial cost, just your learning time. There are oodles of filters that you can apply, tons of tools, etc. It's essentially the free version of Photoshop. Or look into Lightroom, a commercial application with less features than Photoshop but an easier learning curve and feature rich.

Again if you start delving deeper into photography consider shooting in RAW, because post-processing RAW snaps versus compressed JPEGs makes a world of difference. And challenge yourself to continue to work on ISO, Aperture, and shoot daily. All scenes and lighting - it will help you learn and will be enjoyable.

From just having a camera on your person to take a pic that you stumble upon:



To identifying scenes of interest and trying to capture them for yourself:



To capturing silly stuff:



To entering the world of macro:


Wow those are amazing. I like your edgy take on nature - the snakes and squirrel are borderline R rated. grin


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]


FireIsHot #402207 02/26/15 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted By: FireIsHot
TJ, if you get a little heavier into any of the Adobe photo products, Kelby Training has some excellent options. I also like Outdoor Photography magazine.



Thanks Al...


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]


teehjaeh57 #402321 02/27/15 04:30 PM
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Had a cormorant in the hole from the aerator this afternoon. I thought these guys went south for the winter? Don't they? Anyway, single digit temps here and supposed to go below zero tonight so I shut off the aerator to "close the door" for a day ot two to discourage him. Anybody got any secret weapons to keep water turkeys away? I haven't got around to getting a FOID card (card required in Illinois to own or purchase a firearm or ammo) yet so pot shots are not an option.

Last edited by Bill D.; 02/27/15 04:59 PM. Reason: Clarification

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teehjaeh57 #402398 02/28/15 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted By: teehjaeh57

Wow those are amazing. I like your edgy take on nature - the snakes and squirrel are borderline R rated. grin


smile

I followed those black rat snakes for 4 years. They had a nest in the top of a broken (by lightning) tree along a cliff side. I'd take hikers along the trail and then up to a vantage rock beside the tree. Every morning at 10AM out would come the snakes and some of the hikers would get nervous. Of course we were 60+ feet up above the river on a small rock ledge so they had to relax. And me grabbing the snakes and sharing them to the hikers ... wink

Love the wild things and they make great subjects for photographs!










And the last of bug love:

Bill D. #402415 02/28/15 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted By: Bill D.
Had a cormorant in the hole from the aerator this afternoon. I thought these guys went south for the winter? Don't they? Anyway, single digit temps here and supposed to go below zero tonight so I shut off the aerator to "close the door" for a day ot two to discourage him. Anybody got any secret weapons to keep water turkeys away? I haven't got around to getting a FOID card (card required in Illinois to own or purchase a firearm or ammo) yet so pot shots are not an option.


Another up to 6 inches of fluffy white rain in the forecast so aerator back on. You guys are not much help on cormorant control. Best suggestion I have had so far was a PM from Pat W and it involves sitting in a lawn chair by the pond and playing "Turkey in the Straw" by blowing into an empty Falstaff bottle! grin


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Bill D. #402430 02/28/15 11:08 PM
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You need a Jurassic Park type electric fence around your pond.


teehjaeh57 #402541 03/02/15 11:33 AM
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TJ, you'll be happy to know that Jodi is now a birder and I am one too, by association. We have 5 new feeders setup... one with black sunflower seeds, one with nyjer, one with dried wax worms, one with those solid blocks of seeds and stuff, and one I can't remember.

all we gotta do now is wait... and, wait... and wait... How long does it take anyway? hehe. We put them out on Friday afternoon and saw nothing all day Saturday.


1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
teehjaeh57 #402575 03/02/15 05:28 PM
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Anybody got any good advice as far as Blue Bird house maintenance and placement? How often to clean them, how high to place them, etc.


AL

teehjaeh57 #402586 03/02/15 06:48 PM
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Yes.

Houses 300' apart. Away from trees and brush [100' if possible] or you'll attract more Wrens, Chickadees, Tree Swallows and House Sparrows. The HOSP and Wrens will kill the hatchlings and it's ugly.

Mount on pole at least 5' high, and install a squirrel baffle to prevent critter from entry.

If you have issues with Tree Swallows, place two houses 8-10' apart. Swallows will take up residence in one, leaving the BB alone, but also inadvertently defending both nests from raiders [see above]. Swallows are bad asses and will not tolerate interlopers and extend protection to the BB brood.

Face the opening of house to the SE - avoids the hottest part of the day and helps keep babies cool.

Allow grass to grow up around the boxes if possible. Encourages insect life and easier hunting by the adults. Further they have to fly away for food, the more vulnerable they and brood are. My birds love Mulberries....if you have some trees around, think about placing some houses 100' away, but still in the open.

Call me with questions.





Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402587 03/02/15 07:00 PM
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TJ, thanks buddy. We've got tons of blue birds and red birds right now, and it's pretty cool. Our resident Killdeer look like they're pairing up too. Spring's almost here.


AL

teehjaeh57 #402613 03/02/15 10:37 PM
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Sorry guys, houses should be facing NORTHEAST not the SE. Was typing fast and made an error.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402667 03/03/15 12:26 PM
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I did some research last year before putting up 3 BB houses. It indicated you wanted to put it facing atree about 30' away to make baby's first flight less harrowing.


1 ac pond LMB, BG, RES, CC
teehjaeh57 #402671 03/03/15 12:53 PM
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I've read that before too, but if you are having issues with Wrens, HOSP, or Chickadees or other cavity nest raiders try moving away from the trees like I do. Some advocate placing some limb piles near the nest to serve as a perch for babies - I've never gone to this effort myself.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402694 03/03/15 06:56 PM
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I put up 5 BB nests and they worked well. They were pretty close together. They worked real well until the tree rats destroyed the houses.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
teehjaeh57 #402700 03/03/15 07:54 PM
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I've heard some others report houses closer together work for them...experiment, see how things go - every area has different predators, competing bird species, unique challenges. Try a squirrel baffle next time Dave - they work great for my feeders and houses to prevent squirrels and other critters from damaging.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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teehjaeh57 #402750 03/04/15 01:25 PM
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I put two houses per post, 5 feet up and usually get tree swallows in one, BB in the other. Since I love Tree Swallows also, it is a win-win! I currently have about 20 boxes total.

I clean the nest boxes in the fall to kick the mice out or they foul the boxes. I occasionally will check the boxes year round for wren nests and mice, and kick those feisty little stinkers right to the curb. It is a battle to convince them to move someplace else, so setting up a few wren boxes a good distance from the BB boxes encourages them to leave the BB boxes alone. Otherwise there is no convincing them to leave.

Amazing to me is we have BB all year round, even in the worst part of winter. I catch them snacking on sumac seeds and small berries. They have yet to learn there are insects in the suet I put out. I always thought they were strict migrators, but apparently not.

teehjaeh57 #402760 03/04/15 03:20 PM
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Good feedback Squid. I like your idea on the Wren boxes - installing closer to timber, maybe, would be a good call this year for me. I prefer spending a little more time and effort installing additional boxes than evicting nesting birds from the BB houses. I don't mind the extra expense if everyone can win.

I've heard a few others mention this about BB - amazing - I thought they were strict migratory birds, also.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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