I currently have the top post on !birding@lemmy.world

I got into birding late last year after I decided to start feeding the crows in my neighborhood. It started with feeding them peanuts. Then it turned into taking pictures of them when then visited. Soon enough, I was naming them and really studying their behavior. I wanted to see more birds, so I bought a bird feeder.

I started applying my other hobbies to bird watching and that is where things really took off. (Pun intended).

I designed and 3d printed a quarter pipe that fits on my bird feeder. I bolted a tech deck to the top and I have taken a lot of photos of birds that look like they are about to drop in on the quarter pipe.

As if that wasn’t enough, I draw the photos that I take and turn them into embroidered iron-on patches to leave on the pin board at my local coffee shop for strangers to take.

Birding forces me to slow down and pay attention. I find it relaxing and it is the polar opposite of my normal day to day. It also gives me a way share my excitment with others. If anything I have done results in someone deciding to feed a crow some peanuts, then its all worth it.

I have spent at least 8 hours over the past week at the feeder waiting for good shots.

Yesterday I managed to get his photo within the first 10-15 minutes of trying. This Jay (and a few others) visit me multiple times a day for peanuts. I was in the process of getting the camera set up when my they arrived so the stars aligned.

This was the first time I have seen a Jay land on the skateboard, I feared they were too big! What a rush!

Thanks!

I drilled a hole through the skateboard and used a bolt to secure it to the ramp. If you zoom in you can see the head of the bolt.

Enjoy! https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6622164

Don’t worry, Mr Cardinal got a turn too

I designed and printed the quarter pipe. I can make the file available on Thingiverse if there is any interest in it. As photographed, it requires a tech deck and 4x M4x25 bolts with nuts. Fairly simple to assemble!

This is the feeder I have: https://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Station-Hanging-Squirrel-Attracting/dp/B09KGY9Q79/

Edit: fixed wording

Thanks!

Not too bad. I spent probably 6 hours watching the feeder. I ended up with three good photos. I got this one within the first 15 minutes:

It was blinking