How To Build A Blind For Bird Photography

A few years agone, I decided to gear up a few bird feeders and a small-scale blind in my backyard. I didn’t buy a “standard” bullheaded because first off, I’one thousand cheap. Second, and most importantly, both of my legs take been fused straight – no more than angle – and then I couldn’t fit inside most of those blinds. What to do? I used an old play house that my kids used to play in as a substitute. It worked, merely I still had to sit sideways and shoot which was not very comfy. I needed something larger.

My new bullheaded had to be long plenty and wide enough to sit downwardly and rotate into position. I drew upwardly a prepare of plans. I went out to the local hardware shop and bought $20 worth of three/4″ schedule 40 PVC pipe and a few fittings. I had an old tarp so I used information technology to cover the PVC framework using a few spring clamps from my old photography blind. Since I sit on the ground, I needed something comfortable to sit on. My old wheelchair absorber did the trick.

The Framework

I likewise wanted to add together a small h2o feature to my habitat prepare-upwardly. I was tired of using a clay pot as a bird bath and wanted something more realistic. So the next matter I had to do was decide where to dig for the pond. Since I still have two kids, I needed a place that was out of the way. I also wanted the sun to exist at my back, and a place that offered some cover for the birds. Nosotros have a small Orangish Tree in the back corner of the 1000 and across our back yard we have a row of large Juniper trees that made the ideal location.

I originally dug the swimming around 2 feet by 4 feet and no more than iv inches at the deepest signal, simply soon institute out it was as well modest. I could see the other shore on some of the photos so I added another 2 feet each mode, keeping the depth the same. Now I tin can shoot at one side and non see the other shore.

The Pond

To line the pond, I used a iii.5 mil plastic tarp to keep the water from seeping into the ground. I find that I have to re-fill the h2o every couple of days, then I retrieve I may have a modest leak or very thirsty birds. I may accept to switch to a rubber liner at some point, simply for now I’m fine with re-filling the pond as information technology keeps the water fresh anyway.

I too wanted a small waterfall. I found a Waterfall Kit from Zoo Med Laboratories at the local pet store. The kit comes with 12″ of plastic tubing, and elbow, and a pocket-size submersible pump powered past an extension cord. To brand it await natural, I drove out to the foothills and found a agglomeration of rocks. I so put the rocks, small logs and branches effectually and in the pond.

The Waterfall

The Submersible Pump

My lawn habitat is still a piece of work in progress. I recently added a hummingbird feeder correct by the pond since I’ve seen photos of hummingbirds bathing right under pocket-sized lawn waterfalls. I also add or remove rocks, twigs and logs to suit the occasion.

If I tin build my ain backyard photography habitat, I’thou sure you tin can too! I hope I’ve inspired you to build one for yourself that meets your own needs and shooting style. Have fun with information technology and happy shooting!