Over the past couple of weeks, my garden has been absolutely alive with bird activity, so much so that it’s been a real challenge to put the camera down! From the comfort of my dining room window, I’ve been photographing a variety of garden birds, taking full advantage of the house as a natural bird hide. It’s a brilliant setup for bird photography, but admittedly, it doesn’t help with getting the housework done!
If you follow me on social media (Facebook or Instagram), you’ve probably seen a flood of new bird images being posted daily. What you’re seeing is just a small sample of what I’ve been capturing. Add a visit from the beautiful bellbird/korimako to the mix, and it’s nearly impossible to tear myself away from the camera. I’ve been taking thousands of images a day and it’s fair to say the camera has had a solid workout!
From Click to Keep: The Editing Workflow
On average, I keep about 1 in every 10 images I shoot. So even after culling, I’m left with hundreds of photos to sort, edit, and process. Currently, I’m running about three days behind in processing, the laundry is still waiting to be folded, and if we didn’t have a dishwasher, paper plates would be in high rotation!
Despite the chaos, I’m loving every moment. After finishing work (on the days that I do work), I head straight for the camera. It’s become a daily ritual for me, an immersive, rewarding way to unwind while capturing the beauty of native New Zealand birds right in my backyard.
The Benefits of Daily Bird Photography
One of the most noticeable changes over these intense photography days is the improvement in image quality. The birds may be the same, but the shots I’m producing are sharper, more dynamic, and better composed. Practice really does make perfect – not only for the technical side of photography but for training the eye as well.
Watching fast-moving birds day after day teaches you a lot about their behaviour. I’ve reached the point where I can often anticipate what they’ll do next. That ability to predict bird behaviour is a game-changer in bird photography. When you know what’s coming, you can prepare your settings and frame the shot before the action happens.
And because these moments happen in seconds, being able to respond instinctively, without mentally running through a checklist, gives you a much better chance of capturing that perfect shot.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just starting out with backyard bird photography, don’t be discouraged. The more time you spend observing and photographing birds, the more intuitive it becomes. Keep practicing, shoot often, and most importantly – enjoy the process. Sometimes the best moments happen right outside your window.
As usual, feedback is welcomed. You can contact me using the contact form here.
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