I don’t always have the time or energy to head out in search of birds to photograph, but that doesn’t mean I have to miss out on my daily camera fix. Instead of chasing birds, I came up with a simple yet effective solution: I get the birds to come to me!

Years ago, someone told me, “You can’t make wild birds do what you want.” That comment sparked a challenge. I was determined to find a way to encourage birds to pose naturally, exactly where I wanted them, without disturbing their freedom. I’m proud to say, I succeeded.

It all started with a homemade sugar water feeder, which we set up during the winter months when nectar is scarce. This feeder features a shallow tray for sugar water and natural perches—branches secured with cable ties. The entire structure is mounted on a post, concreted into a large plastic plant pot, making it easy to reposition as needed for photography.

This simple setup has attracted a range of native birds to our garden, including tūī, silvereyes, and even a single bellbird. With a bit of patience and planning, I’ve created the perfect backyard bird photography setup, right outside my window.

We started with a sugar water feeder which we set up in the winter months when natural food is not so easily available for the nectar feeding birds.  It is a simple structure with a tray for the sugar water and branches cable-tied to it for perches.  This is on a small post that has been concreted into a large plastic plant pot, allowing it to be moved about easily. This brought tui, silvereyes and a single bellbird into the garden.

To keep my bird photography fresh and visually interesting, I regularly swap out the branches on the feeder, providing new and natural perches for the birds to pose on. I also move the feeder around the garden to take advantage of the best natural light at different times of day.

However, feeding birds in the open comes with risks. At one point, our sugar water feeder attracted a New Zealand falcon (kārearea), which swooped in and snatched a silvereye right off the perch. To the falcon, our setup must have looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet. We quickly moved the feeder, and fortunately, the falcon didn’t return. Since then, we’ve been more mindful about placement, ensuring there are no open flight paths for a falcon’s swoop-and-grab hunting tactic.

In addition to sugar water, we’ve introduced fruit feeding to attract more birds to the garden. We installed hooks in nearby trees to hang bananas and oranges, cutting windows into the fruit skins so the silvereyes could access the flesh easily. To our surprise, tūī also took a liking to both the bananas and oranges.

Feeding birds fresh fruit can get expensive over time, but a simple tip is to ask your local supermarket for overripe, bruised, or damaged fruit. Many stores are happy to sell these at a reduced price, perfect for budget-friendly bird feeding.

While our sugar water and fruit feeders work well during the winter months when food is scarce, we retire them in spring. It’s important for native birds to forage naturally when food sources are abundant. This ensures they get a varied and healthy diet from native plants and flowers.

In our area, kowhai trees are plentiful and provide a rich nectar source for tūī and other native birds during spring. These beautiful trees often bloom at the same time, making it easy to find tūī feeding among the golden flowers. I never have to travel far for excellent tūī photography opportunities when the kowhai are in full bloom.

We’re also lucky to have two kowhai trees in our own garden, of a slightly different variety to those commonly found in the area. They flower a little later than the others, meaning when most of the local kowhai have finished blooming, ours are still going strong. At this point in the season, our trees become a prime food source, attracting large numbers of tūī right to our backyard, perfect for close-up bird photography.

In an effort to attract more bellbirds to our garden, I recently planted several tree fuchsias around the property. These native New Zealand plants are a favourite of the bellbirds, who often emerge from the flowers with distinctive blue pollen on their beaks after feeding. Tui are also especially fond of tree fuchsia flowers, so when the kowhai and tree fuchsia bloom at the same time, the birds are truly spoilt for choice.

To support even more birdlife, I’ve also added some red-hot pokers around the edges of the garden, near the house. These vibrant perennials are not only popular with silvereyes and tui, but they also attract butterflies. I chose their location specifically so I can photograph the birds feeding on them through the window. To my surprise, within just two weeks of planting them, a tui had already discovered the flowers, happily hopping from plant to plant before returning to the kowhai for more nectar.

When it comes to attracting native birds to your garden, planting natural food sources is by far the most effective method. If you have the space, trees, shrubs, and perennials that provide nectar, berries, or shelter will ensure your garden becomes a regular stop for local bird species. The best part? Once birds find a reliable food source, they tend to return year after year.

Another essential element for any bird-friendly garden is a bird bath. Clean water is crucial, especially during the warmer months. I’ve added a few smooth rocks to the bath so that smaller birds can bathe safely without venturing into deep water. This year, even fantails have started visiting the bird bath. With the long, hot summer predicted, providing a source of water will be more important than ever. It doesn’t have to be expensive, anything from a shallow dish to a recycled tray can work. Just be sure to raise it off the ground to protect the birds from cats.

Placing a few strategic perches near the bird bath can offer the perfect opportunity to photograph birds as they come in to drink or wait their turn to bathe. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy and document bird activity right in your own backyard.

If you are reading this article from anywhere other than New Zealand (where I live), then I hope you  find some of my ideas useful, even if you have to modify them to suit your local birds and plants.  Water never goes amiss when it is hot and provided there are plenty of perches for the birds to land on it is easy to create your very own outdoor wild bird studio.

All the images on this page were photographed through my dining room window.