What funny footage was caught by a hidden camera installed on a feeding trough in the yard

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Due to isolation, many have discovered previously unknown new hobbies. Some began to draw or knit, while others became interested in uninvited guests in their own garden. Photographer Lisa, known on social media as Ostdrossel, has installed a feeder with a hidden camera in her yard and regularly takes close-ups of her patrons. The unique pictures show the full range of emotions of little thieves: from dramatic to funny expressions and incredibly funny poses.

Unusual hobby

Lisa was born and lived in Germany. Then she moved to Michigan. Here the photographer got carried away with the study of local nature. Since 2012, she began to feed and watch birds in her garden. Her hobby, fortunately, has nothing to do with the pandemic. If you don't have your own garden, but would like to explore local birds, don't worry, Lisa is happy to share her adorable photos on social media.

She regularly photographs at close range various birds (and not only) that visit her feeders. The pictures are amazingly interesting. Lisa started shooting birds with a simple pocket camera and then switched to a DSLR. She manages to capture all the unique range of emotions that the intruders demonstrate. Lisa's photo gallery can make you fall in love with birds at least a little, even if you don't like them at all. Often, in search of food, other funny animals find their way to the feeders. For example squirrels, hares and chipmunks.

Bird watching is extremely interesting

There is something truly soothing and very interesting about bird watching. Even if you just look at the pictures.

Lisa says: “I still admire the beauty of birds, the colorful color of their feathers. I also get incomparable pleasure from their funny antics. I am interested in shooting scenes that I have not seen before. I place cameras in different locations. Then, I always wonder who will visit my garden this time."

“It also helped me get to know my new homeland, America and Michigan much more. There is such a vibrant variety here that you will never stop exploring. I also learned about the impact we humans have on nature, balance and habitat development. When trees are cut down to make way for wider roads or more settlements, populations of birds and animals can be affected. When we spray chemicals on our lawns, birds and animals also suffer. My hobby has helped me tremendously in gardening. We try to make our yard bird-friendly and natural. I am constantly looking for native plants and shrubs that not only decorate but also feed the birds. I also learned that the Internet and social media can be a real cesspool. It's nice that people who love birds are mostly very friendly."

Usefully for business

This kind of photography takes a lot of time. Often people do not understand how much this is a huge work and a large amount of investment. Lisa currently uses an action camera in a waterproof box with a macro lens for photography and a Birdsy camera for video clips and live broadcasts. Among other things, the photographer also built a pond in the courtyard where visitors can enjoy "spa treatments".

“I saw birds swimming in puddles and decided to build a bath for them. Last year I put a camera there. There was a lot going on in this bathtub, but it seemed to me that it was too small, and I wanted something prettier. So my husband and I decided to build a small pond. We made it out of a large pond lined tub. They laid out a large number of stones and pebbles there, equipped with a special pump for a small waterfall. We remove it for the winter. When it gets warmer, it will work again."

“All my feeders are protected from squirrels. All products are left overnight. I fill the plates several times a day. There are about two glasses of seeds in each of them. In addition to the usual ones, I have a platform feeder and one or two hanging feeders. There are special feeders for hummingbirds and orioles. I fill them up and clean them every other day. Cleaning feeders and baths is my constant occupation."

Usually, the usual inhabitants of the Midwest fall into Lisa's lens. The variety varies from cold weather to warm season. In winter, mainly finches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, cardinals, pigeons, tits, blue jays, sparrows, starlings, and yunkos are found. Summer is the time of grackles, red-winged thrushes, orioles, hummingbirds, deaf ears, robins, and so on. There are also regular visitors. Often squirrels, foxes, skunks, raccoons, possums, sometimes deer, turkeys and even owls come. Once Lisa saw a snake and a couple of frogs by the pond.

Lisa revealed the hardest and most rewarding part of her hobby

“The worst thing is when you see birds in trouble, but you can’t help them. Predator attacks are just as common as disease. It's all part of being natural. It is very interesting for me to watch the chicks. See how they all grow and develop."

Lisa sees how eggs are laid, how the mother bird incubates them, how the cubs hatch and grow. When the day of plumage comes, Lisa usually tries to devote all her time to observing this. After all, they are all so bizarre and such different little personalities. It's always interesting to watch them. The first flight is so important. Then, it's interesting to watch them return to their parents. Lisa's favorite time is summer. Tiny chicks are constantly circling around, exploring this big world in the cutest way.

Lisa currently has over forty thousand Instagram followers. All of them appreciate and always wait for new pictures from the life of birds. The photographer says she never expected her work to get so much attention online, and it still amazes her.

“I just share what I see and what I like. In addition to being often asked what kind of camera I use, many also appreciate the opportunity to see birds up close and learn a little about their behavior or characteristics. Some say they have moved, no longer see these birds and miss them. My pictures remind these people of something familiar and pleasant for them. The reviews are usually overwhelmingly positive. But, in the end, these are social networks and sometimes there are not very pleasant reactions. The positive ones prevail, so I try not to let others influence me too much."

Lisa also noticed that some of the photos get more attention than others. This is mainly due to the fact that funny expressions and poses are very memorable. With these photos going viral, people are also learning new things about birds as the photographer tries to add interesting information to each shot.

“I always find it funny how some photos really amaze people, while others, which I like more, somehow do not. I always try to add a little extra information to my posts. It seems to me important that people learn various details from the life of birds, which, perhaps, not everyone knows about. It is wonderful to observe how people react to photographs in which the birds' reactions, behavior, posture or gaze are similar to those of humans."

Lisa shares her experience and expert advice

“Be very patient, don't disturb the birds, be creative and don't just try to imitate what others are doing. Create your own little scene, have a lot of fun. Please understand that we may not always be able to capture all the birds we want. Some birds will appear with a specific food, others prefer a specific habitat. Just putting their favorite food in the trough will not accomplish anything."

Lisa says she would like a woodpecker or cedar waxwings in her yard. Unfortunately, this will never happen, because this is not the place for them. However, a birdbath can be a good way to attract those who even just flew by. Thus, the photographer managed to attract many unexpected visitors.

Lisa creates a variety of products with her designs and sells on her website. Despite this, her occupation still remains only a hobby. The photographer doesn't mind this becoming something more, but for now she still has to work in order to make ends meet and keep the feeders always full.

If you liked the article, read about Anastasia Dobrovolskaya, an artist who makes magic photographs of people and animals that look like illustrations for fairy tales.