NoraLucy20
Serious Backyard Bird and Wildlife Watchers Understand Animal Behavior
A backyard habitat requires basic tools like feeders, a water feature, native wildflowers, nest boxes and a carefully selected menu to attract a wide variety of species.
Once you've "set the table" and have a steady stream of visitors to your backyard, a little bit of knowledge about animal behavior will enhance your enjoyment, bring birds and Animals icons closer to you, and encourage them to linger for photos or close observation
Keep dogs/cats and other predators indoors when you're outside (or always) to avoid a situation where you are, quite literally, leading wildlife to slaughter.
Establish a "safe zone" in their habitat that you never enter. Over time, regular visitors to your yard will select territories, choose roost sites and become comfortable with the surroundings. It's a good idea to establish your own boundaries, too. Leave at least one area in your yard "for the birds" and keep away from that particular spot.
Forest edges are where you'll find a myriad of bird and wildlife species. A well-designed area that provides cover, a choice of perches of different heights/levels/types and a source of water will be a familiar-looking habitat for native species, and will help to consolidate the bird and wildlife activity into an area that you can photograph more easily.
If you have a small yard, or find it difficult to get outside, think creatively about your surroundings, and use your house or any other permanent structures as a "blind" for photography or observation.
You'll find that birds are more tolerant when its a camera lens and not a human face that's staring at them. People share many physical features with predators. To a bird or squirrel, there's no difference between hawk eyes and human eyes.