Cardinals - Post Yours!

[Darren75]

Snowing today so shooting birds in the garden through the double pane double hung window with the R6ii and 200-800

And they still look good!

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Levina
all these were shot with either the 200-800 or the 100-500, all through my den window

I agree with Darren, they still look pretty darn good through all that. Not much difference between these two lenses either then.

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

You get no argument from me there, Jeff. The first time I tried the 800/11 on a songbird, I couldn't find him! That took a bit of practice. The difference with 560mm (my 400/5.6L + 1.4xTC) was huge! I had not expected that. And BIF at 800mm is too hard. As to zooming, I always had primes so I'm used to not having that ability. I don't miss it in the 800/11. The RF 100-500 is my first zoom lens but it's most always at 500mm.

I agree with Darren, they still look pretty darn good through all that. Not much difference between these two lenses either then.

All handheld

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

All handheld

About Cardinals. I was thinking they must be really tough birds to survive your winters. All the pics I've seen of them, from you and others, in harsh winter weather, in snow storms. That's hard on any bird. You would think they would migrate, go to an area to sit out the winter, come back in Spring. I wonder how many of them die in a harsh winter.

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

About Cardinals. I was thinking they must be really tough birds to survive your winters. All the pics I've seen of them, from you and others, in harsh winter weather, in snow storms. That's hard on any bird. You would think they would migrate, go to an area to sit out the winter, come back in Spring. I wonder how many of them die in a harsh winter.

They tough it out, luckily for photographers. We have 6 bird feeders and a heated bird bath where they can drink all winter. We feed mostly Black Oil Sunflower seeds and suet cakes, although after doing a quick Google search I will start putting out seed with fruits and berries for them as we are only 1/2 through winter and are supposed to get 9 inches of snow Saturday night.

Do cardinals migrate or stay put?​

Cardinals do not migrate and instead tough out the winter wherever they call home. This means they stick around throughout the year across most of their range, including throughout the northern United States and Canada.


There are a few key reasons cardinals do not join their migratory bird neighbors in flying south for the winter:

• Cardinals have adaptations like dense, insulating feathers that allow them to tolerate cold temperatures.
• They can store large amounts of body fat during autumn to provide energy through the winter when food is scarce.
• Cardinals eat insects, seeds and fruit that remain available even in winter.
• They are territorial birds and prefer to stay and defend their range rather than migrating and returning.

How do cardinals find food in winter?​

Finding food is more challenging for cardinals during the winter when many natural food sources are scarce or unavailable. Cardinals adapt with the following strategies:

• They gradually shift their diet during fall, eating more seeds, grains, nuts and berries to store fat before winter.
• They search leaf litter on the forest floor for fallen seeds and nuts.
• They visit bird feeders frequently and can become reliant on feeders for food.
• They scavenge seeds from spent flower heads and pods.
• They eat fruits and berries left on some trees and shrubs.
• They may catch weakened insects like beetles and larvae.
• Males and females often feed together to take advantage of available food sources.

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

They tough it out, luckily for photographers. We have 6 bird feeders and a heated bird bath where they can drink all winter. We feed mostly Black Oil Sunflower seeds and suet cakes, although after doing a quick Google search I will start putting out seed with fruits and berries for them as we are only 1/2 through winter and are supposed to get 9 inches of snow Saturday night.

Do cardinals migrate or stay put?​

Cardinals do not migrate and instead tough out the winter wherever they call home. This means they stick around throughout the year across most of their range, including throughout the northern United States and Canada.


There are a few key reasons cardinals do not join their migratory bird neighbors in flying south for the winter:

• Cardinals have adaptations like dense, insulating feathers that allow them to tolerate cold temperatures.
• They can store large amounts of body fat during autumn to provide energy through the winter when food is scarce.
• Cardinals eat insects, seeds and fruit that remain available even in winter.
• They are territorial birds and prefer to stay and defend their range rather than migrating and returning.

How do cardinals find food in winter?​

Finding food is more challenging for cardinals during the winter when many natural food sources are scarce or unavailable. Cardinals adapt with the following strategies:

• They gradually shift their diet during fall, eating more seeds, grains, nuts and berries to store fat before winter.
• They search leaf litter on the forest floor for fallen seeds and nuts.
• They visit bird feeders frequently and can become reliant on feeders for food.
• They scavenge seeds from spent flower heads and pods.
• They eat fruits and berries left on some trees and shrubs.
• They may catch weakened insects like beetles and larvae.
• Males and females often feed together to take advantage of available food sources.

That's some great info, Jeff. Thanks so much. Tough little birds indeed, built to make it through those harsh winters. That's good to know.
I love not only that you help them through the winter with food but that you have a heated bird bath so they have water.

9 inches of snow. That's a lot!

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

Canon R7 RF 100-500 at 4000 ISO, not bad. Shot through the window glass

 

[Levina de Ruijter]

Canon R7 RF 100-500 at 4000 ISO, not bad. Shot through the window glass

View attachment 6337

No indeed, that's not bad at all! And shot through glass too. No noise that I can see. What do you use, Jeff, Topaz or DXO Pure Raw?