My baited patch????

[willing to learn]

I went to an area I have been baiting from last year through from the start of october through to early March, last year I even had nuthatches feeding from the hand. I make the effort and feed the area quite heavily every other day, I think the Grey squirells have the lions share.
I fed around last saturday, and turned up sunday camera in tow on sunday when I arived some one else with a camera was in the spot I had been baiting. It turns out he was rather a rude chap, and after a while he went.
About an hour latter another chap called Ian turned up he was a nice chap
and we had a good chat about the wildlife and photography the only down side is he came to photo the grey squirrel's We exchanged email adresses and have been in touch since. So it looks like my feeding station has become public. Not quite sure how I feel, but the thing that does bother me is I have made lot of the feeding points, from natural materials gathered from the wood floor, took it home converted it into feeders. All of these have been pinched or disapeared the last going sometime from sunday when I fed round and left, till to day when I went and fed round, what is it with people.
Worked on some heavy fallen timbers today they won't be taking that away in a hurry.
Regards
Colin

[acherontia]

I sympathise - but if it's a public place it's a public place, unfortunately.
There are some unsociable people around but there's not a lot can be done as regards the effort you've made with the feeders - other than add some chains and padlocks - and some people will probably nick those as well!
As regards the squirrels - each to their own - I quite enjoy photographing them as well.Once while I was out and about I met a lady who didn't like anything other than 'nice' birds - to the extent that she positively hated dogs,rats,squirrels (dirty horrible things she called them) and she was so protective of 'her' birds she even objected to birds of prey that she viewed as 'cruel nasty things'! It takes all sorts - she was quite pleasant and rational apart from having a strangely misguided view of 'nature' LOL

Acher

[Ian Gray]

my sympathies Colin. Had similar problems myself in the past. Now I tend to feed a small amount at numerous sites, most of which nobody know about, and if somebody does stumble upon one there's not alot to be seen. It also has the advantage of more variety of birds, even a few hundred yards can make a difference to what is attracted to the food. Don't know if this helps.

Ian

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by Ian Gray

my sympathies Colin. Had similar problems myself in the past. Now I tend to feed a small amount at numerous sites, most of which nobody know about, and if somebody does stumble upon one there's not alot to be seen. It also has the advantage of more variety of birds, even a few hundred yards can make a difference to what is attracted to the food. Don't know if this helps.

Ian

Thanks for the advice, I am not to bothered about other photographers using my "spot" but it would be nice if they fed round a bit.
Last year I caught a middle aged lady, cutting down my fat balls I made her aware that I was there so not to make her jump, and then asked her what she was doing. She replied taking them home to put up in her garden, I let her know that I had brought them and put them up for the birds in the wood. She left pretty embarassed.
Regards
Colin

[Ian Gray]

hi Colin

It was photographers I had the problem with. A group of three in particular who started turning up on a regular basis. They started to make "the feeding station rules" which, apparently, I was breaking by being to close and scaring all the birds off. The very same birds that would feed within a couple of feet of me when I was there by myself. I really didn't need the hassle, It's not what I go out for. so that's why I set up some alternative sites.

Ian

[jcurtis]

Hi Colin,
I know just how you feel, not a happy bunny either. I have started to put posters in local small shops asking land owners if they would let me photograph on their land.
I have had a few replies by email (best to set up a hotmail account etc for this). I now have access the priavte woodland/farmand.

Can I suggest you give this ago,target small shops in villages with an A4 poster if you can. Examples of your work will help to amek the AD stand out.

i can send you copies if the poster/letter if you want

[willing to learn]

Originally Posted by jcurtis

Hi Colin,
I know just how you feel, not a happy bunny either. I have started to put posters in local small shops asking land owners if they would let me photograph on their land.
I have had a few replies by email (best to set up a hotmail account etc for this). I now have access the priavte woodland/farmand.

Can I suggest you give this ago,target small shops in villages with an A4 poster if you can. Examples of your work will help to amek the AD stand out.

i can send you copies if the poster/letter if you want

Very good idea, I will give it a go.
Regards
Colin