Backyard Bird Eateries:
Birds Partaking in the Sustenance of Life
2019 Photo Contest

1st Prize

Snow day for the Birds

by Deanna Mayhew
Crocker, Missouri

PHOTO#2-21DM

Here in Crocker, Missouri, it's another snow day for the birds...Cardinals, White-throated Sparrows, Purple Finches scurry about to get their fill of black oil sunflower seeds. It's always a favorite and provides an excellent source of high fat, fiber, and protein to keep them warm and healthy through the winter months.




2nd Prize

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird

by Timothy Miller
Woodburn, Indiana

PHOTO#2-18TM

This photograph of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is very special to me due to all the work that went into it.  After setting up my feeder in our backyard flower garden in such a way that the nearby flowers would be in the background, I positioned a cardboard dummy camera nearby for a few days to get the little hummers used to feeding with a camera nearby. Finally, I dared to replace the dummy camera with my real camera. Tense with excitement, I sat back under the shade of a nearby tree with my remote, which I would use to trigger the camera every time a hummingbird zoomed in.  After many different tries, many hours, and many, many photos, I finally captured this photograph.




3rd Prize

Having A Snack

by Jaime Janik
Downers Grove, Illinois

PHOTO#2-45JJ

Sunflower & A Finch

A male Goldfinch feeding from a sunflower that I planted from a seed. 




Winner Visitors Vote

Red-bellied Woodpecker

by Peggy Yaeger
Corbin, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-49PY

Red-bellied Woodpecker 
 




All The Entries From The 2019 Photo Contest

Feeding Frenzy

by Jenifer Nagle
Santa Clarita, California

PHOTO#2-52JN

This is in my backyard in Santa Clarita where the appetite of these Goldfinches is insatiable! The birds are feasting on nyjer seed and I have to fill the sock at least 2 times a day.





Wet Robin Enjoys This Unique Bird Bath

by Peggy Yaeger
Corbin, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-51PY

I found this wet Robin in Lexington, KY  USA. It was really enjoying itself playing in this unique bird bath. I liked watching its antics.





Frequent Visitor

by Peggy Yaeger
Corbin, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-50PY

This Downy Woodpecker is often seen on my bird feeder outside my classroom in Corbin, KY, USA. My first grade students really enjoy watching it every morning.





Backyard Visitor

by Jon Hains
Orangeville, Ontario

PHOTO#2-48JH

Red-bellied Woodpecker

We were visiting relatives in Lakeland,Florida U.S.A and sitting in the backyard and this guy flew in for lunch. Having the camera right there I took the shot(actually 44 shots). This is a Red-bellied Woodpecker and he went to the feeder that had a mixture of seeds. 
 




Hungry Winter Traveler

by Jon Hains
Orangeville, Ontario

PHOTO#2-47JH

Pine Siskin

Hi we live in Orangeville Ontario, Canada and feed a couple hundred birds mostly Pine Siskins and American Gold Finches plus about a dozen other different breeds. When the weather gets warm in the winter (above 0 degrees F) our home sounds like early spring with all the chattering in the trees around the house. This is the first time I have entered a photo contest. Thanks for the chance.
 




Mommy Bluebird Feeding Her Baby

by Jennifer Hall
Fort Wayne, Indiana

PHOTO#2-46JH

Female Bluebird

She is feeding a cherry to her baby. The cherry is from my cherry tree.
 




Filling Up For Nesting Season

by Jaime Janik
Downers Grove, Illinois

PHOTO#2-44JJ

Male Baltimore Oriole


A male Baltimore Oriole having some sugar water after feeding on some grape jelly and sliced oranges.  Have to fatten up for their travel back after nesting season.




Chatting Over Some Lunch

by Jaime Janik
Downers Grove, Illinois

PHOTO#2-43JJ

2 Female Hummingbirds

Two female hummingbirds having some sugar water lunch on the little sweeties feeder.





Hummingbird Nose Dive

by Ronda Hix
Scottsville, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-42RH

Nose dive!





Ruby-throated Hummingbird

by Ronda Hix
Scottsville, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-41RH

Don't look at me while I'm eating!





2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

by Ronda Hix
Scottsville, Kentucky

PHOTO#2-40RH

Coming in for a drink before the other one drinks it all in Scottsville, Kentucky





Wind Beneath My Wings

by Julie
Alabama

PHOTO#2-39J

The Mourning Dove

In rememberance of those who lost their lives in the 2019
tornado that tore through the heart of Alabama.





Was It Something I Said?

by Clark LaGrange

PHOTO#2-38CL

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Most birds flee when this guy comes around!





Looking For Food!

by Missy Biller
Fayetteville, North Carolina

PHOTO#2-37MB

This is an Eastern Towhee. They love to scratch for food. This one was hopping all around under the feeder and found some safflower seeds.





My Favorite Treat!

by Missy Biller
Fayetteville, North Carolina

PHOTO#2-36MB

I'm a beautiful Pine Warbler eating my favorite nut and berry suet treat.





Fueling Up!

by Clark LaGrange

PHOTO#2-35CL

Chipping Sparrows

Chipping Sparrows are extremely cute and hyper little birds!  They must burn a lot of carlories because they certainly consume quite a bit of seed at my feeders.





If You Hang It, They Will Come!

by Clark LaGrange

PHOTO#2-34CL

American Goldfinch

I had my doubts about a white sack of nyjer attracting American Goldfinches!  But true to its promise, the birds showed up almost immediately!





I'm Hungry!

by Missy Biller
Fayetteville, North Carolina

PHOTO#2-33MB

This is a Chickadee eating an almond at his favorite bird feeder in Fayetteville, NC.





Christmas Wreath by Mother Nature

by Gail Hall
Smithfield, North Carolina

PHOTO#2-32GH

Mother Nature Adds to the Decor

This photo was taken in Smithfield, North Carolina, USA.  The peanut ring has been enjoyed by so many birds this year.  I decided to add a big red bow for a Christmas decoration and let Mother Nature do the rest!  I have captured a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker, a Titmouse and a Carolina Wren decorating my wreath.

This bird is a male Downy Woodpecker.  He pecks the peanut shells until he finds his treat.

I watch the birds from a blind (small tent) and have my camera ready to capture Mother Nature's beauty! She always gets it right.





Red-bellied Woodpecker -
Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut!

by Gail Hall
Smithfield, North Carolina

PHOTO#2-31GH

Red Belly Feels Like A Nut

This bird is a female Red-bellied Woodpecker. She is eating a mixed blend of bird food that includes sunflower seeds, peanuts and seeds. When this photo was taken, she was flying away with a piece of peanut. This feeder is the first feeder we put up and has lasted more than 20 years.

I captured this shot from a duck blind.  It was a gift from my daughter.  The birds don't notice me as much when I'm in the blind with my camera.





Sharing With A Friend

by MaryLin Howard
Shrewsbury, Chatham-Kent, Ontario

PHOTO#2-30MH

A Mourning Dove and a Tree Sparrow share a delicious meal of birdseed on a silver platter.





Time for a Snack

by MaryLin Howard
Shrewsbury, Chatham-Kent, Ontario

PHOTO#2-29MH

Junco Stopping by for a Snack

A beautiful Dark-eyed Junco stopped by for a snack.





Crystal Nibbles

by MaryLin Howard
Shrewsbury, Chatham-Kent, Ontario

PHOTO#2-28MH

Crystal Diner

A beautiful male Northern Cardinal enjoying a snack.





Pollen Head

by Bill Saidel
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

PHOTO#2-27BS

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird sampling the Coleus in my backyard. Sloppy eater... note the pollen on its head.





A Square Peg In A Round Hole

by Bill Saidel
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

PHOTO#2-26BS

This Red-bellied Woodpecker is opportunistic. When the trees aren't fertile, it'll go to my feeder for a choice of other food.





Pileated Picnic

by Elizabeth Sprague
Wantage, New Jersey

PHOTO#2-25ES

pileated-woodpeckers-eating-suet

Pileated Woodpecker duo enjoying berry suet.





Majestic Bluejay

by Lauren
Masury, Ohio

PHOTO#2-24L

King of the feeder!

Beautiful Bluejay enjoying an afternoon snack.





Play nice

by Lauren
Masury ohio

PHOTO#2-23L

House Sparrows having a spat.

Do not play well with others!




Saving Some For Later

by Lauren
Masury ohio

PHOTO#2-22L

So Cute

House Sparrow really enjoying the suet.




Three House Finches Enjoying
A Winter Snack

by Bill Saidel
Cherry Hill, New Jersey

PHOTO#2-20BS

Did you hear what they have at the feeder in the next yard?




Red Bellied Woodpecker
Eating Suet in the Snow

by Timothy Miller
Woodburn, Indiana

PHOTO#2-19TM

Seeing this Red-bellied Woodpecker outside the window at my home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I eagerly set up my micro tripod on the window sill and snapped photo after photo of the contented woodpecker. Of all the photographs I took, this one is my favorite. I really like how the piece of suet in the woodpecker's beak adds to the photo, as well as how both the woodpecker and the suet feeder are in tack sharp focus.




American Goldfinch Pair

by Timothy Miller
Woodburn, Indiana

PHOTO#2-17TM

Seeing the Goldfinches flocking to our thistle feeder after arriving in early April (I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana), I set up my tripod and cardboard dummy camera nearby. After the Goldfinches became accustomed to the dummy camera, I replaced the dummy camera with my real camera. Using the interval timer setting, I set the camera to take a picture every minute. After multiple attempts and hundreds of photographs, I finally captured this photograph. I really like this photograph because the wide angle view not only shows the Goldfinches, but also their habitat - our backyard, as well as showing a touch of blue sky.




OH LUCKY DAY!!

by Tina Kouskoutis
Tarpon Springs, Florida

PHOTO#2-16TK

This picture was taken in my yard and this little Tufted Titmouse had the pile of seeds to himself for a total of about .5 seconds!




Feed Me Now!

by Terri Wasilenko
Weedsport, New York

PHOTO#2-15TW

When sitting on my backyard deck I observed two Sparrows at the black oil seed feeder.  I laughed out loud when I watched a fledgling practically attack its parent for food. Enjoying the drama, I marveled at the parent's patience as it was teaching its offspring to feed itself at the bird feeder.




Sweet Water!

by Terri Wasilenko
Weedsport, New York

PHOTO#2-14TW

When visiting Stillwater Inn in northern New York state, the owners had set up several hummingbird feeders for patrons to watch the local Ruby-throated Hummingbirds while dining on the outer deck. I payed more attention to the Hummingbirds than my lunch! It was a fascinating visit!




Yummy Worms!

by Terri Wasilenko
Weedsport, New York

PHOTO#2-13TW

A pair of Robins built a solid mud nest on the ledge over my front door. Three wee Robins waited enthusiastically for their Dad and Mom to feed them constantly through out the day. If you look closely, one of the babies was quite large and often got more than its fair share.




I See You Watching Me

by Robyn Waugh
Columbia, Pennsylvania

PHOTO#2-12RW

Ruby-throated Hummingbird sipping sugar water. Able to take these shots, as I sit on my porch where I have multiple feeders available for them to choose from. Always a super fun bird to watch!




I Am Thirsty

by Robyn Waugh
Columbia, Pennsylvania

PHOTO#2-11RW

Gray Catbird drinking from a fountain water bowl. This is a dog water bowl that my husband bought me a few years ago to help attract birds with running water. I have all kinds of birds that come and visit.




American Goldfinches in Symmetry

by Michelle Wittensoldner
New Philadelphia, Ohio

PHOTO#2-10MW

Photo taken summer of 2018 at my home feeder in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Male and female American Goldfinch. They are eating nyjer finch food. I liked this photo due to the symmetry of the birds on the feeder.




Ruby-throated Hummingbird Pair

by Michelle Wittensoldner
New Philadelphia, Ohio

PHOTO#2-9MW

Male and female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at my feeder at home in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Birds are eating Hummingbird food. I liked this photo because I was able to capture not one but two birds in flight.




The Chase

by Michelle Wittensoldner
New Philadelphia, Ohio

PHOTO#2-8MW

This is a picture of a Cardinal chasing a Titmouse off the feed. It is just simple wildbird food here. I was happy to catch the birds in flight. Photo taken at my home feeder in New Philadelphia, Ohio.



Cigar and Champagne

by Linda Brooks
Simpsonville, South Carolina

PHOTO#2-7LB

I like to use unusual vessels to hold the seed and they make for interesting conversation starters.  This is one of my favorites. My Chickadee is enjoying a seed that appears to be a cigar while sitting on a champagne glass.




Early Morning Gossip Session

by Linda Brooks
Simpsonville, South Carolina

PHOTO#2-6LB

I like to think "Outside the Box" and was trying to think of unique feeders. I came across this pitcher from a child's tea set and glued it to a plastic plate. I filled the pitcher with seed and it spilled out onto the plate.  The next morning the Goldfinches were having a field day.  In my mind, I saw one of them saying to the another, "Hey Mable, did you hear what happened at the party last night?"  This is one of my favorite bird photos.  Hope you enjoy!




Coming In For A Landing!

by Kristi Hart
Texarkana, Arkansas

PHOTO#2-5KH

I love my backyard birds, and enjoy taking pictures of a variety of beautiful birds that visit my feeders year round. This picture is my first attempt to try and capture a bird in flight. With the weather being colder, my feeders were busy with yellow finches enjoying hulled sunflower seeds.





The Dark-eyed Junco That Saved Christmas

by Jody Grenier
Syracuse New York

PHOTO#2-4JG

This photo of a Sparrow was taken in Syracuse NY. The morning was perfect. The lightest of snow as the bird feeds is beautiful. Christmas morning!




I'm Outta Here!!!

by Tracie Csomos
Ida Michigan

PHOTO#2-3TC






Wait Your Turn!!!

by Tracie Csomos
Ida Michigan

PHOTO#2-2TC






Don't Even Think About It!
I Was Here First!

by Tracie Csomos
Ida Michigan

PHOTO#2-1TC

This picture was taken during the polar vortex that all of Michigan experienced this winter. I had a flock of bluebirds come in so quickly. I made sure I had live mealworms, and a heated bird bath close to where I originally spotted then. It wasn't but an hour later and I caught these two drinking. Such an awesome surprise on a cold winter day.



Great Backyard Bird Stories:
"Tails" of Avian Visitors

First Story Contest 2019 Entries


Sandhill Crane At The Backyard Buffet
By Clark LaGrange
STORY#1-3CL







Dad And His Hummingbirds
By Sheila Chapman
STORY#1-2SC






For the Love of Feeding Birds
By Kathy Berent
STORY#1-1KB

 Wild Birds Scoop Photo & Story Contests





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