New Camera Upgrade!
After living with a Nikon D3200 for the past few years, we finally upgraded to a Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera! If you want to learn more about this, read our new article below and check out some photos from this camera on the Nature Photography page!
Lens upgrade! Nikon D5600 gets Sigma 150-600 f5-6.3 lens!
When we got our Nikon D5600 last November we were using a fully manual Nikon 70-300mm f4-5.6 lens that we had been using since 2015. In early January we upgraded to a Sigma 150-600mm contemporary lens. The photos it has taken have been amazing!
The major problem with our previous setup was the manual focus on the previous 70-300 lens. When photographing moving birds, it was extremely difficult to focus on them, and the hit rate for focus could be as low as 1/10 photos. With the new Sigma lens, we get very quick and accurate autofocus with a focus hit rate of up to 8/10 shots depending on the situation. an 80% hit rate is very good for wildlife photography considering that if you take 100 photos around 90 of them get deleted and only the 10 best photos get saved. The lens will be put to the test in May during the Festival of Birds at Point Pelee National Park. Warblers tend to stay in trees with lots of small branches so it will be interesting to see how the lens handles that situation. In the meantime, more photos taken by this camera and lens can be found in the Nature Photography page on the website. |
New Nikon D5600 Takes Great Photos!
Every since we got a camera upgrade in late November of 2017 we have been hard at work putting it to use and taking many photos. This camera upgrade was a big upgrade over our previous Nikon D3200. We have noticed sharper images, more vibrant colours, and a much lighter camera body overall. Our current lenses are Nikon 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses. It is important to note that almost all of the photos taken on the camera is using the 70-300mm lens and it is also important to know that the 70-300 lens is fully manual focus. There is no Autofocus function on that lens and yet it still manages to capture extremely high levels of clarity.
Later in the year, we will be upgrading our lens for the first time in almost 3 years with a Sigma 150-600mm F 5-6.3 lens. This is an autofocus lens that will give us double the focal range and allow for much closer photos. Considering our current 300mm zooms in very little. We will be able to zoom in even more with a Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter. This will make our 600mm lens a 840mm lens. This will allow for very zoomed in photos for birds that may be sitting very far out in a field or on a lake.
Later in the year, we will be upgrading our lens for the first time in almost 3 years with a Sigma 150-600mm F 5-6.3 lens. This is an autofocus lens that will give us double the focal range and allow for much closer photos. Considering our current 300mm zooms in very little. We will be able to zoom in even more with a Sigma 1.4x Teleconverter. This will make our 600mm lens a 840mm lens. This will allow for very zoomed in photos for birds that may be sitting very far out in a field or on a lake.
House Wrens Having More Chicks For 2017- Or Not.
In April of 2017, the PointBird House Wrens returned for another season of nesting! They laid a total of 7 eggs, 1 more than last year. The wrens sat on the eggs for about 10 days. Only a couple days before hatching, the eggs were found on the ground outside the nest box with House Sparrows picking at the remains of unhatched hatchlings. The conclusion was that the House Sparrows raided the nest and picked out the eggs, and the House Sparrows also cleaned up the Wren nest, like they were going to nest in the box themselves. However, the Sparrows never nested in the box, and the House Wrens returned 1 week later, and they laid 7 more eggs. After around 12 days, the nest box was checked, and the eggs were gone, even though the eggs were there the day before. The eggs were never found, and the nest box had been cleared out again, but the House Sparrows had not nested in it. This was July 5th, 2017. At this point, it is clear that the Sparrows are having an easy time entering the nest box, so it has been decided that the current PointBird nest box is going to be redesigned. The triangular roof is going to be cut off to make a flat roof, and the hole in the front of the box is going to be shrunk so that only Wrens can fit inside, and the Sparrows cannot. These are only a few of the modifications that are going to be done to the current PointBird nest box. And later this summer, a bat house is going to be added to the PointBird property!
|
House Wrens Leave nest box at PointBird!
In case some people did not know, near the end of April 2016 a pair of house wrens built a nest inside of the PointBird nest box. the eggs were laid a week later and the eggs hatched in the middle of May. A week and a half later the 6 baby house wrens left the nest box. for around a week after they left they could be heard chirping in the forest behind PointBird. and one was spotted too. after that the wrens learned how to fly and left the area, probably to go deeper into the forest. The nest box has been up for over a year now and we have so far spotted one pair nesting in it, which was 2016. before the parents started to build the nest modifications were made to the PointBird nest box. half of the roof was cut off and given a hinge and put back onto the box in order for us to see inside of the nest box whenever we wanted. the nest box was also cleaned so the Wrens could build their nest in a clean nest box. remember to keep coming back for updates about the nest box and other nesting birds at PointBird!
Eastern Bluebird sighting at PointBird
Special report from PointBird, Febuary 5th 2016. A flock of eastern bluebirds was spotted near PointBird, and photos were taken. The bluebird is not a very common sighting in the winter, and there is conformation that the bird in the photos was a bluebird. The photos were taken at Brunet park on January 31st, 2016 and the birds may still be there. Steven. C is currently looking for any more birds or any early spring birds in the area or any flocks of unusual birds for the area. Based on this sighting, the spring migration is beginning at PointBird.
|
Brown Creepers Making comeback around PointBird?
January 26, 2016. While Steven. C, the founder and current CEO of PointBird conservation group was birdwatching in the forest near PointBird, he found something, or rather, many somethings. He found 3-5 Brown Creepers in the trees and on the ground near trucks on a sheet of ice. The creepers were forging for food in the area, but not that many creepers at one time has ever been recorded near PointBird during PointBird's lifetime. The Brown Creeper is found near PointBird year round but is commonly spotted in the winter and early spring, they become secretive in the other months of the year.
Steven thinks that they will stay for a couple more weeks. A good photograph of the birds is a goal for Steven, and he knows where to find them. off the trail, there is a small bunch of trees that are usually flooded with water a foot and a half or deeper during the spring and summer, but in winter, it freezes over. This makes it possible for people to walk over it when winter hits, without the ice breaking. The creepers were accompanied with a hairy woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and a red bellied woodpecker, a feeding frenzy! Hopefully, the creepers are making a comeback, and the numbers are getting higher! Only time will tell.
Steven thinks that they will stay for a couple more weeks. A good photograph of the birds is a goal for Steven, and he knows where to find them. off the trail, there is a small bunch of trees that are usually flooded with water a foot and a half or deeper during the spring and summer, but in winter, it freezes over. This makes it possible for people to walk over it when winter hits, without the ice breaking. The creepers were accompanied with a hairy woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and a red bellied woodpecker, a feeding frenzy! Hopefully, the creepers are making a comeback, and the numbers are getting higher! Only time will tell.
Chills are getting to PointBird
January 18, 2016, the Tempratures are dropping fast, tomorrow will be a ice cold -13 degrees celcius. The temps will be staying low for a while, and it will be snowing sometimes when it is cold. PointBird will be keeping their feeders stocked with food during these frigid winter days, and hopefully, the birds will be able to handle it. This was the cold front that PointBird was expecting. The winter birds are finally happy with the Tempratures outside but, some people are not happy with this cold. Steven Cullen, on the other hand, is happy with these Tempratures. "We are finally in winter!" Steven says "This is a relief that the Tempratures will not be warm all winter."
Strange new discovery at PointBird
On January 15, 2016, Something rather strange but explainable has been found. PointBirds 2015 Peanut feeder arrival has lead to multiple new birds showing up at the feeders also bringing in regulars that will snack on peanuts as well as their other foods PointBird offers. But, The Downy Woodpecker, a common visitor to the PointBird feeding station grew a new diet after the peanut feeder was put up in late summer of 2015. The Downy Woodpeckers used to eat Suet, specifically Scott's Year Round Suet, which was one of 3 varieties of suet that was offered at PointBird in the past, strange enough, the Downy did not like the Woodpecker suet that PointBird used to offer, neither did it like the fruit and nuts blend, but Year round was the favorite for all of the birds. But, once the Peanut feeder was put up at PointBird, the woodpecker stopped going to the suet and went ONLY to the Peanut feeder! The Downy has a strange habit now, the peanuts at the BOTTOM of the feeder always remain untouched, but the fresh peanuts, near the top are always taken. Why? Because the ones at the bottom are 2 weeks old and when the peanut feeder gets below the halfway mark, it is filled up, leaving the birds with very fresh peanuts to eat. PointBird will be doing an experiment where we will put out ONLY suet and leave the peanuts with only the old ones, will the Downy go for the Peanuts or the fresh Suet? This will the well if they have changed their diet at the feeders to peanuts for good, or if they will still accept peanuts, only time will tell. For now.
Tempratures gradually lowering
the area of PointBird has been having the warmest winter since 1944, and people are noticing the warmth. A whole lot of people like the warm winter, because some people do not like the cold, but Steven. C, founder and CEO of PointBird Conservation Group is not liking this warm winter at all. "I am worried about nature," Steven says, "this warmth could of been caused by Global warming, and now people who care are noticing the true effects of Global warming in the Windsor area." Although some other people may be worried like Steven is, good news is on the way. Looking at the weather, the Temprature in the area is showing that it will drop to the below freezing Tempratures by next week. There may also be a chance of some snow next week as well, this is leaving some people hoping it will get colder and snow. Surprisingly, a year or two back PointBird's area broke the record for the most snow since a couple decades before. We just hope everything goes back to normal and Tempratures go low for the winter.
New regular visitor! Female Red bellied woodpecker spotted at feeders daily
The News from PointBird, A female Red bellied woodpecker featured in the news below has been spotted daily for a couple of days now. The woodpecker is seen daily eating peanuts from PointBird's Peanut feeder. The woodpecker is tough enough to keep the House Sparrows away from the feeder! This bird visit is exciting for everyone at PointBird since they have never had a Red Bellied woodpecker visit daily. The most that PointBird has had was 1 bird every week or 2. Stay tune on the E News page and this page for updates on Birds at PointBird!
first snowfall of the year at PointBird
Coming Your way: Mourning Dove Call of the North
did you enjoy The Mourning Dove Novel? Well, coming soon, in late 2015 or early 2016 will be The Mourning Dove: Call of the North. Steven. C is writing the second novel right now! This novel will be 100+ pages and about Marvin, the Dove. This is a follow up of the first Novel. We hope that you are excited! If you liked the first book, you will love the second one, the first one was called "a real page turner" and we hope that the second book is the same!
Red Bellied Woodpecker sighting this morning
November 19, 2015- A red bellied woodpecker was sighted at the PointBird feeders this morning. This is the start of a lot of Red Bellied Woodpeckers at the PointBird feeders. At the feeders, we get downy woodpeckers many times daily, the question is, will Red bellied Woodpeckers come like that too? Steven. C thinks not. "In the winter last year, we would get Red bellied Woodpeckers about once or twice a week. Based on trend graphs, we believe that we will see more this year." Last year was also PointBird's first year of Winter bird feeding, that could of had an effect on the woodpeckers at the feeders. We also get a lot more downys this year, so they must be finding the feeders now.
|
Will this warm November confuse or delay migrants?
This is November, at this time, it should be cold outside, below freezing. not at PointBird. It is 12 degrees Celsius that is not normal around here In November. But, nobody knows how long the temperature will stay like this. It is impossible to tell. Will there be a sudden cold Front? Will it stay like this until December? Or all winter? But, PointBird seems to have an answer to all of this confusion. "We believe that it will not stay like this for long, and that the birds will not stay." Says Steven. C. "When you stay outside, you can see many birds migrating above your head. Their instincts tell them when to migrate, not temperature."
First Flood Of Dark Eyed Juncos
The Flood of juncos is here. Yesterday, October 23ed, there were no juncos at all. we had a rare early sighting of a Junco about a month ago, but this was different. There were no Juncos, until Today. When Steven. C, CEO of PointBird went outside, the juncos were everywhere you could see. In the sky, In trees, on the ground, and at the PointBird Feeders. "This Is the flash flood of Juncos," Says Steven. C "They showed up last year a week after this day, but this year, the flood was early."
At Point Pelee National Park, The Flood of Juncos had already hit a month earlier. They had stayed down there until they were ready to come out. and when they did, they came out by the hundreds, the thousands.
At Point Pelee National Park, The Flood of Juncos had already hit a month earlier. They had stayed down there until they were ready to come out. and when they did, they came out by the hundreds, the thousands.
Mourning Dove Frenzy!
At the PointBird feeding station, a suddenly large incline of Mourning Doves have been showing up at the feeders. "We went from having 1 at a time, to 8 at a time!" says Steven. C CEO of PointBird Conservation Group. Mourning Doves will flock into large groups, it can sometimes be very common. The good thing about the doves? they are eating spilled seed off the ground that would have gone to waste. So, it is good to have the Doves around. But last year, in November, we had not received a Mourning Dove for a month, then they came back slowly. But last year, we did not have a very high population of doves like we do this year. we do not know what could happen.
First Of The Dark Eyed Juncos have arrived at PointBird Feeders
The first of the Dark Eyed Juncos have arrived! soon, PointBird will be seeing flocks of them from day to night. Around extreme southern Ontario, where PointBird is stationed. The "Slate Coloured" Juncos arrive. Slate coloured Juncos are one of many of the Dark Eyed Junco subspecies. one of 13. Dark eyed juncos are common and at bird feeders, they will take sunflower seeds, thistle, and especially red and white millets.
|
Male Hummingbird Invasion!
News from PointBird. "We have noticed a large increase of Male Ruby throat Hummingbirds recently," Steven.C- Founder and CEO of PointBird Conservation Group. "This is the most males we have ever seen at our feeders!" there are mostly females and juveniles on most occasions, but, the females are all sitting on the nest and feeding the juveniles since they cannot leave the nest. The reason for large increase on male Hummingbirds is still unknown, but we hope to find out soon!
Wrens Are Nesting In The PointBird Nest Box!
News from PointBird, a pair of wrens that checked out the PointBird nest box a couple days earlier than today have began nesting on May 12 2015! the pair is picking up twigs and putting them in the box, building a nest!
Spring Is Here... Migrants Are Arriving At The PointBird Feeding Station, And Fast!
News from PointBird. starting in mid April, we have seen more birds than usual. "Since mid April, we have seen many migrants at the feeders, including Carolina Wren, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pine Siskin, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, and the most recent, Ruby Throat Hummingbird." says Steven Cullen, Founder and Owner of PointBird Conservation Group. PointBird is working hard to keep the feeders stocked with food. they want to keep the birds at the feeders for as long as possible.
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk Sighting!
Cowbird Invasion!
News from PointBird. the morning of Sunday, January 25 2015 a large flock of cowbirds showed up at the feeders. "Lots of people see these birds as pests." Says Steven.C, the Owner and Founder of PointBird Conservation. "Especially with their nest parasitism." Steven.C says that Brown Headed Cowbirds have the instinct to lay their eggs in other birds nest. since these birds are roamers, they cannot stop for 3 weeks to raise chicks. "at PointBird, we accept all birds at our feeders. Yes, even blackbirds, cowbirds, and starlings. they are all birds." Steven.C even accepts hawks to visit the bird feeders. he just wants nature to do its thing.