Calling in the birds- Help please.

[marshall2]

So today I headed out to the tree with my camera, MP3 player, speakers, and extension cord to try out calling in the birds. I didn't have any success, and would like to know if I was doing something wrong.

I set the speakers up about 7 feet from the tree, with one speaker flat on it's back pointing to the sky, and the other speaker up-right, pointing the direction the birds usually fly in from. I know there is an abundance of Chickadees around here, so I figured I would try them first. I put the Black capped Chickadee call on, and set it to repeat. I took a few test shots and decided on my position to shoot from, and found some base settings for the camera. I had the volume at about 3/8ths on the speakers. Not overly loud, but I could hear it from about 30 feet away. After 15 minutes the only thing I managed to call in was a horsefly on one of the speakers. I thought maybe I was too close, so I quietly and slowly left, and went and set on the deck, about 30 feet away. 30 minutes passed and nothing but a butterfly went anywhere near the tree.

Am I doing something wrong? It may have been the weather. It's a really really windy day today, and quite humid. Everything is still wet from last nights rain.

One good thing about this though, It keeps the Grackles away lol. Usually the Grackles are everywhere in the tree no matter the weather.

Admins, sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

[Landis]

Well, I don't know a thing about "calling birds" but I think some nice food might be a better enticement. My wife puts out bird food in the summer, and we have more free loaders than I care to have. Make a horrible racket and mess everywhere.

[Calnumismatist]

I agree that food works best. It will take a little while for the birds to find it, but once they do, you will have enough coming by for plenty of pics. Oil sunflower seeds will attract most songbirds and woodpeckers.

[marshall2]

Thanks Landis and Steve, there is two feeders in the yard. Both are filled with a mix Oil sunflower seed and cracked corn. The Starlings and Grackles over run it.

[steffies]

I use a small portable cd player and a pair of headphones. Cranked up the volume and the Wren came right in. So the method definitely works. It would seem unlikely that you're doing something wrong.

The problem I've had is getting the bird to go on the perch. I see the Wren flying back and forth but it landed on the perch just once. That's the first photo in that wren-ched topic. I was out again last night after work until it got too late and again this morning and the Wren was going back and forth across the yard. The recording is having an effect.

Maybe try setting up a perch out in the open? That way the birds will have to stop there?

[sacstoy02gt]

Where you get the sound recordings from? I've been itching to try this.

[marshall2]

Thanks Steffies, I'm hoping it was just the weather. We have a fine day today, So I'm going out to give it another shot soon.

Issac, I got the clips from HERE. (http://www.naturesongs.com/birds.html) I spliced them together in Windows Movie Maker to make them about a minute long, than put them on an old MP3 player. Just E-mail them, and tell them that you want to use to clips to call in the birds for photographs and make sure thats O.K. with them. They should be fine with it, as they let me do it.

[sacstoy02gt]

great, thanks!

[steffies]

I got mine from the local library.

It seems that strong winds may have an effect. It was odd today, really windy and I played a couple of different ones. They came in, but it took a lot longer than it did when there was no wind. It could just be coincidence, not sure. Still having trouble getting them to perch, they fly to the trees and the fence. Maybe there's too many options in the yard :/