A three part series that will show you how to use your knowledge of animal behavior to bring backyard wildlife closer to you (and your camera).

If you're new to backyard bird feeding and need to purchase feeders, feed or accessories, visit Duncraft,

Part one: Habitat and Habituation

If you enjoy your backyard wildlife habitat, chances are you use tools like feeders, water, wildflowers, nest boxes and window feeders to bring wildlife closer to you. But what if you need to get really close in order to capture stunning and detailed photos?

Option 1: Break the Bank for a high quality, long lens (about $6,000)

Option 2: Utilize these elements of animal behavior to build an "up close and personal"  relationship with your backyard inhabitants.

HABITAT

Protect the wildlife you're trying to attract

Keep dogs/cats and other predators  indoors when you're outside (or always) to avoid a situation where you are, quite literally, leading wildlife to slaughter

Establish a "safe zone" in their habitat that you never enter. My backyard is essentially a bottom land where a small marsh/pond provides a diverse habitat for birds and wildlife. Even though I could easily enter the water or walk the muddy shore, I've made a decision to leave a large area of the habitat as a sort of "comfort zone"

Work on your forest "edge" habitat

Forest edges are where you'll find a myriad of bird and wildlife species. A well-designed area that provides cover, a choice of perches of different heights/levels/types and a source of water will be a familiar-looking habitat for native species, and will help to consolidate the bird and wildlife activity into an area that you can photograph more easily.

If  you have a small yard, or find it difficult to get outside, think creatively about your surroundings, and use your house or any other permanent structures as a "bllind"

You'll find out that birds seem to be more tolerant of a camera lens poking out of a home than a  human face,  which shares many features with that of a predator

HABITUATION

Make consistency a part of your strategy

When I was a kid, I thought that wildlife would naturally want to come closer to me, simply because I wanted to be closer to them. At the age of 9, my understanding of "patience" consisted of "pausing" and expecting something to happen. I'm still not a big fan of sitting still, so any tactic that can speed "patience" along is a tactic I'll use, such as:

Become a Creature of Habit

Over time, you'll begin to notice that there are general patterns that are followed by certain species and/or individuals throughout the day. This will not only allow you to observe and study wildlife, it will also help to improve the quality of your photographs.

Knowing that you have a good chance of catching birds bathing in the early morning, you'll be better prepared to make an effective exposure that will showcase that  behavior in a dynamic and effective  way.

Appeal to their senses

Your clothing represents the largest area visible on your body, so treat it like an important tool in your strategy. Put some thought into the colors, shape and even fit of your "backyard suit" and make a real effort to wear similarclothing when engaged in activities outdoors.Even if you don't see any birds or other critters, it doesn't mean that they can't see you.

Animals in the wild are constantly assessing the threat level of a particular object or animal. Because it would be exhausting and counter productive to react with the fight/flight response to every animal in every situation, habituation allows the bird to get comfortable with what's familiar.

Hello, it's me

Birds do more than sing; they have a myriad of nuanced calls and noises that are used in very specific situations. You can use your voice to establish a consistent and recognizable "hello" or greeting call.

Each time I exit my home and step onto my backyard deck, I issue a simple two-note greeting (sort of a combo of e.phoebe and b.c. chickadee)to announce that its "just me" Over the past year, that simple greeting has become increasingly effective in getting the attention of the birds, squirrels and chipmunks that call my backyard home. As of this summer, the denizens will essentially, "come when called."

In a nutshell: If you can be consistent in your actions, the wildlife will notice your patterns and become habituated to them over time.

Coming next: Selection, Social Facilitation and Intervention