canon r6 and 400mm lens

Guides, Main Feed

Learning to photograph birds on Manual with Canon R6

Up until recently, I’ve always shot in Aperture Priority (Av) mode. That’s what I was taught when I first started using a DSLR and what I’ve always stuck with. It wasn’t until recently when a friend was convincing me of the non-scariness of Manual (M) mode that I decided to do some research and give it a try.

mockingbird with computer vision overlay

Gear Reviews, Main Feed

Birding with the Canon R6

In what I can only describe as “computer vision” the way Canon’s new mirrorless cameras can focus on subjects is truly impressive. The new Animal Eye Autofocus feature detects the eye on an animal subject and locks its focus onto it as it moves through the frame. Rather than being restricted to limited focal points it can detect and focus on subjects all throughout the frame. It’s not perfect, and certainly works better under some conditions rather than others

iphone using merlin's sound id

App Reviews, Featured, Guides, Main Feed

Identify bird songs using your phone with Merlin

If you could take three things with you when you go birdwatching, what would they be? Binoculars, a camera, and a smartphone would be my answer. Over the past few years, new phone apps have enabled birders, both rookie and seasoned, to better identify and record what they see in the field. The Merlin App has led the way in offering a robust tool to identify unknown birds.

how to record bird sightings using your phone

App Reviews, Guides, Main Feed

The Ultimate Digital Birding Toolkit

There are many benefits to bringing your mobile device with you into the field when you go birding. Mobile apps offer a wide variety of ways to help you bird better, including: field guides, ID tools, observation tools and more. Keep reading to learn the must-have birding apps for your mobile phone.

yellow warbler singing on branch

Education, Guides, Main Feed

Non-obvious Tips to Help Identify Birds

After going bird watching a few times or watching your feeder for a few weeks, the birds slowly start to look more and more familiar. But it can still be a challenge to discern one bird from another or to learn to recognize a new species you’ve seen only a few times.