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Need accessories for bird photography

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:00 am
by moose henderson
I would like to find a battery operated water drip; any recommendations.

Any other accessories that would be handy to attract birds for photography, I have the bird songs.

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:24 am
by AndrewC
Why battery operated ? If you just hang your reservoir up and have a length of small bore poly pipe with a tap (visit a pet shop) you'll get a gravity drip.

If you want a portable fountain how about a solar powered one ?

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:26 am
by moose henderson
I need to set up in places without electric power and without a water faucet, so most likely need a recirculating water pump (battery operated) connected to a water drip. Ideas?

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 9:42 am
by Bob Bell
I googled them because I had seen them in the past. Here is one that might work well and pumps 4 feet up although its a bigger tube than you want you might be able to pump into a resevoir and have it gravity drip. http://www.aquamasters.com/batteryo.htm

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:45 am
by Jim Neely
John,

I have used a one gallon bleach bottle with a pinhole in the bottom and hung from a tree limb. I adjust the drip rate with the tightness of the top. If I get the drip rate set right it can last most of the day.

This is close to what Andrew was suggesting.

I have discussed the solar powered versions with people that used them. Most weren't very happy because leaves and dirt clogged the pumps.

jn

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:57 am
by moose henderson
okay, now I understand, kinda like an IV Bag

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:01 pm
by Bob Bell
I just got back from my morning hike and saw a bunch of people with Camelbacks. They are water bladders with drinking tubes. I imaging you can control the flow with a cheap clamp from home depot. Here is an example: http://www.rei.com/product/733683

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:02 pm
by moose henderson
hey, I got one of those that I never use, great idea

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 12:10 pm
by Scott Fairbairn
Try this link. Runs on Batteries and should be easy to adjust flow rate with a valve or height of the hose.
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.as ... 96&p=52296

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:28 pm
by Jim Zipp
Hi John,
We have an item coming in that might work for you. We have not tested it yet so I don't have a track record with it. We did have a bath that had this pump and fountain built in but had problems with the finish on the bath but none with the pump itself. We should have them in this coming week if you are interested. I put it at the bottom of the page below so you can have an idea of what it looks like.

http://www.fatrobin.com/bird%20bath%20accessories.html

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:31 pm
by moose henderson
Thanks Jim, I have been looking over the products on your site

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:34 pm
by Tim Zurowski
Here's another solar pump I have been considering:

http://www.garden-water-fountains.com/p ... untain.htm

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:50 am
by monik
I and some friends have had solar fountains, great at first but they invariably clog up, you clean them up and it starts again, in the end they stopped working altogether and the company who sold them said they were not yet completely reliable, they last about a year or possibly more if you are very lucky and they only work if it is sunny. What finally gives up working is the solar panel itself, no repair possible for that. Not money well spent in my opinion.
Monique

Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:52 pm
by Jim Zipp
Yes you do need to clean them periodically as with any garden pump. Not perfect for sure.... just the best option we've been able to find. Anyone finds a better one I'd love to hear about it.

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:48 pm
by photoman4343
You can buy a water jug at a grocery store with a valve at the bottom. Just open it a bit and the water will drip out. Attach it to a tree limb, not too high or the wind will blow the drip away from the reservoir. Cut a whole in its top so you can refill it. If you do not like its white color cover it in camo tape. Then buy a black reservoir for the water and bury it in the ground. An oil catch pan works or you can get an animal feed pan or a bird bath tray. Add a rock so the birds can stand in it. Surround it with dark rocks or tree limbs. Add a perch and you have a Texas bird drip. An alternative for the black reservoir is black pool liner. Joe Smith

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:57 pm
by photoman4343
If you are looking for info on how to build a disappearing fountain, go here for info:
http://www.nelsonwatergardens.com/data/ ... in%20w.pdf

Nelson's Water Gardens is a great store in the Houston TX area. They are the place to go for anything related to water gardens. They also love to open up their water gardens for photo club events.

Joe Smith

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:24 pm
by ebkw
Thanks, Joe!

Lots of good information that can be modified in that link!