Building a Bird Blind in central Illinois

[Lonnie 4]

Has anyone ever built a temporary bird blind?  I am thinking about building one this weekend.  Purchased a couple of camouflage nets on eBay.  I have 4 steel fence posts and a fence post driver.  Clothes line can also be used.  I have different ideas for different locations.  The blind will be temporary and not destructive to property.  Has anyone ever tried something like this?  Would like to hear the thoughts and opinions of others. 

Thank you, 

Lonnie

[Charlie Spencer 3,131]

I haven't used steel posts and a driver in a while but as I recall, it isn't the quietest operation.  Do you plan on installing the blind on one day and then using it the next?  You may scare off more birds putting it in than you would by just standing there quietly.

You can buy pop-up blinds for under $75.

[Lonnie 4]

 Hi Charlie, 

You are right about the noise of driving down steel fence posts.  I found a place in a remote area where I live.  Have been there 6 or 7 times within the past 4 weeks.  It is beside a forest, a creek bank, and about 30 feet in front of a dead tree.  I have 3 or 4 locations in mind.   Not exactly sure where I will drive in the posts.  I also have a clothes line to use.  

Have also seen the small pop up blinds for under $75.00 like you mentioned. 

 

Have noticed that when I set still in a lawn chair for a few minutes.  The birds will begin to appear.  Just curious to see what it would be like if I were somewhat hidden.  

[Charlie Spencer 3,131]

On 7/15/2020 at 9:04 PM, Lonnie said:

Have noticed that when I set still in a lawn chair for a few minutes.  The birds will begin to appear.  Just curious to see what it would be like if I were somewhat hidden.  

I don't know if you've heard of a national birding event called the 'Big Sit'.  While it's an annual event, the concept applies any time.  Pick a spot, sit quietly, and wait to see what comes to you.  

[The Bird Nuts 4,272]

I've used several homemade "blinds".  I've used a pop-up kids house, an outdoor table turned on its side (took photos through the umbrella hole 😆), and currently I have an old kids fort covered in a piece of carpet by my pond that I'll sit in every once in a while (a Solitary Sandpiper came really close to that one!).  Anything works, really...

Edited August 31, 2020 by The Bird Nuts

[Charlie Spencer 3,131]

And there's the ever-popular 'car blind'.  I've taken plenty of photos and notched plenty of lifers leaning out the window.

[The Bird Nuts 4,272]

2 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said:

And there's the ever-popular 'car blind'.  I've taken plenty of photos and notched plenty of lifers leaning out the window.

Yeah, although I often have a hard time getting good photos out of car windows because the heat coming off the car (if it is on or had been on) causes distortion.

[AlexHenry 1,268]

Set up a blind the day before and lay out some seeds. The next morning there might be some sparrows and finches around if you’re lucky. Especially good if there’s both running water and a food source

[Seanbirds 448]

On 7/15/2020 at 7:02 AM, Charlie Spencer said:

I haven't used steel posts and a driver in a while but as I recall, it isn't the quietest operation.  Do you plan on installing the blind on one day and then using it the next?  You may scare off more birds putting it in than you would by just standing there quietly.

You can buy pop-up blinds for under $75.

Yeah, found a really nice one for only $70. It’s great!

[floraphile 174]

On 8/31/2020 at 12:14 PM, Charlie Spencer said:

I don't know if you've heard of a national birding event called the 'Big Sit'.  While it's an annual event, the concept applies any time.  Pick a spot, sit quietly, and wait to see what comes to you.  

I had never heard of the Big Sit.  I Googled it and it looks like fun.  Thank you for sharing, @Charlie Spencer!

[Connor Cochrane 2,151]

4 hours ago, floraphile said:

I had never heard of the Big Sit.  I Googled it and it looks like fun.  Thank you for sharing, @Charlie Spencer!

It certainly isn’t the most exciting birding, but it is fun to do once a year or so. Here’s a checklist of one I did this year: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76613005.The mileage is due to the hike in and out of the location. 

[Charlie Spencer 3,131]

10 hours ago, floraphile said:

I had never heard of the Big Sit.  I Googled it and it looks like fun.  Thank you for sharing, @Charlie Spencer!

 

6 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said:

It certainly isn’t the most exciting birding, but it is fun to do once a year or so. Here’s a checklist of one I did this year: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76613005.The mileage is due to the hike in and out of the location. 

Pick your location in advance, since the habitats are important if you're after a high count.  Find a place where you can view a mix of environments - water, open or shrubby fields, mixed hardwoods, transition zones, etc.  There's a flood-damaged public park nearby that's been under reconstruction for several months.  Once they get it finished and the lake fills back up, I'm going to try a Sit there.

[floraphile 174]

9 hours ago, Connor Cochrane said:

It certainly isn’t the most exciting birding, but it is fun to do once a year or so. Here’s a checklist of one I did this year: https://ebird.org/checklist/S76613005.The mileage is due to the hike in and out of the location. 

Your list is impressive, @Connor Cochrane.   

With prolonged sitting/limited activity, I would be a little concerned about DVTs, but am fascinated by what might be seen.  When done in shifts among several people, can the same individual who has already birded from the circle return for later shifts, as long as someone in the group is birding from the circle at all times? 

 

[Connor Cochrane 2,151]

1 hour ago, floraphile said:

Your list is impressive, @Connor Cochrane.   

With prolonged sitting/limited activity, I would be a little concerned about DVTs, but am fascinated by what might be seen.  When done in shifts among several people, can the same individual who has already birded from the circle return for later shifts, as long as someone in the group is birding from the circle at all times? 

 

I’m not sure about the rules. We never technically did a big sit. I can’t see how it would be too interesting in a place like a Marsh. I feel like you would see everything in 20 min. The only times I do these long stationary counts is up on ridgelines during migration.