Bird's Eye View

Many birds spend time on the ground searching for food or nesting materials. I am attempting to be more consistent in getting close to a bird's eye view, at least on ground level (won't be climbing trees or ladders to get up to tree or flying heights!)  Close to the ground gives a different perspective, includes more of the bird's environment, helps to blur foreground/background, and creates the opportunity for a better photo than always aiming the camera down from a standing position. 

This perspective also shows what a jungle exists on the ground of a woods at a small bird's level. It presents a lot messier picture than what I prefer, but so be it.

In the past several days I have tried sitting on the ground, kneeling, and sitting on the first step of a step stool. All work, but the ground is cold in January!

This is a white-throated sparrow, and by being close to the ground I seemed to be better able to observe it's behavior. It approached the bird seed area by walking up the river bank not flying, and each time it approached the bird favored walking by a certain medium sized tree for cover (giving predictable photo opps at this tree). Although it mixed with juncos and other kinds of sparrows part of the time, it spent more time by itself on the edge of the group.