![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/2020-Ford-F-150-Ecoboost-9390-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"2020-Ford-F-150-Ecoboost-9390-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nPlus some tips on what features to look for and which ones to avoid in a vehicle that will be used as a mobile blind for bird photography.<\/p>\n
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I have a new ride, a 2020 Ford F-150 Ecoboost.<\/p>\n
I had my old pickup for over six years and it was approaching 160K miles so it was time. This one’s a different color and it has a few more bells and whistles but it’s basically the same model as the pickup I traded in. I kept the old one for much longer than usual, by my count this is the 13th (or 14th) new Ford pickup I’ve bought in my nearly six decades of driving. Yup, I’m a Ford guy through and through.<\/p>\n
Given the number of times I’ve done it you might assume I enjoy buying new vehicles but I don’t, far from it. Even though I know I’ll buy Ford the process of negotiating and choosing options that will fit my needs is a painful one, aggravated this year by the effects of the pandemic that have severely limited vehicles to choose from. The pickup I eventually chose had to be driven down from a Ford dealer in Idaho.<\/p>\n
And that process is made even worse by my specialized needs as a bird photographer. Most of my bird photography is done from my vehicle, using it as a mobile blind, Birds are much less fearful of a vehicle than they are of a person on foot but trying to photograph birds from a vehicle that isn’t well suited for it can be incredibly frustrating.<\/p>\n
So I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to provide some suggestions to my bird photographer readers who may at some point be purchasing a new or used vehicle that will be used for serious bird photography. Obviously it’s far preferable to know about these tips before you buy the vehicle rather than after.<\/p>\n
My suggestions would include the following:<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/mirror-unextended-pushed-back-9397-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"mirror-unextended-pushed-back-9397-ron-dudley\\"")
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The solution is to choose a vehicle that allows the mirror to be pushed forward (toward the engine) and mostly out of the way of a long lens. This is a feature I insist on having on my pickups.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/window-slope-noodle-9404-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"window-slope-noodle-9404-ron-dudley\\"")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/rear-window-noodle-9407-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"rear-window-noodle-9407-ron-dudley\\"")
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When choosing a vehicle there are many other considerations that may be specific to your needs and\/or your vehicle but I’ve mentioned some of the more important ones.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/harrier-plate-9392-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"harrier-plate-9392-ron-dudley\\"")
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I have many friends locally who are bird photographers and we sometimes stop to jawbone a little while we’re in the field so if you see this particular pickup I’ll be in it. I put my HARRIER plate on just for this photo but I can’t drive with the plate for a week or two until my new registration arrives.<\/p>\n
And yes, I tried to hide behind the Ford emblem when I took this photo so my reflection wouldn’t show up.<\/p>\n
The best laid plans of mice and men…<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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Addendum: I’m adding the following photo at the request of Gary Carlson:<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gary, here’s my lens caddy outside my pickup as you requested. I built it about 10 years ago and I’ve modified it multiple times over the years to accommodate different vehicles and lenses. I’ll try to explain some of its features.<\/em><\/p>\n I absolutely love my lens caddy! It’s perfect for my needs. I even built a second one for Mia that works in the back seat. She loves hers too.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Plus some tips on what features to look for and which ones to avoid in a vehicle that will be used as a mobile blind for bird photography.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/lens-caddy-cell-phone-shot-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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