Is this cheating
one of the problems of getting a close up of a bird is usually using a long telephoto lens. This can lead to camera shake and other problems.
But there is another way as per photo above.
That is by using a remote radio shutter trigger release. Here I set up the camera behind a flower pot, but so the camera had a clear view. Not that far away (about 12 ft) from the target area with a fairly short zoom lens
Then with camera at the target having done test shots to get it right I sat indoors and waited. Took a little time before birds arrived being suspicious and then i took the shot.
THis is a lot cheaper than getting a long expensive telephoto lens . Just bait a site for the birds to visit and get the photos