katlaughing,
It's wonderful that your son is willing and able to help you so much. It sounds as if you'll soon have a gorgeous backyard.
No, I'm far from being a professional photographer, but thank you for asking. I just use a good quality "point and shoot" camera, usually on the "automatic" setting. I take my camera to places that it can find the subjects and it does the rest.

Eiseley,
Your favorite poems--about bird watching is lovely. The poet must know both elderly people and birds very well.
The poem reminded me of when I got my elderly dad interested in feeding and watching the birds in his garden. I supplied him with a feeder, a field guide and a supply of white millet and sunflower seed. It certainly brightened his days, as my birds now brighten mine.

SINSULL,
Thank you. Flickers fascinate me, too. I think I have more photos of Flickers than any other species.

I vacuumed up a large quantity of sunflower seeds from my lawn today. When I watered two days ago, I'd pulled the clothesline to move the feeders far away from the house to keep them from getting soaked by the water. I noticed today that the lawn under them is now covered with seeds too. :-(

I looked online for seed catchers. At $20 each, plus shipping, I won't be buying any but I did see instructions for making one so I may have a go at that next week. I really would like to make the yard much less attractive to any rodents who live on the ground.

Or maybe I'll work on tidying inside the house? Why is it that it's so much easier and faster to clutter than to declutter?