I'm just curious as to how many of you bird photographers out there use external flash for your bird photos. Also, a little feedback would be nice as far as under what circumstances and what type of set up.

My flash stays in the bag 99.9% of the time when it comes to birds or other wildlife. The biggest reason is that I haven't taken the time to really learn how to use it. If I knew how to use it in a way to make image look natural, I would be more inclined to give it a try, but I don't. I did use it yesterday because the lighting was so bad and I wanted to get out and shoot something. Here a few shots I took with the flash.

http://forums.photographyreview.com/showthread.php?t=40418

Most of the time I just go out and shoot in the natural light.

When I use my camera, the flash is on 99% of the time unless doing flight images.

Paul, what kind of setup do you use?

I use a 1D/100-400IS w/ 550ex and sometimes a 28-70F2.8 for nesting images when I can't shoot from far away.

Before that(back in film days) F100/400F5.6 and SB28 usually.

I've seen quite a few people have flash on their cameras. Those who I've seen use flash, it's always with Better Beamer, too.

I was going to say "never" for birds but after a quick stroll through my library of images, I found 4 where I used a flash.

I don't for a number of reasons
1) the color balance between the ambient light and the flash is never the same - so the fill is always too cool for my tastes
2) I always travel light (no camera bag) so I never have my 430EX/580EX within a mile of me
3) I never have to get a particular species at a particular time so I just try to find a cooperative subject in a complimentary light
4) Unless done exceedingly well, I think the "flashed" look is just plain too unnatural looking (to me at least)

My couple of cents...