Jenni,
I'm glad I could help.
Yes. That info screen will come up in between taking pictures. That is normal behavior and to be expected.
With the flash popping up while you are in Auto Mode, that may be just a fluke of that Mode. Now that you are using semi-auto modes like Av, hopefully you won't have to return to Auto all that much.
With shooting birds a lot, you may find it useful to try TV Mode, where you set the shutter speed and the camera sets your aperture.
Shooting birds, you may find you are using speeds as high as 1/1000 or 1/2000 to freeze the action. As you go higher in shutter speed, the aperture will get wider to compensate and let in more light to give you a good exposure. If it gets too wide, that's where your Auto ISO will help give you a little boost. As your aperture gets wider, your depth of field will get smaller, but in your case, that's okay, because you will be kind of isolating that bird to begin with.
Servo will help you as well. Just keep that focus button pressed down and follow the bird along. The camera will keep him, or her, in focus.
I envy your ability to climb up on a chair to get up on your jeep. You're still going strong.
Share some of your pictures as you go along.
Steve Thomas
