When most people think about the hobby of bird watching, they probably envision walks in the woods, beach and parks. Some people enjoy birding by bike, golf cart or low-speed vehicles (LSV). You might even know about locations you can drive and bird. For example, here in the Charleston County area, options include a drive through Magnolia Cemetery in Charleston, down Jenkins Point Rd, Seabrook Island, Kiawah River development off Betsy Kerrison Parkway, or one of many communities built around ponds and lakes in Charleston, SC.
But for many, those methods may not be easily accomplished. Even more accessible is backyard birding! Add a new smart bird feeder with a camera or a bird nest box with a camera, and you don’t even need to have a seat at the window!
For me, it started a three years ago when I purchased an Eastern Bluebird nest box with a camera for my mom’s home and wrote a blog explaining how I set it up. Two years ago I purchased my first smart bird feeder and this past Christmas I purchased a second! As was written in SIB’s blog “Gift Ideas for Birders,” cameras can also be placed on bird baths, hummingbird feeders, and a wider view of a group of feeders. Many friends and family are also enjoying cameras to watch the birds. As ABC News recently reported, “Smart bird feeders gain popularity and spark interest in bird-watching.”
These feeders and nest boxes with cameras are relatively easy to install and bring so much enjoyment. By using an app on a phone or tablet, you can normally live view the camera or view clips created via motion activation. We will often “cast” our screen to the TV so we have a larger than life view of the activity. Some devices even allow for you to “share” the camera with friends so more people can enjoy the video and photos of the bird activity in your yard. Otherwise, download the video or still photos and send to your friends or share using social media.
Most of the camera apps also allow for notifications, meaning you can receive a message on your phone or other device when movement has been detected. In fact, several cameras offer optional bird identification using AI (artificial intelligence). As long as my phone has service, I can be anywhere and receive a notification of a bird visiting my bird feeder or nest box, and it can suggest the species of the bird. Just beware this can be “hit or miss.” Some of us have received notification of birds not likely seen in our geographic location or habitat, but always worth a look.
Tell us if you have a camera on a bird feeder or nest box and feel free to send us copies of photos and videos to share with our followers on social media.
Now, if only there was a way to remotely refill the food!
Reminders:
- Do not record in eBird “any remote sensed images or video – do not enter any data from nest cameras, feeder cameras, trail cams, Google maps, etc.” (source)
- Do not record for Project FeederWatch “any birds or mammals that you record with a camera only, that you don’t see yourself.” (source)
- AI is a work in progress but it is getting there.