Skip to main content

How to organize a “Zoom call” with birds - a new, DIY approach to bird cameras

One of the unintended benefits of having to stay home during this pandemic is an added appreciation for the commonplace beauty of our households, backyards, and parks. Being a senior in high school and eagerly anticipating college, I have always taken the comforts of my home for granted. It was through birdwatching during this pandemic - listening to the “tweedle-dees” of blue jays and “tink calls” of cardinals at my bird feeder - that I discovered just how special home could be. But for all the casual birdwatching I did last summer, my busy schedule left a lot unseen - like going to a buffet with a dessert plate. Holding up binoculars to get a shaky, close-up view of the birds didn’t make it any more appealing. So, like almost everything else this year, I decided to go virtual with my birdwatching!


I initially considered installing a webcam near the bird feeder, but I still faced the “24/7 observation issue,” meaning I would have to constantly watch the feeder in the hopes of spotting a new bird. Instead, I wanted to find a way to passively monitor the birds- perhaps before I went to bed at midnight and wanted to wind down. This was when I thought of repurposing internet-enabled security cameras to watch the feeder. These cameras can be configured to automatically record whenever they detect movement. I could now design a system that would observe and record snippets of bird activity while I wasn’t there. Gone were the days of asking, “What did I miss?” each time a family member told me about what they saw at the feeder- I could now view the same activity from a much closer point of view through the screen of my phone.

The following steps detail my setup of the bird camera. With some basic woodcutting skills and an off-the-shelf camera, you can complete this project in an afternoon.

DIY materials checklist:

1. A camera such as those from Blink or Wyze (Amazon). 

I've tested both, and I've found the Wyze camera provides higher resolution video at a lower cost. However, the Blink is better at motion detection on the platform.

2. Wood for platform

            a. Wooden pole

            b. Plywood square

3. Plastic planter (Dollar Store).

4. If the camera is an indoor model, then weatherproof using a clear plastic storage container approx 4” x 3”x 2” and plexiglass (Lowes).

5. If the camera is not battery operated, then have a power extension cord ready.

Other requirements:

1. Wi-fi coverage at camera platform location.

2. Birdseed and birdfeeder.

 

Step #1: Build the observation platform


The observation platform is made of a 12” x 12” piece of plywood (1/2” to ¾”) strong enough to support around 0.5lb of camera and wiring. The platform’s dimensions aren’t too important so long as they are large enough for multiple birds to hang out and feed. The platform is fixed on a 2” x 2” wooden pole cut to roughly the same height as the bird feeder with an additional 24” length to drive it into the ground. I positioned the platform about 3-4 ft away from the bird feeder, though the distance certainly doesn’t make-or-break this project. Make sure the platform is level and firmly fixed to the ground. If squirrels feeding on bird seed are a problem where you live, you can affix a “squirrel guard” to the wooden pole to prevent them from climbing up to the platform. I used an old 12-inch plastic planter for this purpose, with a hole cut down the center to slide on to the pole.


Step #2: Install the camera

For the camera, I used a “Blink Mini indoor security camera” which I weatherproofed by enclosing it within a plastic container. I cut away the plastic in front of the camera lens and fixed a 2” x 2” piece of plexiglass using hot glue. Please make sure the box also has a small cutaway to pull out the USB cable from the camera. The enclosure (with the camera) should then be fixed using screws to one end of the platform.

One important thing to note: this setup requires a charging cord to power the camera. I used an extension cord connected to an exterior power outlet. Alternatively, Blink sells a weatherized outdoor camera that uses 2 AA batteries (and is advertised to power the camera for a whopping two years). The Blink outdoor camera is more expensive than the Blink Mini but doesn’t require weatherization and avoids the hassle of pulling cables to power the camera.

Both camera options will require wi-fi to operate. Please ensure your wi-fi router has enough range to reach the installation. You could also install a wi-fi extender on your patio to provide you the coverage.


Step #3: Downloading and optimizing the camera software

You’ll need to download the “Blink Home Monitor” app onto your phone or tablet to operate the camera. The app will then let you set up trigger frames (which specifies the camera area where movement can start the recording), the length of video recorded, and sensitivity.

 

Step #4: Start recording and saving videos

Now comes the fun part! Scatter some birdseed onto the platform and position the camera to record the skittish birds that land on the feeder. The great thing about the Blink Camera is that within the app, you also have the option of watching a live stream, meaning you can admire birds on the scene or watch saved recordings of them later.

           

Below are some of my favorite videos that I’ve recorded through my bird camera.

A bird party! (Cardinal, Finch, Wren)

Blue Jay



If you’d like to see more clips like these, feel free to check out my YouTube channel, or you could spend today fashioning a bird camera for your own backyard!

By Abel John

Senior at Clements High School, Sugar Land, Texas

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQ0S1Ugzz-E8z-nkQUh2gg

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to DIY a Dripper for birds

Are you running out of home projects to keep busy during the quarantine? Here’s one my hubby made for me that you can try: a DYI Dripper. I’ve long wanted a bird dripper to complement my yard’s wildlife habitat, and with spring migrants on the way, I was keen to provide a drip that will attract new birds that don’t visit feeders. I had a problem though. There is no water line or power source near my feeders. The idea of stringing a hose or wire across the driveway just isn’t practical. Enter the engineer. My husband thought about the location and the limitations for a bit, and came up with the concept of sourcing water for a dripper off the sprinkler system. By using a toilet tank that fills every time the sprinklers run, water can be constantly available for the drip. I nixed the idea of a toilet tank sitting in my yard though, so he made some aesthetic modifications by installing a toilet tank float inside a 5 gallon bucket hidden inside a custom wooden box with a handsome copper p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beak of the Week - Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron ( Nyctanassa violacea ) Family: Ardeidae Our Beak of the Week is the official Bird of Houston , the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron! This seemingly hunch-backed bird can be a difficult one to spot. Both species of North American night-herons, yellow-crowned and black-crowned, forage mainly at night and spend most of the day hidden among branches near a body of water. These two birds can be differentiated easily by their plumage on and around their head. The most obvious difference is stated in their names: Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have a yellow crown and Black-crowned Night-Herons have a black crown. But that’s not the only difference! Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have a black head and face with a distinct thick white cheek stripe, whereas Black-crowned Night-Herons have a black head with gray on their face that extends down the whole front of the body. Yellow-crowned Night Herons also have a gray front and neck, but it contrasts greatly with their facial patter...
Post a Comment
Read more

Beak of the Week - Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird ( Archilochus colubris ) Family: Trochilidae Did you know that Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are able to fly in all 6 directions with wing beats of 53 times per a second? Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are bright emerald or golden-green on the back and crown with gray-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent red throat while females and immatures have fine, dark throat streaking. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds feed on the nectar of red or orange tubular flowers as well as at hummingbird feeders and sometimes tree sap. Hummingbirds also catch insects in midair or pull them out of spider webs. In preparation for their migration, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds double their weight from 3 grams to over 6 grams prior to departing. In the fall, millions of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will pass through Texas on their migration to points south of the border with many crossing the Gulf of Mexico in a single flight. They arrive from breeding grounds as far away as Nova Scotia...
Post a Comment
Read more