One of the most fun and exciting things in nature to do is to watch beautiful birds up close. Usually, this would require you to sit quietly in a park or on your back patio with binoculars, hoping you're in the right place at the right time. Fortunately, for us, the world is changing and now we've got a product like Bird Buddy to do the patient waiting for us.
Bird Buddy is a clever and interesting way to get up close and personal to see birds when they don't see you watching them. This is a smart feeder with a camera attached that allows the viewer to really see their beauty and some of their habits. Bird Buddy consists of a quality camera and uses AI features, which detect if the picture is good enough and it picks the best one.
As a bird lands, it triggers a sensor, and a picture is taken. It then goes to the cloud and can detect certain species. Using the app, you can then get detailed information on that specific type of bird and a profile of that species. For every bird, you unlock you get a unique profile and can track which types of birds have visited your feeder.
The feeder fills easily with any desired type of seed depending on the birds in your area. Naturally, the different kinds of seed will attract a variety of birds, so choose wisely. The amount the container holds varies by how many birds are enjoying it. It could be one or several days or even a week.
The camera is easy to use, meaning you don't have to be a seasoned photographer. It had built-in adjustments and takes 4K photos and HD video. The average video lasts approximately 90 seconds but varies depending on the amount of time the bird stays at the feeder. There is also a prototype for a hummingbird feeder in active development.
The camera's battery has a USB-C port for charging (as it does not store any photos or videos). The number of pictures and videos taken, plus the temperature outside, is what determines the life of the battery. The average is around 5-7 days but will change if more or fewer birds visit. With the inclusion of the optional solar roof charger that attaches to the roof of the feeder, your battery life will be longer, and you may not have to charge it at all if it is in a very sunny spot. There needs to be careful consideration if there is extreme cold weather as that impacts your battery life. It has performed well in very cold weather such as 4 degrees, but it's not recommended.
The Bird Buddy is available now (through back-order), with bundles starting at $199. The solar charger is also available for $70. The company offers other additional add-ons and mounts. The Hummingbird feeder add-on is still in development, though the company doesn't have a target release date. To learn more about the products or to get one for yourself, check out the company's website.
Interview by Don Baine, The Gadget Professor.
Nancy's background is in cosmetology, but has always had an interest in stage and production. She spent many years on-stage and behind the scenes in local theater, doing makeup, crafting beards, and helping with costuming. Today, she continues that passion as an associate producer and episode author for PLUGHITZ Live events, such as CES and Collision.
