Gardenwatch: Feathered Friends

Gardenwatch: Feathered Friends

Having enjoyed watching the various visitors to the garden via the wildlife camera, I decided to treat myself to a bird feeder camera, so I would have a record of what birds visit the garden. The camera has now been in place for 12 months.

Not all of our winged visitors use the bird feeder camera, but most do. Our most common feathered friends who visit include robins, great tits, blue tits, blackbirds and sparrows. Occasionally, one or two others will pop by too.

Unfortunately, one non-feathered friend discovered the bird feeder camera recently… Mr Squirrel! I haven’t found out how he’s getting to it yet, though I do suspect he’s jumping from the wall, in which case there isn’t much I can do about it. I don’t mind him making use of our other bird feeders, but I’d rather he didn’t use this one.

The camera used is a Birdfy Feeder. It is solar powered and I can connect to it from anywhere using the supplied Birdfy app. Not only can I view saved videos, but I can also view the live feed from anywhere. It’s always exciting to discover a new bird using the feeder or to watch younger birds being fed by their parents.

Do you have a wildlife or bird feeder camera?

43 comments

  1. Brings back great memories of visits to the UK of common, yet delightful garden birds. I loved the capture of the female House Sparrow taking a little nap and the male feeding a female. Looks like you have a great wildflower meadow behind your house too. I don’t know of anyone with a feeder camera. Perhaps our cold winters have something to do with that. In January and February it is not unusual for the temperature to dip to minus 20 -25 overnight.

  2. Kelly says:

    We just have regular feeders that I keep filled with black oil sunflower seeds. My daughter has one similar to this and she’ll share stills a short clips with me.

    I loved your video!! It’s amazing how quickly five minutes passes when you’re watching birds! Yours are so different from ours, but I could identify several of them. I got tickled at the one who flew up with what looked like a worm in its mouth… and the one who I thought was going to take a little nap. Thanks for putting it together for us!

  3. No birdfeeder camera here ~ Do enjoy the birds that come except for the ‘grackles’ who come in droves and eat too much ~ along with Mr. Squirrel ~ a contentious one for us all ~ Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog.

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

  4. Terri Webster Schrandt says:

    Hi Nikki, I saw your comment on my Sunday Still post. It came up anonymous so I thought I’d visit. My neighbor also has a bird feeder camera…very cool. Now I have to check it out after seeing yours

  5. Ann C says:

    We have a clear, plastic bird feeder attached to our dining room window. That way, we can see the birds while they’re feeding, but we don’t record it.

  6. Margaret says:

    What a wonderful idea, as I had no idea there was such a thing as a bird camera.
    I enjoyed the video, fascinated actually, and watching a mum feed her young, interesting. The video is very clear, and the snow looked amazing.

  7. Astrid says:

    No, I don’t have a bird feeder camera, we don’t even have a bird feeder anymore for where we live in the senior complex they are afraid that the food will attrack rats. What a wonderful video that is. Even sheep in the background and snow and lots, lots of birds. That looks close to paradise where you live 🙂
    What a fun post today, Nikki.
    Have a wonderful day.

  8. Jo says:

    Oh my goodness, I’d never get anything done if I had that camera, haha. Brilliant that you can watch live too. I always enjoy watching the birds from my window but this takes it to a whole new level.

  9. jeanie says:

    We have a Mr. Squirrel too, though this year he has been far less present. Those birds can eat you out of house and home! I love your sweet robin. English robins are prettier and daintier than our American version. I saw my first in October and was totally enchanted!

  10. Ginnie Hart says:

    OMG, Nikki. I had no idea you could set up your own bird-feeder camera like this. I would be in heaven. Everything…to the difference in bird sizes and how many different kinds there are, plus how many are in the feeder at the same time, how plump some of them are, how watchful they are, all the different seed, the wee bird who kept closing its eye, the snow!…and the sheep in the background!!! How fabulous!

  11. lisl says:

    I hope you are able to put it somewhere out of the reach of the squirrel, Nikki. I have four in my garden, and they are just so clever always devising new ways to get at carefully placed feeders

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