Birdbox camera

violaceus · #1 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 07:58 PM

This is my first post in bird forum so hi all. Have recently acquired a birdbox camera and having built the box to the spec in literature received with the camera I tested it out today with excellent results. I need to put the birdbox up as soon as possible (perhaps to provide winter roost?) but do not know if I should leave the camera in it over the winter or remove it now and instal it again early next year. I intend to put the box in the same place as last year's box when we had blue tits nesting in it. I await the spring with baited breath hoping the blue tits will avail themselves of the accommodation again! Any advice would be welcome.

Jim Ford · #2 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 08:11 PM

I put a camera in a bird box some years ago. I did it in the winter to give plenty of time for the birds to get used to the box. To my surprise a great tit quickly used it to roost in, so I'd say to put the camera in earlier rather than later. I left the camera on in the belief that the slight warmth generated would keep the electrics dry from condensation. It ran continuously for about three years before it finally packed up.

A hand piece of software for monitoring the box is 'Motion', which runs on Linux:

WebHome < Motion < Foswiki

It starts recording frames to the computer only when motion is detected.

Jim

natureshooter · #3 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 09:05 PM

Hi

Im looking for a descent birdbox camera kit,can you give me any info on the on you have please,is there any high def ones yet?

anyone wanting yo chip in with recommendations please do so you will help me alot.

Thanks Gary

werdnal · #4 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 09:39 PM

Have a look in the reviews section on the site. I put in a recommendation for a Handykam kit. Bird box camera | nest box cameras | wildlife cameras | inspection cameras

We have 2 - one we bought with a box, and one just the camera and we built our own box. We also used the camera on its own above a swallows nest in our barn over one summer. The HandyKam ones are cheaper than some on the market and have colour, sound and infrared for night time viewing (some are only B&W). The kit comes with everything you need.

We leave our cameras out all year round and so far not had a problem with them. They are only plugged in when we need to watch them, in fact I must check to see if anything is using them for winter roosting.

PS Just found my review here http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/re...uct/502/cat/67

violaceus · #5 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 11:41 PM

HI Gary - the camera we have is a Handykam, bought on ebay (new) for around £50, infrared and some colour depending on the amount of light in the box. You get the camera and connecting leads, focus chart and detailed instructions including how to build the box and rig the camera. You need a 'window' in the side of the box to allow some light in. My hubby used a one and half inch keyhole drill and made two holes side by side, we covered them with a small piece of perspex sealed around the edges. We rigged everything up today for testing (me stood on high stepladder waving a feather through the entrance hole !) Some ajustments were required to the focusing but we were delighted with the results.

violaceus · #6 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 11:47 PM

Gary - just read the leaflet again - the Handykam we have cannot be connected to computer only to TV. Not sure about sound, couldnt find anything in the leaflet.

violaceus · #7 (**permalink**) 13-11-2010, 11:56 PM

Hi werdnal - you have two cameras. Do you have them connected to separate TVs or both connected to one TV, I would be interested to know as we are thinking of purchasing a second camera for one of our other boxes.

paulinemiller10 · #8 (**permalink**) 14-11-2010, 01:39 AM

Most of my bird boxes are hand made with a false ceiling with a small hole for cam, and hole in the side into the bird box roof, you can then pop the cam in to check if there are any visitors, if the box remains empty, the cam can be used to watch other wildlife. Pauline.

natureshooter · #9 (**permalink**) 14-11-2010, 07:08 AM

Thanks all sounding interesting,i am going to have a noey around today.

werdnal · #10 (**permalink**) 14-11-2010, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by violaceus

Hi werdnal - you have two cameras. Do you have them connected to separate TVs or both connected to one TV, I would be interested to know as we are thinking of purchasing a second camera for one of our other boxes.

We have an AV splitter box, which we bought from Handykam when we got the 2nd camera. Both cameras are plugged into the splitter, and the splitter into the TV, so we can switch between them. You can connect up to 3 camera on ours.

Our cameras cannot got straight to a PC, but if we get anything in the boxes, I connect direct to our DVD recorder and record a bit every day to make up a disk of their progress. The Handykam people do PC editing software now, so I guess you could just leave if connected to a recorder, fill the disk, then put on your PC and edit out the bits you don't want.