Bird box with in built camera

Ukwildlifeo · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2008, 04:49 PM

Can anyone recommend a good bird box with a camera? Its to go in a tree about 5-10m from my house. Do they do usb ones that I can plug straight into the camera or is it a case of video cables only?

AlphaZeroOne · #2 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 05:42 AM

Hi there

I have used a camera mounted birdbox for a couple of years. There are a number of different suppliers but it is very easy to design and make your own birdbox.

When considering the camera, my advice would be to take some care about the claimed feature and capabilities of some of the equipment on sale. In particular, some suppliers claim that their color cameras will operate 24/7 - colour during reasonable light conditions and the IR during the hours of darkness. However certainly this year, the IR ability has been changed for a torch bulb in some cases! This isn't that clear on the package so you need to check carefully.

Quite apart from the fiddle of try to set up a wired torch bulb in the nesting box, I am not at all sure about the possible stress effects on chicks and adults alike as a bulb switches on and off - especially if you use motion detect. By far the better solution is IR. But it is great fun to watch and record events as they unfold in the next box. Enjoy!

The Woodman · #3 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 04:25 PM

Hot of the press and in my email box a couple of minutes ago. Have a look on Alana Ecology website and in their clearance sale. Range of bird box / cameras with apparently good discounts.

Jim Ford · #4 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 06:09 PM

Be warned!

It can be _very_ stressful observing a brood of bluetits. When they've hatched you'll probably notice one not getting fed as often as the others.

Over the days the ones that are getting fed will grow rapidly, and the underfed one will get much smaller in relation to its siblings. It can be distressing to see the smallest one struggling unsuccessfully to get food and finally starving to death.

If you've got children they'll get quite upset and demand that you rescue it!

Jim

squishy · #5 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 08:19 PM

good point jim... it can be harder for children to understand that that's how nature works... it can be a cruel world

crantock · #6 (**permalink**) 29-09-2009, 10:52 AM

Very interesting point about watching the weaker birds struggling for survival, although it can be stressful to watch it can also help in introducing children to the harsh side of life - I guess a bit the the playground at school. An alternative would be to by a bird feeder with a video camera I have seen these and thinking of getting one myself if anyone has any experience with these:
Bird Feeder & Nest box Camera System | Bird Feeder and Bird Box Camera System

mrgodfrey · #7 (**permalink**) 15-04-2010, 06:37 PM

Murder in a bird box. This is quite a long story so please bare with me. We have had a Great Tit building a nest and sleeping in our box every night since January. The nest has been getting bigger. Three weeks ago I switched the teli on to see one bird on top of another one. I text my husband to say they were mating. I went into the kitchen but the noise in the box was so loud I came back to see what was happening. Two birds were fighting under the nest. They then came on to the top of the nest, still fighting. The one on the top then started pulling feathers out of the neck of the bird under him. I tel my husband to say that there was domestic violence in the box. The bird on top then picked the bird under him up by the neck and started to knock the birds head on the bottom of the box untill it was dead. I was absolutley traumatised by what I had seen on a large telivision screen. My husband said he would remove the dead bird when he returned from work. When he did this the bird was a blue tit which had obviously decided to take up residence in the box. The two great tits watched my husband and one of them was back sleeping in the box that night. THey have now started laying eggs, one a day so far which was why I went onto The Wild About Britain web site as I could not understand why she was not sitting on them. This site is amazing, I have learnt so much in the last hour. Really appreicate everyones comments. I now have neglected babies to look forward too.

suntrecker · #8 (**permalink**) 22-11-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Be warned!

It can be _very_ stressful observing a brood of bluetits. When they've hatched you'll probably notice one not getting fed as often as the others.

Over the days the ones that are getting fed will grow rapidly, and the underfed one will get much smaller in relation to its siblings. It can be distressing to see the smallest one struggling unsuccessfully to get food and finally starving to death.

If you've got children they'll get quite upset and demand that you rescue it!

Jim

We had this happen in our nest box this year and its such a shame to see the weak one being 'hiden' by the bigger birds when the parent brings home the food. Natures way I suppose.
On the question of lighting our camera has inferred for night vision built in so no lighting is needed, I would have thought they all come like that.
Like mrgodfrey I have learnt so much from this site and so glad to have come onto it.

Davbro · #9 (**permalink**) 06-12-2010, 08:47 PM

We have had a camera in a box for the last 2 years and it is great to watch and learn. The thing I hadn't realised was that as a baby takes in food it then turns bottom up and excretes a waste sac which the adult takes away with it.

The one thing I haven't seen over the 2 years is the babies actually leaving, both years we have been away.