Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Live-Streaming Nest Box Cameras & Feeder Cams

The Ultimate Bluebird House by Songbird Essentials comes complete with a Hawk Eye Nature Cam installed.

We all enjoy checking in on the variety of live-streaming cams available on the internet these days, but the next step is to install a live-streaming camera to monitor the soon to begin nesting action at one of your favorite nest boxes, or even at your feeding station. Or perhaps you’re planning to add a new Wood Duck or American Kestrel nest box to your property – it’s a perfect time to add a live-feed cam to monitor the action from your computer or television monitor.

If you’re looking for a ready-made ready-to-use songbird nest box equipped with a live-streaming camera that’s perfect for bluebirds and a host of other small cavity nesting birds, Songbird Essentials has just the product for you. They installed a camera – the Hawk Eye Nature Cam – in the best bluebird nest box to create the Ultimate Bluebird House. It you’re not technically inclined, or just don’t have the time, this is a great option. You can get more information about Songbird Essentials’ Ultimate Bluebird House, a specially equipped nest box with a camera and live video feed, at https://www.songbirdessentials.com/product.php?productID=60413

The Hawk Eye Nature Cam A preferred live feed and video camera for monitoring a nest box or feeding station, is the Hawk Eye Nature Cam, which makes the process of installing a live camera relatively easy with a little how-to help. If you want to install a Hawk Eye Nature Cam at your feeding station, in an existing nest box, or in a larger nest box – say an owl or kestrel nest box – there is an excellent product review and how-to guide online written by James White on the Hummingbird Guide website at https://www.hummingbird-guide.com/hawk-eye-hd-nature-cam-review.html

Also, take a look at the Hummingbird Guide’s store, where you can buy a Hawk Eye Nature Cam. In addition to the usual video and photo options, the camera provides a microphone and infra-red night recording. One of the two camera options provides a wireless model, but keep in mind that the camera requires an electric connection to plug into.

Software and Adapter It’s important to know that in addition to the camera and cable, you will need a software program and an adaptor too, which James White’s review in the Hummingbird Guide describes. Sold separately, White recommends the Dazzle Software Package, which includes an RCA to USB adapter, and Dazzle Software that has the ability to capture video segments and still photos from the live streaming feed; then edit the video, name the photo or video file and designate a folder to save it to, and it permits you to burn your own video DVDs.

Home-made Waterproof Housing – If you wish to position a camera near your feeding station or in an outdoor location to monitor a nest box entrance from the outside, it’s worthy to take a look at the Hummingbird Guide’s illustrated directions to make a home-made waterproof housing to protect the camera, as provided on the website’s review by James White.

Looking into spy-ware cameras for nest boxes and feeders is a great way to begin to make the transition to the spring nesting season for cavity nesting birds – some are already searching out natural cavities and nest boxes across the sunbelt and some points beyond. And don’t be overcome by the technical side of installing a nest box cam. Remember that Songbird Essentials provides a ready-made product – the Ultimate Bluebird House – that already has a camera installed. But when you take a closer look at the Ultimate, you can see that it’s actually pretty easy to install a nest box cam yourself.

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