I got this shot with a Novabird Backyard Bird Camera (no longer sold.) The camera is a 3 megapixel digital still camera with a motion sensor. I bought the camo green version with an extra rock recharger (which lasts 2-3 days), which was a good thing since my Pygmy goats chewed through the cord when I let them out to play (but my husband fixed it.) I also bought a 1GB Secure Digital (SD) card for $12.79 from null that stores the snapshots. (Various options – one is Kingston 1 GB SD Card.)
I can just stick the SD card into a port in my HP OfficeJet printer to download pictures. The camera offers different delay options (I have it set to 10 seconds) and also a date time stamp option. Unfortunately mine died after 11 mos. (but was replaced as it was still under warrantee.)
You might try the Wingscapes BirdCam (see video on features), which uses batteries, and comes with a remote control, USB cable and TV out cable, and does both still and video (although the video is a bit choppy.) You can also purchase a mounting arm and A/C adapter.
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| Birdcam set up. This particular cam must be 15″ away from item you want to photograph. |
Set up of my birdcam was a bit tricky. It mounts on a 1/2″ diameter pole or post, so you can put it as high or low as you want, and tilt it. It also comes with a 4″ tripod adaptor. But it doesn’t have a viewfinder so you have to point it and then check the shots afterwards to see if it is positioned properly. Because it is motion-activated, every breeze that moves something within view of the sensor triggers a picture. The first day I got 1625 shots of a swaying bird feeder. When I moved it over to this nestbox, I got 628 photos of a swaying shrub (which I have since trimmed.) Other times it appears to take a shot for no reason…. I like to have the whole nestbox in the frame in case a bird perches on the roof.
Also, it only has a 15″ focal length so you have to get the distance just right to avoid blurry shots. Sometimes, like in this instance, it picks up a weird blur of motion. Some people have had problems with the battery in the fake rock failing.
Cher Layton of The Bluebird Nut has gotten some great photos at her feeders, along with a number of bizarro shots. The camera is weatherproof, but Cher has found birds like to perch and poop on it, so she made it a little hat out of the storage lid tops that look like min-shower caps. I noticed that the chickadees watched it very carefully at first, always facing it, perhaps because they thought it was some big hairy predator eyeball. Now they seem accustomed to it.
Yes, there is a perch on this box. (Not recommended as it may make it easier for HOSP to take over a box, and may also make it easier for avian predators.) That’s because it’s one of Floyd Van Ert’s Urban Sparrow Traps which is actually a lot nicer than many of the nestboxes on my trail. (I’ve never actually caught a HOSP in it though.) I put it up right next to my back door to catch House Sparrows. As soon as I did, a Black-capped Chickadee showed up to check it out. I removed the trap insert and put some wood shavings in it, and the chickadees have been intently checking it out (peering in, testing the hole size) for days now, although they haven’t started nest building. They do seem to like the perch, which is not removable.
I have also got photos of a Titmouse and a House Wren (didn’t even know they had arrived in CT yet) and a Starling checking out the box. I think the bluebird pair that stops by periodically (but can’t fit in the hole) is nesting nearby, but bluebirds (especially males) always seem to be curious about local real estate and competition.
When using this camera, you do have to make sure the SD card is inserted all the way, and recharge the battery every 1-3 days, otherwise you’ll miss critical action.
Related Links:
- Photo Album of Birdcam Shots (Sialis)
- The Bluebird Nut’s photos
- All About Black-capped Chickadees
- I like this photo of a squirrel shoveling sunflower seeds on the Novabird website
- House Sparrow Control
- Where I bought my Birdcam (Novabird) – I don’t think they are in business any longer
Previous Pictures of the Week: © Original photographs are copyrighted, and may not be used without the permission of the photographer. Please honor their copyright protection. If you would like to use a photo for educational purposes, you can contact me.
- Tips for photographing cavity nesters
- June 11, 2006 – Great Crested Flycatcher
- June 19, 2006 – Snake Lick
- June 26, 2006 – House Finch Nest
- July 3, 2006 – Tree Swallow in Flight
- July 17, 2006 – Bluebird Battle
- July 24, 2006 – Bear Attack
- August 1, 2006 – Neglected Nestboxes (House Sparrow nests)
- August 14, 2006 – Threesome (Bluebird Babes)
- August 28, 2006 – Peering (flicker)
- January 2007 – New Hill Trail (Sialis)
- February 12 2007 – Sharp-shinned? Hawk feeding on dead starling
- February 19, 2007 – Joe’s Cafe (Suet/Mealworm Feeder)
- March 25, 2007 – Sunflower Eater
- February 2007 – Snags & Suet (Pileated Woodpeckers)
- May 2007 – Birdcam Shots and Birdcam Photo Album
- May 12, 2007 – Carolina Wren nest in a boot
- May 25, 2007 – Batman Bird (Tree Swallows)
- June 2007 – Bluebird nest of cattails, one with leaves, and a TRES nest with maple seeds
- June 20, 2007 – Nine Egger (Tree Swallow nest)
- June 27, 2007 – Black-capped Chickadees (funny and serious photos)
- July 7, 2007 – Anting and Sunbathing
- Red-shouldered Hawk perching on nestbox
- November 18, 2007 – Western Bluebirds at the Spa
- March 15, 2008 – Under Construction – Eastern Bluebirds Building a Nest
- April 9, 2008 – Bluebird Battle in PA
- April 10, 2008 – Mouse Surprise
- April 15, 2008 – Bluebird News (nest in paper box)
- April 23, 2008 – My personal nightmare
- April 25, 2008 – Brave White-breasted Nuthatch
- April, 2008 – How an egg hatches
- May 3, 2008 – Newborn Blue (baby hatching)
- May 3, 2008 – Brave Blue (female on nest)
- May 14, 2008 – House Wren Havoc (eggs pecked)
- May 25, 2008 – House Wren Takeover (of nest, more pecked eggs)
- May 29, 2008 – Take Your Pick (parents feeding fledgling)
- June 10, 2008 – That Look Belongs in a Holster (female MOBL)
- August 23, 2008 – Cat on Nestbox
- September 28, 2008 – HOSP on the House
- October 10, 2008 – Cuddling nestlings (taken in summer time)
- October 27, 2008 – HOSP in flight
- October, 2008 – Possible double and dwarf egg in one nest
- December 16, 2008 – The Next Generation (children building boxes)
- January 22, 2009 – Blue with Cold
- January 28, 2009 – Prothonotary Warbler on a camper | Nest building PROW | PROW nesting in tree cavity
- May, 2009 – To Kill a Mockingbird (Snake eating mockingbird – may be disturbing)
- May 21, 2009 – Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? (Titmouse nestling in box)
- May 25, 2009 – Which of these is not like the others? (Cowbird egg)
- May 23, 2009 – The Honeypot at the end of the rainbow (bumblebee nest)
- June 20, 2009 – House Wren nest decorated with Western Bluebird feathers
- June 20, 2009 – Wonderful WEBLS of WA
- June 20, 2009 – Bluebirds of Bickleton
- July 12, 2009 – Hairy Shrimp (newborn bluebirds)
- July 2009 – Diet (bluebird with earthworm in beak)
- July 2009 – Bluebirds nesting outside of cavity
- July 19, 2009 – HOSP on Holiday
- July 20, 2009 – Pink bluebird eggs
- August 2, 2009 – Pinkies (baby mice)
- August 2, 2009 – En garde (male bluebird in box)
- September 29, 2009 – 1917 instructions for bird house construction
- I forget when – Rainbox
- April 11, 2010 – nuthatch bark
- April 12, 2010 – My first white egg
- April 12, 2009 – TUTI nest by Keith Kridler
- May 2010 – TUTI newborns
- May 2010 – Christmas Chickadee
- May 2010 – Bluebird and Chickadee eggs in the same nest
- June 2012 – Paparazzi
- April 2013 – Under Construction – Titmouse nestbuilding
- July 2013 – Pink Bluebird Eggs
- July 2014 – Cowbird egg in Eastern Bluebird nest
- July 2014 – Newborn HOSP
- July 2015: Patience Pays (Male Eastern Bluebird)
