For every bird-lover out there, these “smart” feeders are bringing the popular hobby into the 21st century, allowing you to watch your feathered friends like never before.
With just 40 days until the Christmas shopping season—with its songs about turtle doves, french hens, and calling birds—we found a great gift idea for the birdwatcher in your life.
Smart feeders include cameras allowing you to watch live streaming of all the action and better identify the wildlife whenever it swoops in to eat your nuts and seeds. Many use AI to offer identifications of the birds you see—bolstering your own knowledge and ability to identify the different species in your yard.
Some are solar-powered, but all include a camera mounted in the glass of the feed reservoir, and a platform beneath to ensure winged visitors are always in the picture frame. Here are four examples from Amazon.com…
NetVue Birdfy
Photo from NetVue on Amazon.comA recent article on Nat Geo reviewed a number of smart feeders, and the clear overall favorite was the NetVue Birdfy®.
There are several options to choose from, with the basic model including a feeding deck and a reservoir for seed. It uses AI to identify 6,000 different species. The rechargeable camera battery can run for six months on a single charge. The camera is 1080p resolution, with color night vision.
More expensive models are either powered by solar, or feature both trays for feeding hummingbirds and seed-lovers. Another model includes a suet attachment, a mini hummingbird feeder, and a fruit holder with jelly feeder for attracting orioles. Still another offers a seed guard to keep squirrels out.
For all the models, the app allows 20 different devices to view the feeding camera at once—bringing together whole families, neighborhoods, or birding groups, to drop-in and see the feeder.
The basic model of the NetVue Birdfy is available for a limited time for $144—ninety dollars less than the listed retail price, but the cost goes up for “Pro” versions featuring solar panels, hummingbird options, or squirrel-blockers.
BIRD BUDDY
Photo from Bird Buddy on Amazon.comThe BIRD BUDDY® Smart Birdfeeder was Nat Geo’s second favorite pick because its AI algorithm not only included 1,000 species, but had an exceptional track record at getting the identifications correct. By comparison, the NetVue Birdfy seemed to get some IDs wrong.
It has a better camera, capturing 5 megapixel photos and 1080p HD video, and a rotatable solar panel built-in to take better advantage of the sun, if you don’t want to recharge with their USB cable.
The BIRD BUDDY app, which is needed to view the pics and video, delivers arrival notifications that will buzz your phone whenever a bird arrives. Uniquely, it will take a picture of every bird that lands to help you take your birding identifications into the field.
The BIRD BUDDY costs $279, but some customers on Amazon don’t like paying the additional $5.99 per month fee ($59/annually) required to use the app.
Osoeri Bird Feeder
Photo from Osoeri Bird Feeder on Amazon.comThe Osoeri Bird Feeder has several points that could make it more appealing than the others listed here. For starters, the AI identification software claims to be able to ID 11,000 species. That’s more or less every known avid on the planet, but the app does cost $5 a month.
One advantage is the initial price point. At $99, it’s substantially cheaper than the other options. The camera is 135 millimeter, 1080p HD resolution, has color night vision, and 4x magnification. It also has a wider view than the Bird Buddy (135 degrees compared to 120).
It is equipped with an adjustable solar panel, but for owners who don’t get enough sun, some complain about the battery life. However, 86% of the reviews are 4 stars or above. Instead of being made of plastic like the NetVue, it is metal so less likely to be damaged by squirrels.
The feeder can store bird videos and pictures in the cloud for free for up to 30 days, but you can extend the storage time by subscribing.
Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case
Photo from Wasserstein on Amazon.comIf you already have a Ring, OG, Wyze, or Blink camera, you can save a hundred dollars or more by buying the Wasserstein Bird Feeder Camera Case, which attaches to your own camera.
The upgraded model with a solar panel included with the feeder costs just $79, and uses whatever features you already know your camera can do, so it doesn’t come with an accompanied app.
Customers like the functionality, design, and ease of assembly of the wildlife feeder, commenting that it works well, is an example of innovative design, and is easy to assemble. It’s also all metal, so has been noted for its stability. The non-solar model is $59.
Compare all the models of smart feeders on Amazon, here.
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