Netvue Camera Bird

[Marylouise Colleen]

Shepassed away a while ago, but I always think of her when I see cardinals. A few months ago, I found a deceased baby bird in my apartment complex. After a tearful flower burial, I asked my grandma whether she could send me a sign that the bird was wherever she was, happy and healthy. A few days later, another baby bird appeared, but this one was living and in need of a human to help her. I kept her warm and brought her to a wildlife rehabilitator, where she was able to recover.

I get mostly doves at my feeder, but there are a handful of other little ones that stop by too. Birdfy sometimes identifies a bird correctly in one shot, and then immediately calls it something else as it moves around. In the photos above, you can see it identified the same bird as a house finch and a pine siskin. These birds look really similar to each other, so I can understand the confusion there. But sometimes Netvue identified what is clearly a dove as a cardinal. The sun blaring directly into the camera might be to blame here, and as you can see it created a reddish blur that the AI may have been confused by. But still, this is the big and pricey marketing feature.

Launched by Netvue late last year and advertised as a 'world first', Birdfy is an innovation that combines an auto-detect and recognise AI smart camera with a feeding station. It is said to be capable of identifying more than 6,000 bird species. Intrigued, I acquired one, set it up in my garden and, eagerly awaiting the results, sat back to see what happened.

An element of preparation is required before the system is up and running. Assembly is straightforward, but the camera battery needs charging before use. A charging cable is supplied, but a standard DC5V/1.5A adapter isn't, so I used my own camera adapter. The Birdfy camera requires a micro-SD card to capture images and video and, as with all new cameras, I had to purchase one separately.

The printed guide contains a QR code which, when scanned with a smartphone, takes the user to the Netvue section on the App Store or Google Play. The Birdfy app can then be downloaded to complete the set-up process, which includes formatting the micro-SD card.

The supporting bracket can be screwed to a wall, fence or tree, allowing full rotation, which enables the feeder cam to point in any direction. It can be installed and the movement sensor set to detect and record human intruders, as well as birds, which was the original use of the camera before it evolved into the Birdfy system.

The camera is constantly charged by cable connection to a small solar panel supplied with the feeder. The system works on wi-fi, sending motion-detection alerts and footage to your smartphone, with images to help identify birds and animals, if needed.

Although the system identified 'birds' and squirrels and its AI intelligent recognition algorithms are said to inform in real time 'what species of bird is coming', the ID software appears to be in its infancy. It did not, for example, identify a Blue Tit. No doubt it will improve with time, allowing future updates to be downloaded and installed.

Mike Alibone is Birdwatch's Optics Editor and a keen Northamptonshire birder, where he previously served as County Recorder. He has been testing binoculars and scopes for 15 years. Follow him on Twitter: @bonxie

The batteries though, take 14 hours to charge. Quite a few people who bought the NETVUE Birdfy smart bird feeder report that the camera charges find that it charges well the first time, but then won't recharge.

Hi, I'm Joy Thurlow. Watching birds in the back yard is a favorite hobby of mine. My mission with Joy of Birdwatching is to share (accurate) information about birds, birding and useful products to help everyone connect with nature and enjoy the birds while we still have them. Thanks for reading!

You can also pull up a live feed of the camera and watch the action as it unfolds. Plus, the Netvue Birdfy offers free AI bird identification, telling you what kind of birds are visiting your feeder.

The frequency of false notifications decreased when I moved the bird feeder, but they still happened several times a day. The camera was triggered if anyone walked by in the background, including myself, the dogs, or even a chicken.

The Netvue Birdfy bird feeder camera is a fun and effective birdwatching gadget. It's quite pricey, but you can save some money by choosing the Lite version without AI tech. The video quality is very good, and being able to hear bird songs clearly is a pleasing bonus. The feeder withstands rain and wind very well and the battery lasts for months. There are few bird feeder cameras on the market that are so easy to set up and use, or which offer the same smartphone features, notifications and integration. A great buy for birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and even children with an interest in nature.

The best bird feeder cameras have brought birdwatching right up to date by making the technology smaller, more affordable and easy to use. Bird feeder cameras like the Netvue Birdfy Smart Bird Feeder camera make it easier than ever to watch the birds up close in your own backyard or garden. Thanks to improved camera technology and smartphone apps to go with them, you can now enjoy a very high-tech experience when it comes to your hobby.

The best lenses for bird photography are expensive and unwieldy and while capturing photographs of garden birds is fun, it's not always accessible to everyone. Let's look at how effective the Birdfy feeder camera is for interactive birdwatching, whatever your skill level with general photography.

Lauren is a writer, reviewer, and photographer with ten years of experience in the camera industry. She's the former Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, and previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, Technique editor for PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, and Deputy Editor of our sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine. An experienced journalist and freelance photographer, Lauren also has bylines at Tech Radar, Space.com, Canon Europe, PCGamesN, T3, Stuff, and British Airways' in-flight magazine (among others). When she's not testing gear for DCW, she's probably in the kitchen testing yet another new curry recipe or walking in the Cotswolds with her Flat-coated Retriever."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Lauren ScottSocial Links NavigationFreelance contributor/former Managing EditorLauren is a writer, reviewer, and photographer with ten years of experience in the camera industry. She's the former Managing Editor of Digital Camera World, and previously served as Editor of Digital Photographer magazine, Technique editor for PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, and Deputy Editor of our sister publication, Digital Camera Magazine. An experienced journalist and freelance photographer, Lauren also has bylines at Tech Radar, Space.com, Canon Europe, PCGamesN, T3, Stuff, and British Airways' in-flight magazine (among others). When she's not testing gear for DCW, she's probably in the kitchen testing yet another new curry recipe or walking in the Cotswolds with her Flat-coated Retriever.

Bird feeder cameras are a modern solution to the old bird-watching hobby. Combining a bird feeder with a small camera, you can see who is visiting your garden for some food, but that is just the start of the journey.

The first consideration is where you are planning to mount the feeder. Whilst most feeders are essentially the same, they differ in how and where they can be mounted. Brackets are often included for mounting to a wall, fence posts or a shed. You can also find straps that allow them to be mounted to trees, while pole mounts and hanging options are further options with some feeders, so it is important to buy the correct feeders for your needs. Will you want to keep unwanted guests, such as squirrels, from having easy access to your feeder? It is best to look for a feeder with a few mounting options or additional mounting accessories so you have a plan B if you change your mind.

Next up is the camera itself. The basic premise is the same; a small security-style camera sits in front of the bird food and perch so that you can see who is coming to visit. As most cameras are based on security cameras, don't expect the highest quality or resolution. However, suppose you plan on sharing some of your images on social media. In that case, it is best to look for the highest resolution possible, although the reality in 2023 is that most cameras will be limited to Full HD resolution. Some cameras may also show footage in a portrait orientation, making the bird look very large on your phone screen and making it great for sharing on social media. Still, the narrower perspective often means the bird's body disappears out of the frame if they are perched side on.

Each of the cameras will connect via Wi-Fi, and the range will depend on both how strong your home Wi-Fi signal is and the strength of the antenna used by the camera. Bird feeders with an external antenna will have a stronger signal allowing them to be placed further from your house and maintain a reliable connection.

If you want to attract wildlife to your garden or balcony, a bird feeder is one of the simplest things you can do. you thank us if Naturally, in 2024, technology is on hand to allow you to watch the birds feeding on your smartphone or tablet, with a number of different bird feeder cameras available. If you're anything like us, you might get a bit obsessed with bird watching as a result!

Based on our in-depth reviews, we think the best bird feeder camera for most people right now is the Netvue Birdfy AI. It has a sleek design, easy-to-use app, and AI-powered bird recognition so you can get to know the species of each of your feathered friends. With the additional solar panel, you might never need to charge the battery.

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