Nest Brick Cameras for Swift Bricks

[Ian Donovan]

After a successful project installing swift bricks at Battle Library, East Sussex in 2021 https://e-voice.org.uk/hastingsandrotherswifts/battle-s-special-project/ in conjunction with Dick & Edward, we are now looking at installing camera(s) to observe activity in the bricks.

The bricks have perspex backs we need to film through, and the problem with this is the activation light on the Blink Mini cameras reflecting onto these obscuring the image.

We're considering removing the perspex backs then enclosing the exposed camera/swift brick in a wooden cabinet attached to the back of the brick.

Since install, we have backed all of the bricks with wooden panels to exclude light from the inside of the clocktower that we have to illuminate with an electric light to access the caller in season.

Does anyone have any ideas for other recommended cameras and ways of mounting/installing for this project?

TIA

Ian

Hastings and Rother Swift Conservation Group 

[Stuart McFadzean]

Glare is a problem if the lights and the camera are both behind glass/Perspex and the swifts are on the other side. If you can get lights inside swift box and camera in black box extension on other side of the glass then that will help. You could cover camera lights and use some led strips from here https://www.smallscalelights.co.uk/category/model_railway_lighting/ on a simple 5v or 12v timer or light switched timer and abandon IR. We are trialling this approach at Bampton church, Devon this year.

Stuart.

On 20 Mar 2026, at 09:10, Ian Donovan <ian.do...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[richardreed.tech]

I have several Blink Mini cameras, the activation or ‘Status’ LED can be switched permanently off in the camera settings. This makes a big difference, however there is  a much dimmer low level red light still visible in infrared night time mode which the swifts sometimes notice. 

Richard