For nature lovers, there are various gadgets that allow you to film birds visiting a feeder using a camera. You can even receive a notification when your favorite bird visits the feeder in your garden.
In addition to these smart food bowls, you can also opt for smart nesting boxes. With a bit of luck, you can use your iPhone to monitor courtship behavior, nest building, egg laying, feeding and ultimately the moment the young fledge. One of these smart nesting boxes with a camera is the Nest Ebony from Birdfy. Below you can read how the smart birdhouse works.
Birdfy Nest Ebony
The Birdfy Nest Ebony looks like a standard birdhouse, but the solar panel on the top reveals that it is more than a simple nesting box.
With the Birdfy Nest Ebony (recommended retail price € 129) you can track breeding birds directly via the camera, possibly also with night vision. The associated software uses AI to recognize thousands of bird species and sends you real-time notifications of movement or striking behavior, such as nest building and fledging. You can then stream the images live to the Birdfy app to share with your friends.
The weatherproof birdhouse is made of FSC-certified conifer wood and has a traditional look with a neat finish. A metal mesh bottom has been fitted inside and ventilation holes have been provided. There are also notches under the entrance opening, so that young birds can climb out more easily when they want to leave the nest.
On the top of the bird house there is a solar panel that supplies 2W to charge the camera’s 9000 mAh lithium-ion battery.
The camera has a maximum resolution of 1080p and has a special night mode. Birds are generally not bothered by a camera in their nest box. The camera is equipped with invisible infrared LEDs and without visible light they do not disturb the birds.
The Birdfy Nest Ebony uses a passive infrared sensor for motion detection. This sensor detects changes in infrared heat radiation to detect movement, without emitting radiation itself.
The birdhouse packaging contains a complete mounting kit, including mounting materials for wood and concrete, hanging parts, a drilling tool and accessories such as cables and clamps.
Configuration and installation
Before hanging the nest box, it is wise to charge the camera battery for at least 10 hours with the included USB-C cable. A red LED means charging is in progress; Once the battery is fully charged, this LED will turn off.
Once the battery is fully charged, you can add the camera in the Birdy app. Start by creating an account in the Birdfy app. Then tap the + icon at the bottom right to go to the Add Device page. Choose Birdfy Nest Cyan/Ebony and follow the on-screen instructions to pair your camera.
The app asks you to scan the QR code with your iPhone’s camera and then enter your Wi-Fi information. The camera, like many other wireless cameras, only supports Wi-Fi networks at 2.4 GHz. This signal usually reaches further and handles walls and distance in the garden better than 5 GHz. Especially with sheds, fences, poles and setups near trees, range is often more important than just the maximum network speed.
Once the camera connects to your WiFi network, give it a name and hang it in the bird box. To do this, open the nesting box on the side. First connect the cable from the solar panel to the camera. Then attach the camera to the hook using a screw and close the nest box.
Placement of the birdhouse
The Birdfy Nest Ebony nesting box has a 38 mm entry opening, making the nesting box suitable for medium to larger garden birds such as sparrows, nuthatches and redstarts. This opening is too large for other bird species such as tits and robins.
The most ideal place for a nest box with an entrance opening of 38 mm is at a height of 2 to 3 meters, for example under an eaves, on a facade or against a tree trunk. Provide shelter and preferably position the opening towards northeast or east. Choose a quiet location with a clear flight path.
It is possible to attach the nest box to a pole with hose clamps, or to use the mounting bracket if you want to mount it on a flat surface.
Birdfy app
Via the app you can view live images of your nest box and immediately see which birds are passing by. The camera automatically starts recording when it detects movement or a bird visit, and these short videos can be sent directly to your iPhone.
The app follows the entire breeding process: from building the nest, laying the eggs and hatching until the young fledge. The app puts these events chronologically in a timeline, so that you can see the development over days or weeks as if you were following a nature documentary from your own garden.
All images are stored in the cloud for a certain period, so that you can look back at them later. You can also share relevant clips via the app, for example with family or friends, or upload them to the Birdfy community. There you can also view images from other users around the world and see which birds are found in other gardens.
The app is user-friendly and divided into different tabs. Unfortunately, viewing the live image does not always work properly: the app regularly cannot connect to the camera. This is mainly because the WiFi signal is weak because the camera was in the garden. It is not wise to make frequent use of the live images, because this significantly shortens the battery life, especially on days with little sun.
 |
Category: Services, Productivity Developer: NETVUE, INC.  IAP 4+ 212MBDOWNLOAD FOR FREE |
Conclusion: Birdfy Nest Ebony
REVIEW SCORE
When hanging a birdhouse you obviously need luck that it is actually inhabited by birds. Placing it there is no guarantee that a bird will actually enter.
The moment a bird visits the Birdfy nest box, you will be immediately informed by the Birdfy Nest Ebony. You will receive a push message that you can tap to immediately view the recordings. Viewing the live images was not always possible, but recorded recordings were always successful.
Once a bird has found the nest box, you can follow the breeding process live via the Birdfy app. The app continuously informs you about progress. This makes the Birdfy Nest Ebony highly recommended for nature lovers.
- Equipped with a solar panel to recharge the battery.
- No disturbing elements that bother the birds.
- The Birdfy app is well-arranged and clear.
- Easy to install and set up.
- Live images not always available, WiFi not stable.
- Only suitable for 2.4Ghz WiFi networks.
ORDER