Tips: Make Your Blink Birdhouse Camera Battery Last

Рет қаралды 3,989

Күн бұрын

Time Stamps:
00:28 - Introduces the solar panel. Many use the Wasserstein* brand: amzn.to/3t1ktZC.
01:07 - Tip 1 is to use the live view or manual capture mode. I'll show how to access it and why this is the best tip.
02:01 - Tip 2 keep your clip lengths under live view very short unless something interesting is happening.
02:51 - Not relevant, but see a male robin watching his nestlings (captured via Blink camera)
02:55 - Tip 3 turn live view on daily for daily progress capture and documentation.
03:34 - Tip 4 list out the milestones you want to capture (hatch day, egg turning, feeding, courtship, "diaper changing", etc" and lookout for those moments. Turn your camera on or put it on motion capture just for that period until you capture that moment.
04:38 - Tip 5 watch the nest box to get signals of when important moments are happening such as a parent bird brining food to the nest box. Then turn the live view on.
07:12 - Tip 6 avoid motion capture on hot days since the camera puts out heat.
07:44 - Tip 7 if your camera is low, you can always manually monitor by opening the box. However, don't do this when the babies are close to fledging (10-12 days old or older).
09:35 - More about the solar panels
The Blink Camera from Amazon is one of the most popular cameras to use inside nest boxes. They're wireless, great for outdoor and run on battery. Under normal conditions, the battery should last 2 years. But if you're using the Blink camera to monitor wildlife, it might last about 2 months.
The big question is how to get the camera to last from the point at which a nest is being built, all the way until the baby birds fledge.
This video talks about how to get your camera to last longer while still getting memorable life moments with your birds.
Aside from the tips in the timestamp section, other times you might want to flip on the camera is if something seems wrong, if you're seeing unusual behavior or if you have a question about something. In the case of a question, you can record footage and ask online.
Links:
Blink Outdoor 4 Camera (Newest generation)*: amzn.to/453ftFA
That link has options for a 1 camera kit, 2 + camera kit, and add on cameras. There is a solar option, but this solar option connects directly to the camera and won't work in a nest box.
Solar Panel: amzn.to/3XkDCpB
This is the Wasserstein solar panel compatible with Blink. It does not bother the birds.
Solar Panel Install Video: • Install Nest Box Solar...
Blink Camera Install Video: • How to Install a Blink...
Blink Camera Install in a Gable Roof Nest Box: • Gabled Side-Opening Ne...
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For bird conservation resources and products, visit our website at www.nesthollow.com
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*Links for the Blink Camera and Solar Panel are affiliate links. If you choose to order after clicking this, we are given a very very small commission. This will potentially help support the channel and our efforts in the future.
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Пікірлер: 24

@MemoryException Жыл бұрын

Great tips, I’m enjoying your channel as a new bluebird landlord. I’ll be adding a camera next year, unless I have time between broods to add it this year.

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

You may have time between broods. If you work it into your box cleanout between broods, you'll be just fine. But next year will work too 😀

@wjm9604 2 жыл бұрын

I thought about the Blink cameras but their support said it’s not able to focus that close. I already had several Green Backyard cameras made for birdhouses. They are probably more expensive. I think I paid under $130 but it has an sd card slot up to 128 gb and records video/pics/sound 24/7. I’m not connected with Green Backyard but I’m happy how they have treated me.

@wjm9604 2 жыл бұрын

Good channel by the way. 👍

@nesthollow5159 2 жыл бұрын

So far, I've been happy with Blink. Pretty good resolution. But I actually just added the Green Backyard Camera to my Amazon cart because it looks like there are some neat features. So I definitely want to give it a try. Thanks for the suggestion. It's good to know you've been happy with it. And thanks for watching.

@wjm9604 2 жыл бұрын

@@nesthollow5159 You’re welcome. They have a lot of videos on their KZfaq channel that are helpful although one guy’s accent is hard to understand. One tip I can give you is that since the camera’s picture is rectangle shape I arrange my cameras so the entrance hole and the nest are along the longest view of the picture. The camera mounts on a bracket that pivots in one direction so it’s tempting to pivot it on the short side of the picture. I got around this by adding an “L” bracket to the bottom of the roof with a 1/4” hole in the side sticking down. Then I drilled a 1/4” hole in the circle part of the bracket. Then bolt the two together with a wing nut for adjustments. I know it’s a lot to digest but it really helps. I can send a picture if that will help explain it better. Also put the camera bracket as far back as possible in the birdhouse to get the best angle of the nest and entrance hole. I make my birdhouses from 6” pvc but it will work on wooden ones too. I usually get the Wi-Fi camera not the Ethernet poe one. Not sure if it has the sd slot.

@nesthollow5159 2 жыл бұрын

@@wjm9604 this is really helpful. I may have to ask you questions when I get started. If you want to send pics, I'd appreciate that. Info@nesthollow.com

@wjm9604 2 жыл бұрын

@@nesthollow5159 Yes I’d be glad to answer any questions if I can. I’m not sure where to send pics on your website.

@leighann5308 Жыл бұрын

Thank you I just bought a blink camera can you make a video of your settings on your app? Do you subscribe to blink or use a flash drive to save footage in the module?

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

I've been thinking about doing a video on that. So I'll definitely move it up on my list. Thanks for the suggestion.

@cindybenfield3436 Жыл бұрын

Does the clicking sound from motion sensor bother the birds while they are building the nest?

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

So far, we haven't had an issue. And this is after years of using them in multiple boxes. Sometimes the female birds will look up at the camera. They just get curious It can wake roosting and brooding birds and nestlings at night. So once you have an active nests with eggs or babies, or birds roosting in it, don't leave the camera on automatic motion capture. Instead, just do live view - and try not to do it too late at night unless you think there is a problem in the box.

@Dave_D. Жыл бұрын

What is the wifi range of the Blink? My router is on the other side of the house (40') and my martin house is probably another 50' away. I imagine 100' is pushing it.

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

This is a great question. Someone else asked that too - also named Dave :D. Anyway, I looked back at my comments because I had measured it out. Just keep in mind, that this is what I came up with - and it could depend on your housing material (brick vs. vinyl), your router, etc. Here is what I found: I was able to get more than 100 feet away from the router. I think about 110 feet before I lost it. I wouldn't push it that far or bank on that though - just to be safe. The sync module is in a different area, about 15 or 20 feet from the router. From the sync module, I was about 75 feet (just a bit more than that) before I lost signal. This was just my test. It could depend on your router or other obstructions (brick houses vs. Sided house may make a difference).

@Dave_D. Жыл бұрын

@@nesthollow5159 Thanks for the reply. Yes, I saw that other question, after I asked here. I guess I will just have to try it, and possible get a range extender (think I saw someone mention using one). A separate question...the specs say focus range is 3 feet to infinity...well, clearly from watching some footage ppl have inside a birdhouse, it will focus closer than 3'. How close do you think it will work? I have to measure the depth of my martin gourds, but I'd say it's at least the 9" (I think you quote) height of your boxes.

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

@@Dave_D. When it comes to things like "focus" I am not sure I understand that conceptually enough from a photography standpoint ;). All I know is that it catches some pretty good close-range footage. I can tell you is that nest box cameras are in a box that is about 8-9" tall inside, but the mount and camera itself takes about 2" off that distance and closes the gap to about 6-7". Once the nest is built, the distance from bird to camera is even closer. So if you're asking about 9", I think the footage will still be good. I put cameras up at the bird bath too, and that distance can be a few inches to a foot or so (depends on how close birds get to the camera).. The only other example I have on KZfaq is the Robin's nest. The camera might have been about 9-12" above the birds. I have this little rain footage if you'd like to take a look: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZZ4ZbagybSuhas.html I'll have another robin nest video out in about a week - the full nesting period. The end of that video will have bird bath footage, but it's not fantastic because they splashed around and the lens has blurred spots from water drops.

@nesthollow5159 Жыл бұрын

@@Dave_D. Also, if this helps - I searched the Purple Martin facebook group and found a post where a Blink Camera was used in a gourd. So you can take a look at the footage to see what you think. facebook.com/526045346/videos/716074199584195/

@Dave_D. Жыл бұрын

@@nesthollow5159 Thanks so much for the help! Appreciate the time you took for those lengthy replies.