I have described the circumstances that led Cindy to invest in the development of Bird Buddy in a previous post. Quickly, Bird Buddy is a combination bird feeder and motion activated camera that allows the collection of the images that come to the feeder.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Bird Buddy is that it continues to be improved even once you own one. This comes about through software updates. First, the company improved the battery life. Now, I find that our device can record video. Here is the first recording – a female and then a male Northern Cardinal.
I have made the effort to create several posts about this product because some have continually complained online about the product. First, there were accusations that the company was ripping off those who had invested. I don’t think people understand IndieGoGo and similar ventures. If you invest, you are not guaranteed of anything. You may receive a product if the product materializes. In this case, there is now a product and you can purchase it through multiple sources, but there were no guarantees in the beginning.
They there were complaints about the battery life, the failure of birds to use the feeder, and the failure of the device to capture images. It may take some time for birds to find a new feeder. You learn this if you have fed birds before. The other issues may involve assumptions about how far you can position the feeder from your house and the wireless access required to control the feeder. Other problems involved not understanding how to install the updates and the battery life. This last issue has been improved with updates, but the battery life is an issue. Even with the solar panel, the a charge may be exhausted in a couple of days. Not a huge issue for me, but be warned when making a purchase.
What no one complains about is the quality of the images (and now video) that the device generates. I am completely satisfied with the value we have received for our investment.