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I really love watching the birds in my yard. So I was hoping to watch birds feeding while I work from home. I found a cool and inexpensive clear window-mounted bird feeder and got two of them. But I forgot that my house has exterior screens on nearly all its windows! So I couldn’t put the bird feeders where I at first wanted to, and instead mounted my new Kovot Acrylic Window Bird Feeders and Perches on one of my living room bay window’s casement-style windows.
That window works for my new bird feeders since its screen is on the inside, not the outside. Yay! I’ve already filled the feeders a few times with Kaytee Wild Bird Food (about $9 for 5 pounds), so the birds seem to like the birdseed! I used some packing tape to double secure the bird feeders to the window, even though the suction cups seem strong. So far my feeders are still sticking well to the window.
I also needed to figure out how to watch the feeders while I write in a different room—since I don’t work in my home’s living room.
Inexpensive home camera
The Funeden Bird Feeder with Camera is what inspired me to get my bird feeders—the birdhouse-style bird feeder is cute and has a camera and a microphone built in! So you can watch and listen to the birds while they nosh on your birdseed. But it’s more than $200, so I didn’t feel like I could spring on it right now. So that’s why I got my feeders instead.
I already have a Blink Mini camera (it’s about $25 on Amazon) that I use to watch my pup in his pen when we leave him home for a few hours every now and then. I read positive reviews about the Kovot Acrylic Window Bird Feeder and Perch, (for about $10 each) so I decided to get that feeder instead, and use my Blink Mini to record the birds.
Camera mount
To mount the camera near the window that holds my new bird feeders, I used my TONOR 12 inch Selfie Ring Light with Tripod Stand, Smartphone Holder and Bluetooth Remote Shutter. I set it up in front of the bay window and used the Tonor’s mount to hold my Blink Mini—it holds it perfectly!
Once I had the Blink Mini up and running, the camera was recording mini video clips of various birds—especially cardinals and chickadees—feeding in my feeder. My system isn’t perfect, though. For some reason, the camera is really good at catching a car passing my house or the mailman pulling up to the curb, but sometimes ignores the birds right in front of it! I have even updated the settings for the camera to be super sensitive and to have it focus almost solely on the bird feeder. But a plus is that the camera also catches people coming up to my front door, so I probably won’t have to invest in a Ring Video Doorbell, which is something I was thinking about getting.
I guess some of the smaller birds’ movements are too small for the camera pick up. But the camera has given me a sense of the time periods when the birds like to feed—especially early morning, so I might have to make sure I get some early birdwatching in some mornings.
I have to figure out how to get good photos of the birds in my new bird feeder—the photo below is basically just a screenshot within my Blink Mini app. (The free trial version.)
In case you’ve noticed my other window decor, I have these really cute and affordable Gnome Window Decals that I got from Amazon, plus a hummingbird sun catcher that one of my sweet kids gave me!
As you can see, I really love my new bird feeder set up – my pup enjoys sitting in the bay window and watching the birds, too, but luckily that doesn’t stop them from visiting the feeders!
Carrie+@+Curly+Crafty+Mom says
I have to say, this is really cool! My mom would love something like this! And maybe I would too! ha, ha!! I have some wooden birdhouses that the original owner of our house built and they’re pretty close to our kitchen window, so we get some birds… but, I haven’t tried putting food out for them.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Carrie+@+Curly+Crafty+Mom recently posted…Summer Bucket List {2023}
Lauren says
Hi, Carrie! My kids and I have really been enjoying these bird feeders – we get to see so many birds eating out of them every day! And I like that there are a few cardinals that visit daily too.
Sumaiya says
Hi, Lauren I love the idea of having a window bird feeder, and your article has given me the confidence to make a purchase. Your detailed reviews and personal experiences with these feeders are invaluable. I can’t wait to attract more feathered friends to my home. Thanks for sharing!
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