Have you seen Bird Buddy popping up on your Facebook feed? I think that’s where I saw it first. I had been wanting to add some bird feeders to the back yard where lots of birds fly through, but don’t ever stop. I’d like to add plants to bring in pollinators and butterflies too, but this is a first step in the right direction.
Bird Buddy is a bird feeder with an added bonus. It also has a built in camera that will automatically take a picture of a bird at the feeder. And more than that, it will send that photo to your phone, along with an ID of the bird, and plenty of info about that breed for your information. I bought the solar roof option that is offered, and it has the unit at over 80% charged after two days, each of which started out gloomy but got sunny in the afternoon.
I didn’t pay too much attention to those extra features of the Bird Buddy, suspecting that they would leave a lot to be desired, at least for someone who sees fabulous bird photos on friends’s internet feeds daily. And I wondered if the birds would even come to the feeder at all.We didn’t have it up long at all when a Carolina Wren landed on the feeder. I grabbed my camera and shot some photos through the glass of the sliding glass door and the screen to the lanai. The Bird Buddy also sent a picture but the bird was looking down and it wasn’t a very good picture.So today I was more ready with my 100-400 lens on the r7, but again I had to shoot through the glass and screening. This time he landed on the suet feeder, which gave me a nice background for a couple of shots.Bird Buddy says these Carolina Wrens are expert songsters, long-haul lovebirds, and loudmouths. All of which are self explanatory I believe.Then this morning this was the photo that arrived from Bird Buddy. Yes, I tweaked it a bit and cropped, but this is the photo out of the built-in camera. I’m so happy that I went ahead and bought this system. I think I will be entertained for quite a while. But I need to build a bird blind out there so I can take my pictures without the glass and screening in the way. We headed to Wild Birds Unlimited in Carrollwood the day after the BB arrived. We needed a pole to hang the feeder, and feed to put in the feeder. They have feeders set up outside of the store and I could just go there for photos every day. There were lots of little birds in the trees and at the feeders. A Tufted Titmouse and lots of his friends and relatives, too.Here is a better look at the set up. I guess the first thing I ought to do is figure out how to get the ‘postcards’ from Bird Buddy to also come to my friend’s phone. I did take over his back yard after all, and originally bought it as a birthday gift for him, but it came about a month late. Which is how I managed to forget that it wasn’t for me.
I didn’t intend to write a commercial for the feeder or the feeder store, I am just so thrilled with both of them. They have brightened up these dreary days. And I always have loved the photo ops that come to you.
Living on the Nature Coast of Florida provides constant photo ops, and I need an outlet to share what I see. And sometimes what I think...
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Now I sit at the sliding glass door while I drink my coffee. They are swooping in and grabbing a snack and flying off. They have to stop a second to trip the camera.
A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens 
Sounds like you are hooked! Love the photos !
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Now I sit at the sliding glass door while I drink my coffee. They are swooping in and grabbing a snack and flying off. They have to stop a second to trip the camera.
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