![]() What a pain! Among the testing pool, it is the only feeder that mounts from the bottom, instead of the back. Our second issue revolved around mounting the Bird Buddy feeder itself. In the Bird Buddy smartphone app, you can see all your bird visitors clearly labeled and identified on the Collection screen, while all new visitors pop right into your inbox. This means that you have to detach the feeder’s camera and bring it inside to charge it (via included USB-C cable) every week or so-during testing, it never lasted up to the 15 days as listed on Bird Buddy’s website. While you can buy a solar roof for an additional cost of $70, all the other smart feeders we tested included a solar panel with their base price. Firstly, we tested the base model, which does not include a solar panel. Unfortunately, the camera goes to sleep in the dark and does not include night vision. It doesn’t double as a smart home security app as the others do, so you don’t have to wade through extra features and functions in search of your American goldfinch pics and videos. We didn’t experience any mislabeled birds, even on rainy and gray days, despite water spots occasionally popping up on the camera lens.īird Buddy’s exclusive app is a delight to use, especially for freshman birders, as it “unlocks” new species and puts them into your “collection.” The app takes still photos and videos. This may seem silly but is a huge boon.Īs our choice for the Best AI Recognition, it should come as no surprise that Bird Buddy’s app and ID software is spot on. Plus, you can fill it with seeds easily thanks to a cup that’s included. It’s constructed well, and there are no delicate attachments that could be destroyed by backyard critters. Compared to other smart bird feeders on the market right now, the feeder is small. It comes in either a sunny yellow or bold teal color. What appealed to us first is the adorable, contemporary design-sorta Scandi in style. We first heard about Bird Buddy at CES back in January of 2022, and have been dying to try this bird feeder with a camera ever since. While the feeder stood strong, including its durable perch, it, unfortunately, didn’t take long for squirrels to demolish its Wi-Fi antenna-although it still worked even though it ended up just dangling. While its build is adequate, it isn't as sturdy as the Soliom BF08 or the Bird Buddy. It is the easiest to use for all the smart feeders we tested. The feeder includes a bracket to mount to a wall, a strap to wrap around a tree or post, and hose clamps for mounting to a pole. When mounting the Netvue, there are three options. You simply flip open the roof and pour the seed in, which slides down into a tray. The app will even try to identify the type of bird, although the Netvue’s attempts at this were not as accurate as the Bird Buddy or the Soliom-and honestly, some guesses made us laugh out loud.įrom a practical standpoint, the Netvue is easy to load up with birdseed, whether you’re using black oil sunflower seeds or a nut and berry mix. It sends alerts when birds land to feed, and you can stream live video. Netvue’s exclusive smart security app comes free or with a $4.99 monthly fee depending on whether you buy the AI version, which we tested, or the Lite version of the feeder. ![]() The camera’s 1080p picture quality is quite clear day and night. This means you don’t have to remove the camera to charge it. So many reasons contributed to the Netvue bird feeder winning the top spot in our guide to smart bird feeders.įirst off, it comes with a solar panel. For newbie birdwatchers who want to identify the tweeters in their backyard, Bird Buddy (available at Bird Buddy) offers the best AI recognition of the smart feeders we tested. , which wins our Best Overall award for its sheer plethora of ways to mount it and feed birds, and provide a clear picture both day and night. Winging to the front of the flock is the Netvue Birdfy Feeder I also learned that there are some definite quirks and annoyances to this new-fangled spin on old-fashioned bird-watching. Yes, I did capture numerous feathered friends on my array of bird feeders with cameras. What I got was a battle of wills with a hungry raccoon and squirrels unphased by alarms, bright lights, and cayenne pepper. At the outset, I had imagined this would be an idyllic experience rife with birdsong and soaring cardinals and bluebirds. ![]() Testing smart bird feeders did not go as planned. I also charged a lot of batteries, messed around with AI recognition, and set up enough security cameras to rival the CIA. To find the best smart bird feeders on the market, my impact driver and I tangled with solar panels, wall-mount brackets, some solid trees, and a few bird feeder poles.
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