Bird Box Cameras

[plexer]

We are redeveloping our pond at work and they want to have cameras in bird boxes.

This should be a nice little project for me and I'm wondering if anyone has done anything similar. Basically at the moment I know the sort of thing I want for the boxes.

I am planning on using 4 normal minature video cameras connected to a 1.4ghz transmitter pointing back at the school. Receiver in the school receiving 4 pictures from the cameras and then fed into something like zoneminder to make them available as an ip webcam stream for the students to be able to watch on the intranet and also time lapse/motion detect record what goes on.

Power at the remote site will be a bank of SLA's charged via, wind turbine, solar panels, generator if needed and also a spare set charged up via mains in case of the need to switch them out.

Just looking for any ideas or advice.

[russdev]

one note if cameras are in bird box might dont use normal cameras as could be breaking law (interfering with wildlife bird nests etc).

Contact RSPB who can advise better on this???

Russ

[plexer]

Plenty of companies in the uk allready sell boxes with cameras in.

RSPB have webcams for feeders and stuff on their site but I'll email them just to check.

Ben

[russdev]

i agree but they have designed cameras in such as way that does not intefere with the the bird nesting habbits...

Difference between buying a box and and making one if buying one then it means got some legal action if school is charged but if made it guess who rear end is on the line (and it ant the heads)

Russ

[plexer]

Nope it'll be the site managers

But saying that they are the same cameras as you can buy fitted into a false roof in the bird box.

Ben

[russdev]

more than likely not saying they are not but dont want you to get into trouble with rspb

Russ

[tickmike]

Hi Ben.
I Have been thinking of doing the same but too much thinking, so may get it done for next spring.

Have a look at this >http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/ht...bluetitcam.htm

>http://www.enjoybirdsmore.co.uk/

We have a box about 2M from a class room window so I could just use a USB miniature camera and 'Active USB ' extension lead into school.

Regards Michael.

[john]

I have had the Philip Harris one AKA Enjoy Birds More and either my sample left by the PH rep was duff or they are shockingly poor. We were not impressed by them yet for the cost. Nice idea, infact great idea, but needs more work.

[plexer]

Thanks guys I had stumbled across the beautiful britain site in my searches.

At the moment I'm thinking of using these cameras:
http://www.eclipse-computers.com/pro...de=SV-CCD-639A

1.3" Sony Super CCD.

Found a supplier for the wireless video 1.4ghz transmitter just got to get a price and a quad mux/demux setup to send all 4 cmaeras over one link.

Also found a very good site with good prices on turbines and batteries last night.

Ben

[plexer]

Had a reply from RSPB today and they say it's fine to do.

Ben

[tickmike]

Hi Ben.
Re. Had a reply from RSPB today and they say it's fine to do..... Did not think it was a problem.

Just had this mad idea, What if Edugeek's make this a project, have a set of materials and parts needed to construct the said 'bird box' then we all get the schools all over the Britain/world with our members in to get the children to build the box's and we could help them get the camera working on the school network and also have an web site so schools could see each others nest box web cam's from all over.

Well it was just an idea. :x

From Michael.

[woody]

Just had this mad idea, What if Edugeek's make this a project, have a set of materials and parts needed to construct the said 'bird box' then we all get the schools all over the Britain/world with our members in to get the children to build the box's and we could help them get the camera working on the school network and also have an web site so schools could see each others nest box web cam's from all over.

Well I am certainly up for it. I have been searching the web for an ip camera I can't find a 'mini' one that could be fit inside the box. Any ideas?

[Geoff]

Eco-Watch sell gear to do this.

http://www.eco-watch.com/homeandgarden/index.htm

[plexer]

You can get wired and wireless ip cams that are small enough and also normal analogue cams with wireless that are tiny.

We are planning to have 4 cameras like the ones I posted earlier from eclipse and mount them in boxes and feeders etc...

Cable this all back to a viewing shed with monitor and then multiplex all 4 cameras into one picture sent via a single 1.4 or 2.4ghz video link back to the main building into a zoneminder pc to record and make it available as an ip stream.

Ben

[Dax75]

You might try looking at these kits too.

High quality, easy to set up and a good price (They offer education discounts). Loads of info sheets and video clips too.

http://www.gardenature.co.uk/