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a great explanation on bird cams and expanding viewing capabilities
In the “Bluebird Monitor’s Forum, there recently appeared an interesting post about bird cam installation and viewing capabilities/preferences. The “away-signature” cracked me up.. because I can so relate, and likely many other folks out there in cyber-world. It said “Using yesterday’s software to create tomorrow’s problems today!” Hah… isn’t it the truth with the ever-changing technology?Instead of interpreting, and providing a narrative, for optimum clarity I’ll just re-post what this person’s experience and solution was:
“I acted upon the recommendation of the Hawk Eye Night Owl Bird Cam and installed one in a new and taller chickadee box which hangs in our front yard. A Black Capped Chickadee scolds me every time I get near the box.
The bird cams 100′ long cable was then strung into the garage, where I asked myself what next? The camera’s composite video could be plugged directly into a number different devices permitting viewing/recording, but this is the age of the internet–I wanted to view/record the video from my computer.
Since I already had a Ethernet hub in my garage which is connected to my LAN, I wanted a use an affordable video server plugged into this hub. The answer was solved by purchasing an IP Video 9100A Plus Network Video Server.
http://www.amazon.com/IP-Video-9100A-Network-Server/dp/B000HBVTCA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327004024&sr=8-1
Basically the camera’s video and sound plug into the 9100A, and it plugs into the Ethernet hub. Once all is connected and setup, the camera’s video can be viewed/recorded from your web browser (preferably Internet Explorer). The sever can be setup to detect motion, and when motion is detected, send an e-mail, and/or FTP images to a server. The server could actually be set up to permit viewing anywhere in the world. The 9100A actually has 4 video inputs, but only 1 sound input (hmmmm?).
I’ll not go into further detail unless asked, but I would advise anyone purchasing the device to be skeptical of the quick setup instructions that come with the device. The installation manual was not written/edited by someone whose primary language is English. Knowledge of IP devices helps.
But it does work!”
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Received a hummingbird feeder for Christmas? Two words: ant moat
The tiny sprites are mesmerizing, you could sit and watch their antics for hours if time allowed! Definitely one of the most endeared birds, hummingbirds are in a class of their own. A magical experience to have them around your place during the season.What’s not so magical is the fact that ants love sugar water too. (Yes, nectar is simply sugar water you can easily make yourself- recipe link at the end). Without fail, pesky ants will find a way to invade the sweet, sticky nectar, and when they do, hummingbirds won’t drink the solution. So you end up with wasted nectar and a bunch of ants, some dead, some still alive. They’re dead because they can’t swim… silly ants!
That’s why ant moats are so perfect with these feeders. Placed above the hummingbird feeder, the ant moat holds water, and ants can’t cross the water successfully. The ant moat usually has a double-end hook, so the feeder hangs directly from it. The top hook on the ant moat is basically the main hanger. It’s a one-time investment, and very reasonable considering the results. You’ll save nectar, save money, and your hummingbirds will be happy too!
Oh yeah… and the really simple nectar recipe can be found here.
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Bird Feeder Pole Resembles the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Crazy weather! That’s what we have in Georgia, it messes up the natural cycle. It creates havoc on the landscape, causes the horses to colic, and makes bird food go moldy fast… and there’s just a few consequences!Last winter was one of the wettest, nastiest seasons we’ve seen in a while. A tad bit drier this season, though it’s been unseasonably warm on many days. Because of the few frosty nights, it’s already caused some bulbs to force, which will subsequently die with the next frost 🙁
A few rainy days in a row coupled with one or two torrential downpours has turned some natural areas of the yard into a muddy mess, which in turn affects the bird feeder poles. They start to lean, like the Tower of Pisa! Enter the the auger with three arms. It’s about the only pole that’s still standing straight. The sturdy design allows for a more secure and permanent installation.
The three arms are attached to the auger, which is manually “drilled down” to ground level. The arms then act as a stabilizer to keep the bird feeder pole straight. And that it does! This innovative design does not actually include the bird feeder pole itself, it’s merely the base. But any standard one-inch O.D. (outside diameter) garden pole may be inserted into the base. I always wondered what that O.D. meant 🙂
Manufactured by Droll Yankees in powder coat metal, you can be assured it’s quality stuff to last a lifetime. A fantastic investment if you’re looking for a sturdy garden pole that will really stay straight!
Birding Tips, Information & News
