Bird Buddy, the award-winning technology-for-nature start-up based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA, has launched its latest product, Smart Bird Feeder PRO. The feeder incorporates the new Nature Cam PRO, which heralds the birth of next-generation bird-watching cameras. This innovation brings bird enthusiasts closer to nature in their backyards with crystal-clear imagery and cutting-edge features. The Smart Bird Feeder PRO is available for order now at $239, or about Rs20,000, excluding Indian taxes. Shipping begins this month.
Nature Cam PRO, the camera module at the core of the Smart Bird Feeder PRO, is the next step in backyard birding technology, Bird Buddy said in a press release. With best-in-class features, it delivers stunning 2K HDR video quality, high-resolution 5 MP photos, and a choice between close-up and wider view. The camera boasts a cent per cent larger image sensor than the first generation at 1/2.7 inches, improved low-light performance, and enhanced energy efficiency. Additionally, HDR, or high dynamic range, and slow-motion functionality capture high-speed bird activity in detail.
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Commenting on the launch of Nature Cam PRO, Bird Buddy co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Franci Zidar said: “Nature Cam PRO lets us see birds in extraordinary detail—we can literally count the feathers. The video and image quality are unlike anything else on the market, and it’s helping us admire and deepen our connection to nature. This is the next step in our mission to bring people closer to the wildlife in their own backyards.”
However, before rushing to place an order for one of the new contraptions, amateur Indian birding enthusiasts may do well to heed the words of a veteran Bangalore-based birder, who told TheSnout that the Smart Bird Feeder is not suitable for most Indian birds. The reason: few tropical birds are seed-eaters. Their preferred diet comprises insects, which are plentiful in the tropics. Birds in the temperate zones, such as Europe and parts of the USA and northern Asia are mostly seed eaters. This means using a bird feeder that dispenses seeds will help the amateur watch mostly mice and pigeons, the birder cautioned. A simpler trick, the birder advised, would be to dig out a cockroach-infested box from your attic and place it in the sun, and watch different birds descend upon it to make short work of the insects.
The Smart Bird Feeder PRO launch follows on the heels of the recent update to Bird Buddy’s app, which unlocks higher video resolutions for all users and gives them more control over how much content they receive from their Bird Buddy cameras, increasing the amount of delivered moments by up to three times. “All users can now also invite up to 10 guests to their feeders and block unwanted species from sending notifications which was previously only available to subscribers of the Bird Buddy Premium,” Zidar said.
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A key feature of Bird Buddy products is their modular design, allowing customers to customise their bird-watching set-up. Current Bird Buddy users can also upgrade their existing feeders by purchasing the Nature Cam PRO and seamlessly integrating it with their current housing units—the original Smart Bird Feeder and the more recent Smart Hummingbird Feeder. This modular approach allows users to enhance their bird-watching experience without having to buy a completely new feeder. Nature Cam PRO is available to US customers only, retailing at $149.
Bird Buddy invented the Smart Bird Feeder category in 2020, going on to successfully launch on Kickstarter to the tune of over $4 million. The Smart Bird Feeder was included in TIME magazine’s 2023 list of Best Inventions.
Since the company’s launch, around 300,000 units have been shipped worldwide, with subsequent new product launches, including the Smart Hummingbird Feeder. The Nature Cam PRO is Bird Buddy’s latest invention and best-in-market camera module for smart feeders. Bird Buddy’s subscription service, for enthusiasts who want more from their feeder, is now called Bird Buddy Premium.
Smart Bird Feeder PRO and Nature Cam PRO are available to order directly from Bird Buddy’s online shop.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
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