Mech1's Bird Box and Feeder Cams

Mech1

Hi sorry about the earlier thread, a bit premature on my behalf so I had to edit out the original text.

Anyway, Bluetits have moved in today,:D

Check it out here. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

nest building seems to be underway.

Alun

That seems a bit on the late side, my bluetit here in Bray has just laid her second egg. She started her nest building a good few weeks ago.

Mech1

I have added a camera outside the box today so the feed can be switched from one to the other

Mech1

The outside camera will be focused on the local cats / foxes etc in the garden at night time.

Watch and listen its live here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

Sorry we had a few breaks in the live stream today, just getting to grips with the software.

Hows the picture for anyone logging in to watch?

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

Moved to cat / fox cam now

swifts need our help!

After seeing your link to ustream I registered but cant see anything from my cameras. I'm linking from a DVR via an easy capture device. How do you link your camera?

Mech1

swifts need our help! wrote: »

After seeing your link to ustream I registered but cant see anything from my cameras. I'm linking from a DVR via an easy capture device. How do you link your camera?

Sorry man i dont know a lot about this, it just happened to work, im putting camera into a Black magic intensity Shuttle http://www.amazon.com/Blackmagic-Design-Intensity-Shuttle-BINTSSHU/dp/B003WSQTWU and out of that via USB3 into Asus ati 4870x2, 2gbGDDR5 , 2 GPUs Graphics card http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/pc-components/graphics-cards/asus-radeon-hd-4870-x2-469509/review, then out to ustream.

Mech1

Camera upgrade tonight, should look lots better tomorrow, Nest building ongoing.

Click below to watch live

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Alun

That's much better! What camera is it out of interest? The one I have claims to be colour but is effectively black and white with the amount of sunlight that gets in through the frosted glass window on the top.

I have my camera attached to a laptop running WebcamXP via a USB grabber (EasyCap) which works OK. The cable runs through a conduit I had laid in the garden when we had it re-done a few years ago, into the conservatory where the cable comes in and the laptop is connected to the home network via homeplugs (WiFi is too patchy out there.)

Mech1

Alun wrote: »

That's much better! What camera is it out of interest? The one I have claims to be colour but is effectively black and white with the amount of sunlight that gets in through the frosted glass window on the top.

I have my camera attached to a laptop running WebcamXP via a USB grabber (EasyCap) which works OK. The cable runs through a conduit I had laid in the garden when we had it re-done a few years ago, into the conservatory where the cable comes in and the laptop is connected to the home network via homeplugs (WiFi is too patchy out there.)

This camera is now in the roof of the birdhouse:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/sentient-1000tvl-wired-outdoor-camera-with-25m-night-vision-a15rq

The wall attachments etc unscrew from the main body and slide down the wire to end up outside the box.

Mech1

Another small camera adjustment tonight so the view is getting better again. They seem very sluggish in getting this nest sorted, although what would I know? First time bird mother here!

Mech1

I assume that any day soon the female will stay the night?

Alun

Mech1 wrote: »

I assume that any day soon the female will stay the night?

Mine started staying the night very early on before the nest was even partly complete.

Before she started laying, she usually left the box at around 5.50am and returned for the night around 8pm, coming back at regular intervals with nest material. She started with moss and dried grass and as the nest nears completion she lined it with feathers and animal hair.

Now that she's started laying, she seems to stay in a bit later in the mornings, until about 6.45am. I understand early morning is when they actually lay their eggs, one a day, so I assume this is why, but I haven't found any footage where she's obviously laying around that time, so it may be much earlier.

It's hard to tell, as she's covering the eggs with feathers, but she should be up to 5 eggs by now. Last year, you could clearly see all the eggs, so either she's covering them due to the cold snap, she's learnt from her mistakes last year (one egg didn't hatch and two runts died in the nest) or she's actually a different bird altogether!

I really must get a better camera for next year, but I daren't disturb them at this stage.

EDIT: Have just seen that she definitely has laid 5 eggs so far, phew !

Mech1

WooHoo! Female finished building nest, and tonight is her first night staying over:D

Live camera feed here : http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Alun

Here's mine from earlier this evening. She's definitely laid 5 eggs as expected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_E96E2BdmM

Alun

And another egg this morning makes six

Alun

It looks like she's started brooding them. She's spending a lot longer on the nest during the daytime and I've caught the male coming in with bits of food and feeding her.

Mech1

My little bird is home and asleep here tonight, I am hoping for first egg tomorrow!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

New outside view sorted today

Mech1

We lost the sound today, repairs tomorrow so.

Mech1

Dont think there are any eggs yet

Mech1

Looks like she is settling in for the night again.

Mech1

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Click above to watch live

Mech1

Moved to cat / fox cam for a few hours

Mech1

My Bluetit nestbox continued.....

Well still no sign of any eggs, but I got the second camera sorted and the sound fixed.

Check it out live here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Enjoy

OpenYourEyes

Moved that other thread here, and changed the thread title - best to keep everything in the same place.

Mech1

Mealworms gone but you can still watch the video by clicking the link at my ustream channel.

Moved HD cam to my seed feeders now.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mech11

Mech1

Bluetit back for the night again, male just popped in to feed her!