nest boxes with cameras

[ssiscool]

I am interested in buying a next box with built in camera and wanted peoples advice and any experiences with using them. Thanks

[paddywak]

Never bothered before but while surfing earlier in the year I came across one of the Scottish Wildlfe Site camera sites at The Loch of the Lowes Osprey nest, and before I Knew it I was hooked.It was brilliant, from the eggs hatching, the trauma when we all thought The Lady of the Loch was dying, the first flights and finally just the empty nest as the birds began their migration, can't wait till spring to see who we get back

[jomifl]

you can do it a lot cheaper yourself by either getting a security camera and connecting it to the scart socket of your video recorder/TV or use a webcam. You can easily extend the cable on a security camera by making up a plug on extension.I have used extensions up to 60 feet with no apparent loss of picture quality. A webcam will need a usb boosted extension cable, I have not tried these chained together but you should get a useful distance. The advantage of a webcam is that if used with security software, it will save video to the hard disc every time something happens in the nest.

[tamborine]

I put a cheapo cctv camera up to watch owls nesting under tiles in outhouse in July, made a video but am lacking upload software. Cctv awaits next clutch; turns out to be more interesting than most tv transmits - sad eh ?

[beattie819]

I dont know anything about DIY bird boxes, but I bought one with built in camera from RSPB 2 years ago. It has been wonderful to watch, and "our " blue tits raised 10 babies each year. Even after they had left the nest, they "lived " in the bush next to it, so we could still see them. We have it connected to the TV in the summerhouse. It was very relaxing to watch every day. We aso look forward to next Spring!

[jubieanna]

we have one set up in the hall of the primary school that i work in and its absolutely brilliant. the kids love it and you get really hooked on watching the chicks develop.

go for it you'll love it

[Stockethill]

One of the best things we ever bought.
We keep a diary of when the blue tits start to build their nest right through to fledging. Usually on the first day of spring the activity starts.
Fascinating stuff.
We bought our first black and white camera off the internet, but now have a colour one with sound.