As North American bird populations decline, the popularity of bird watching is soaring, fueled in part by smart feeders that capture photos and videos of backyard visitors. Marin Plank, a self-proclaimed bird enthusiast, shares her story of how these tech-enabled feeders transformed her from a non-birdwatcher to a dedicated admirer.
This photo courtesy of Judy Ashley shows a cardinal on her bird feeder in Ipswich, Massachusetts, Dec. 20, 2024. (Judy Ashley via AP)CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Marin Plank truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera-equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with birds that most of the gifts she received this year — books, stickers, notecards — were related.
Acquaintances have stopped Plank on the street to discuss the bird photos she shares on Facebook. From copious amounts of research, she now knows the best birdseed blend and has a premium membership to a store that delivers giant bags of it to her Delaware home. It all started when she got her first postcard from the Bird Buddy app, which provides photos and video clips that can be downloaded or shared. “You’ve just got to click, and then the bird is in your face looking at you and mugging for you, and it’s like your own little private show,” she said. “Something about their little eyes and their goofy little faces just drew me in, and now I’m a bird enthusiast.” While North American bird populations decline dramatically, paradoxically, the number of people watching them has increased. While the coronavirus pandemic spurred many people to head outside in search of birds, for others, smart feeders that snap photos and video of backyard visitors have brought the hobby inside. “It really delivers value with very little input,” said Franci Zidar, founder and CEO of Bird Buddy, which has sold 350,000 smart bird feeders since 2022. “If you’re actually kind of a hardcore bird watcher, that can be a very demanding hobby. There are, however, 20 to 30 species of birds in most U.S. backyards that people either don’t really know or appreciate.” Several other companies, including Birdfy, make similar bird feeders that are mounted with camera
BIRD WATCHING SMART FEEDERS TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION BIRD POPULATIONS
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