Perfect. I knew you'd have the most philosophical perspective. "Bird however you want" I think is the crux here. I've know people who like to leave the binoculars behind and bird by ear and eye alone. That's not me. Some people are gadget geeks and the AI bins and bird feeders are the newest thing. Not me either. I'm in between, and I'm really enjoying the FeatherSnap feeder on my terms--not obsessing over every notification, delighting at the titmouse with a peanut in its mouth when I do choose to scroll the snaps.
Great post and thank you for the multiple shoutouts!
Thank you Nate, I'm in between too. Some days I try to bird primarily by ear, others I'm all camera. Some days I'll drive however far, others I'll sit by the feeders watching chickadees.
The FeatherSnap has been a great gateway for me to see, as fun as it is to be a birding neo-Luddite, there is some birding tech worth its salt. It's a balancing act, and can go day by day. As you say, a smart feeder is best enjoyed on your own terms.
Wow, the FeatherSnap Feeder looks so cool. I would definitely enjoy one of those. Right now I am happy to get a view of birds at the feeder outside my backdoor. This feeder is really a game changer.
It is very cool! Feeders of any kind are indeed game changers. Feeders bring the birds; birds bring the happiness and calm; the happiness and calm bring good days.
Many things to love about this post James. My two fav photos are the single chickadee shown right after you mention smart phones, and then later down the way is the photo you took of the junco on the snowy tree branch. Ahhhhh.
The only one I like from the smart feeder is the two chickadees having a bit of conversation on it together… the one on the right seems to say “Hey Charlie, I’ve told you 100 times, don’t sit in the food!” ( Charlie appears to not care)
I suspect that someone who might enjoy a smart feeder is one who works all day and never gets to see the birds they feed, but the photos really aren’t all the interesting.
I confess that I may have watched the chubby chickadee land on the wooden plank swingy thing at least ten times 🥰
Thank you Teyani! I’m glad you enjoyed the chickadee video, and I agree on those two photos. The feeder ones can run together, but I do think they’re special in their own right
Nice. I have a friend's BirdBuddy, which works all right. When they move out of their HOA (which doesn't allow feeders) I'll return it, and I'll look at a FeatherSnap. I like the perch design.
The perch is a nice design. I’ve heard mixed things about BirdBuddy, but any qualms I had with the FeatherSnap were more unique to me than universal. I recommend it.
I’d love to get one at some point. With all the different birds we get in the yard, I’d love to be able to see them while I’m at work. How wonderful it would be to receive notifications and pictures while at work! 😁
Excellent post, I like how you review the smart-feeder but put it in a much wider context. I don't like smart technology (I don't even have a smartphone) but this smart feeder looks like a great idea.
Props to you for still resisting the smartphone! As with what that doctor says about food and the food system, it falls to us to reflect on what works and what doesn’t for each of us. If that means no smartphone, then no smartphone; if it means smart feeder, then smart feeder.
Cardinals "boring"? No way I'm checking out that guy's Substack. <jk>
This was a great post. Thanks so much for taking the time to include all those photos. Really awesome. And I do kinda want to get a FeatherSnap now, I admit...
Ha! Nate’s post about cardinals has stuck with me since I first read it. Glad you enjoyed the post, Kollibri; pick up a FeatherSnap if your interest is piqued and it makes sense, I’m enjoying mine.
Thank you for the review, James. I really enjoyed seeing the images and species variety. Most of all, I appreciate insights that free us from technology and bring us into the natural world with birds.
Thank you Heidi! It’s all a balancing act. On one hand, I say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it—people have been birding much longer than there’s been all this technology, why mess with it? On the other, I’m glad to see the growing prevalence of tech and AI come to include birding, as long as it’s done the right way and doesn’t overshadow human intelligence.
Well said, James. When the technology is a tool rather than a form of control, then it's really helpful. My local birds are due for a refill on their seeds, so that's on my to do list. This is a popular spot.:)
Yes, when we use it, technology is good. When it starts to use us or make us irrelevant, not so much. Nice to-do list, the birds will be pleased. Seed tax.
Thank you so much for showcasing my homemade feeder cam! Though, after reading this you may have convinced me to get a FeatherSnap Feeder. I also have a BirdWeather PUC that I leave in my backyard. It’s a device that uses AI to record bird calls which then sends me a notification once the bird is identified. I am fascinated by all of the new technology that has been introduced into the birding world and I am excited for what else is to come!
Definitely get a FeatherSnap! I’m a bit of a curmudgeon about notifications, once I disabled the feeder’s I loved mine. I’d never heard of a BirdWeather PUC before, that’s an impressive piece of technology. As resistant as I can be to new technology, I am starting to get past that to see how impressive it is. You have your finger on the pulse.
Great review and variety of birds and wildife, James. It would be a good supplement for birders, especially for those that cannot make those longer outdoor journeys. Thanks for sharing.
Perfect. I knew you'd have the most philosophical perspective. "Bird however you want" I think is the crux here. I've know people who like to leave the binoculars behind and bird by ear and eye alone. That's not me. Some people are gadget geeks and the AI bins and bird feeders are the newest thing. Not me either. I'm in between, and I'm really enjoying the FeatherSnap feeder on my terms--not obsessing over every notification, delighting at the titmouse with a peanut in its mouth when I do choose to scroll the snaps.
Great post and thank you for the multiple shoutouts!
Thank you Nate, I'm in between too. Some days I try to bird primarily by ear, others I'm all camera. Some days I'll drive however far, others I'll sit by the feeders watching chickadees.
The FeatherSnap has been a great gateway for me to see, as fun as it is to be a birding neo-Luddite, there is some birding tech worth its salt. It's a balancing act, and can go day by day. As you say, a smart feeder is best enjoyed on your own terms.
Wow, the FeatherSnap Feeder looks so cool. I would definitely enjoy one of those. Right now I am happy to get a view of birds at the feeder outside my backdoor. This feeder is really a game changer.
It is very cool! Feeders of any kind are indeed game changers. Feeders bring the birds; birds bring the happiness and calm; the happiness and calm bring good days.
All true James! I just filled my feeder up again today!
“Efficiency” isn’t always better. Especially in the process of art, love, and learning- which birding can involve all 3.
Excellent point, Ruth, and I could not agree more! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
SOLD
I hope you enjoy!
Many things to love about this post James. My two fav photos are the single chickadee shown right after you mention smart phones, and then later down the way is the photo you took of the junco on the snowy tree branch. Ahhhhh.
The only one I like from the smart feeder is the two chickadees having a bit of conversation on it together… the one on the right seems to say “Hey Charlie, I’ve told you 100 times, don’t sit in the food!” ( Charlie appears to not care)
I suspect that someone who might enjoy a smart feeder is one who works all day and never gets to see the birds they feed, but the photos really aren’t all the interesting.
I confess that I may have watched the chubby chickadee land on the wooden plank swingy thing at least ten times 🥰
Thank you Teyani! I’m glad you enjoyed the chickadee video, and I agree on those two photos. The feeder ones can run together, but I do think they’re special in their own right
Nice. I have a friend's BirdBuddy, which works all right. When they move out of their HOA (which doesn't allow feeders) I'll return it, and I'll look at a FeatherSnap. I like the perch design.
The perch is a nice design. I’ve heard mixed things about BirdBuddy, but any qualms I had with the FeatherSnap were more unique to me than universal. I recommend it.
Beautiful pictures although yours are better than FeatherCam :)
Thank you Tara. I prefer my own as well, but the smart feeder is an accessible way for birders to get photos they might not otherwise get!
Totally agree :)
I’d love to get one at some point. With all the different birds we get in the yard, I’d love to be able to see them while I’m at work. How wonderful it would be to receive notifications and pictures while at work! 😁
It does provide a great portal to avian life when you can’t be physically near, observing it!
Excellent post, I like how you review the smart-feeder but put it in a much wider context. I don't like smart technology (I don't even have a smartphone) but this smart feeder looks like a great idea.
Cardinals are never boring, surely!
Props to you for still resisting the smartphone! As with what that doctor says about food and the food system, it falls to us to reflect on what works and what doesn’t for each of us. If that means no smartphone, then no smartphone; if it means smart feeder, then smart feeder.
Fabulous photography, James!
Thank you Sharron!
Cardinals "boring"? No way I'm checking out that guy's Substack. <jk>
This was a great post. Thanks so much for taking the time to include all those photos. Really awesome. And I do kinda want to get a FeatherSnap now, I admit...
Ha! Nate’s post about cardinals has stuck with me since I first read it. Glad you enjoyed the post, Kollibri; pick up a FeatherSnap if your interest is piqued and it makes sense, I’m enjoying mine.
Thank you for the review, James. I really enjoyed seeing the images and species variety. Most of all, I appreciate insights that free us from technology and bring us into the natural world with birds.
Thank you Heidi! It’s all a balancing act. On one hand, I say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it—people have been birding much longer than there’s been all this technology, why mess with it? On the other, I’m glad to see the growing prevalence of tech and AI come to include birding, as long as it’s done the right way and doesn’t overshadow human intelligence.
Well said, James. When the technology is a tool rather than a form of control, then it's really helpful. My local birds are due for a refill on their seeds, so that's on my to do list. This is a popular spot.:)
Yes, when we use it, technology is good. When it starts to use us or make us irrelevant, not so much. Nice to-do list, the birds will be pleased. Seed tax.
Thank you so much for showcasing my homemade feeder cam! Though, after reading this you may have convinced me to get a FeatherSnap Feeder. I also have a BirdWeather PUC that I leave in my backyard. It’s a device that uses AI to record bird calls which then sends me a notification once the bird is identified. I am fascinated by all of the new technology that has been introduced into the birding world and I am excited for what else is to come!
Definitely get a FeatherSnap! I’m a bit of a curmudgeon about notifications, once I disabled the feeder’s I loved mine. I’d never heard of a BirdWeather PUC before, that’s an impressive piece of technology. As resistant as I can be to new technology, I am starting to get past that to see how impressive it is. You have your finger on the pulse.
Great review and variety of birds and wildife, James. It would be a good supplement for birders, especially for those that cannot make those longer outdoor journeys. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Neil, it’s definitely a great supplement—a way to get up close pictures of the birds at the feeder