Installed nestbox cameras--OMG
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Chuck Yetter
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:41 pm
- Location: Maryland/Northeast
I put nestbox cameras in two compartments in my T-14 yesterday and have opened up a whole new world! I have seen fights, preening, bugs on the martins at night, and have heard the females be a lot more vocal than I ever thought. I noticed that the male martin (all birds are ASY this time of year here) stayed in the compartment most of the morning when I always assumed they left early when there is no visible activity around the houses. My wife noticed a band on one of the females that were fighting in the cavity (I previously assumed the males did most of the fighting). It is the 1st banded bird I have seen at my 80 pair site in the 14 years I have been a landlord. I hope to get a better look at the band to see if I can record the numbers. The only drawback to the cameras so far is that they don't have a wider angle lens.
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Boisy Pitre
- Posts: 86
- Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm
- Location: Prairie Ronde, Louisiana
Chuck,
I thought about doing this myself. Can you provide specifics on the cameras themselves? Brand, etc?
I thought about doing this myself. Can you provide specifics on the cameras themselves? Brand, etc?
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Chuck Yetter
- Posts: 22
- Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:41 pm
- Location: Maryland/Northeast
My wife bought me 2 of them for Christmas and they are the ones the PMCA sells in the Marketplace. I think they are $85 each. They come with 100' of cable attached and you can buy extensions. I ran the wire underground by using a flat spade to make a 3" V in the ground to the pole. I pushed the wire down with a yardstick. I ran the wire through the wall in the basement and then drilled a hole in the floor by the wall where the entertainment center is. I put the audio and video wires in a switchbox then ran the main wires to the TV input. I just hit a button and it switches cameras. I mounted the cameras on the doors of the T-14 and made a space for the wires to rest when so you can close the doors tightly. The downside is that the cameras don't provide that great of color because of the low light and the angle doesn't seem to be wide enough to see everything in the box. I know there are others out there that know a hell of a lot more than me on this subject and I'm sure they have a lot of good advice. I'm just sitting here in my recliner enjoying my coffee while watching and listening to a pair courting in a box as I write this. Feels like cheating!
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TammyBears
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:00 pm
- Location: Bridgecreek, Oklahoma (SW of OKC)
I would reeeeally never get anything done if I had cameras!Tammy
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
RIP my precious Josie, 7/5/2000-11/6/2014
2015: 22 pair plus lots of bachelors
2014: 25 pair and some bachelor subbies
2013: 17 pair
2012: 7 pair (first year)
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Chuck,
I have learned so much from using a nestcam. it really helped me understand how fast parasites and blowfly can take over a nest. Also how little sleep they get when scratching and biting all night.
Wait till you see a two inch baby eat a 3-4 inch dragonfly.
Doug
I have learned so much from using a nestcam. it really helped me understand how fast parasites and blowfly can take over a nest. Also how little sleep they get when scratching and biting all night.
Wait till you see a two inch baby eat a 3-4 inch dragonfly.
Doug
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.