DON'T Buy a SMART BIRD FEEDER...Until You Watch This Video (Ultimate Buyer's Guide)

[@BadgerlandBirding]

0:42 Tier 4 2:41 Tier 3 4:59 Tier 2 8:35 Tier 1 Gear Links (As Amazon Associates/company partners we do earn from qualifying purchases) Soliom Smart Bird Feeder: amzn.to/41rmXPP Bird Buddy: bit.ly/3vSZcDm Netvue Birdfy Official Link: bit.ly/3Owi16P Link to other smart bird feeder reviews with product links: kzbin.info/aero/PLflNUezclylAw8YLfDr1pU_8GSW27Pr7m

[@dennisearly9862]

Do they come with solar panel ?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@dennisearly9862 some do, some require you to buy them separately. Make sure to read online what’s all included before buying.

[@7Jasmine8]

which ones dont require a monthly subscription fee?

[@mangos2888]

This is a key question 😂

[@AcidGubba]

The products are all resellers. I wouldn't buy any of them. I bought one from Reli Birrdy. It's more expensive but of higher quality and reputable.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@7Jasmine8 most of them have a free version with basics function such as watching the live and some send short vids/pics. Paid versions should offer something significant if anyone wants to pay for them. I normally wouldn’t recommend it.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@AcidGubba they’re not all re-sellers. Only the ones on the tier I mentioned

[@cathieread8141]

Thanks for the information! I think I have become addicted to these. I was gifted a Bird Buddy from my daughter, then saw and bought the Soliom Hummingbird BF10, two Soliom BF08S, a BF08, the plastic Soliom BF09, a Netvue Birdfy, and just today ordered an Osoeri metal feeder (looks like smaller version of Soliom but was only $69 so I could not pass it up.) In my opinion, the Bird Buddy may have paved the way but the others far outshine it. It does not capture every bird that visits and I often go days without any ‘postcards’ from it. The Solioms and Netvue capture everything. My only dislike about Soliom was that they do not capture still photos, only videos. I then found the free Video 2 Photo app that allows me to capture any frame I want to save as a pic and I am more than happy with it. The Soliom app is also easier to navigate than Bird Buddy or Netvue, and I can easily move from one camera to another to check for video from multiple Soliom products. I am 74, retired, and filling and maintaining these is now my full-time job! I look forward to seeing more of your reviews.

[@hayleywise7403]

You have many folks' dream "job" ❤

[@cerebralclown_]

So helpful! Thank you for sharing. Haha so glad you're having fun

[@Drewpost19]

Hey, you should reach back out to the company and tell them you will be willing to make one with them if they fix all the issues that you bring up. Never know it might actually make them make a better product which would be good for all of us.

[@ronaldpatton5906]

All grossly over priced.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

You’re not required to buy one…also many of them are under $150

[@yinkaadelegan]

How do you keep squirrels away? Those little rascals are not letting the birds (and I) enjoy the smart feeder.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

This is the best way: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIKYlmR6oaaHhpIsi=_skSJSFJiT0rNYQ8

[@bethw5998]

I'm going to dust off my game camera and make a DIY bird feeder with it! I'm inspired and will save $$ and had never thought of it until watching this video.

[@kamlloyd3551]

Thanks for the reviews. I want a metal, solar-powered, 5G, easy to load, no subscription fee smart bird feeder. Does that exist? If it doesn't, what would be the closest in your opinion?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Metal and solar powered fit the Soliom BF-08, but as of when I tested it I don’t think it supports 5G unless they changed. The Camojojo Hibird feeder is the only one I’ve tested that supported 5G at the time of testing but it’s plastic. Some of the others may have changed to support 5G since but I don’t know of any others that for sure do. I would check out some metal ones on Amazon and see if 5G is supported.

[@FernandoTorrera]

I actually found out I have parrots living wild on my property. A bird feeder won’t cut it, I need to set up a plate and landing area with a camera looking below. Are there any good trail cameras with good definition. I have some interesting bird species living wild and I would love to make videos of them and monetizing it on KZbin

[@kristinerieger3739]

Following! I have birds in multiple areas.

[@RachaelJohn]

How'd you get on? Did you find something suitable?

[@carolstella6776]

What temperature range do these work in? I live in northern MN where we get 30 below zero.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

The main issue in the cold will be shorter battery life and lack of solar panel charging from gray overcast days. Some of the plastic ones might become brittle as well. In my cold tests (with only some of them, because some I tested in summer) I didn’t have much issue with the image quality or functionality, mostly just the battery. I’m not sure if they list specific temperatures on their websites but they might!

[@kevinmoore8780]

Thank you for taking the time to do this. I will likely buy one of these but I have used my trail cams on tripods for years set up by my feeders. It depends on my mood if I set it by the hummingbird feeders, feeders only small birds can access or platform feeders. I've never used a WIFI trail cam and just go out remove the SD card, insert a new one, and t hen come and review the SD card. Sometimes 800 plus videos to review can be pain especially if there is 150 in a row just of blue jays. I was looking at Netvue and might still buy one but I'll check out the metal ones first esp as I am moving to all metal or all wood feeders in my yard. The only plastic ones I still have are older ones that I will use until the fail completely.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Netvue has a bamboo one as well now, which we tested after I made this video I believe. It does get kind of mildew-y after a while though

[@AcidGubba]

What do you say about reli birddy? I'm actually quite happy with it.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@AcidGubba we will hopefully be testing that one out soon!

[@johnstranzl]

Thanks, Badgerland. Nice review. For me, high seed capacity and materials that squirrels and raccoons cannot chew through (i.e., metal) are key. But also, the most salient info should be about the camera specs which manufacturers make one dig for in their product specs. For instance, Bird Buddy touts a 5MP camera; but video is only 720p (unless you pay for it). Soliom (a security camera company) only puts a 2MP camera in their bird feeder but nativaly offer 1080p. The majority of the cost of these smart bird feeders is the camera. The feeder itself probably costs $4 to make. So given the cost of some of these smart bird feeders, these companies should be putting much better cameras (and possibly lenses) in these feeders. A Raspberry Pi camera module with a 8MP!!! camera retails for only $20. So, these companies are crying all the way to the bank by putting marginally good cameras in their products. They should also be putting smaller aperture lenses into their products to give greater depth of field so that the birds are in focus at greater distances from the camera. I notice that in most of these products, the birds have to be sitting at a "sweet spot" distance from the camera in order for the image to be clearly in focus. Keep up the good work, Badgerland!

[@RoseannPott]

Can you use a tv to watch the birds instead of an iphone? If yes - which one?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@RoseannPott Green-backyard has cameras you can hook up to a TV, I think with most of these smart bird feeders you would need to have an adapter from your phone or iPad to you television.

[@debraspence3559]

Think twice about the Solium unless you want to incur a monthly cloud fee in order to access the AI feature. They give you a month without a fee then after that you have to pay for it. I bought for a gift and I didn't want the recipient to have an added cost for a a gift.

[@jamescady723]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@markregan7639]

I just got the netvue then found your video haha glad its a decent one!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@markregan7639 Netvue is a good company 👍 in our experience

[@sheese1123]

Thanks for the info. I only knew about Bird Buddy, but I was a little nervous about the plastic, and I wasn’t jazzed about the seed volume capability. I got the Soliom BF08 w/ solar for $100 less than the Bird Buddy!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Nice! Hope you enjoy it!

[@debraspence3559]

I just ordered one but found out if you want the AI bird identification feature you have to pay for the cloud monthly. How much do you pay if you don't mind me asking?

[@tedk2814]

@@debraspence3559 my feeder asks for $5.50 month for the app which I don't really care. I just like to see close up stills of the birds, I know the limited number of birds that come to our feeders.

[@CindyAndrie]

Thanks for the review! 🙌 While I appreciate the insights, I've had quite a different experience with Birdfy. Spent $500+, faced lens issues, got DOA replacements, and now told it's 'too expensive' for a 3rd replacement. NO WORKING feeders after 4 months. Ghosted by support, my trust is shattered. They're not honoring the warranty, and they told me to go to Amazon for a refund, but the return period expired during the 4 months I was waiting on a functional replacement. Two months of a working feeder isn't worth it. Just sharing my experience. #NetvueBirdfeederIssues #CustomerServiceFail #DOAWarrantyReplacements

[@brianallen1559]

Damn thanks for the heads up, that sounds extremely frustrating!

[@CindyAndrie]

@@brianallen1559 It really was. I picked Birdfy for the quality of the camera and their warranty period; however, this experience has soured me and I wanted others to know about it. My experience could have been unique - but I doubt it.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@CindyAndrie dang! Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with them.

[@benjaminj283]

The most important question about a smart bird feeder is the monthly cost of it's 'smartness'. Are there any at all with free AI or a reasonably priced lifetime AI?

[@teresainil2904]

I have the Netvue Birdfy feeder. I have fun watching the live stream and can share pictures. The only thing is it is plastic so I can’t soak it with bleach. I bought the solar panel for it but bought the Bird Buddy panel by mistake. It was $90 usd! The correct panel was $29! Glad it was cheaper.

[@ConnorOBrien]

Thank you for you this! Watching from a humid environment, metal is a huge con for me because that will only last 4 months before it starts failing unless it’s aluminum. For most I’ll have to address the mounting bracket after a year, but I’m going to go with one of the lesser tiered ones and see how it goes. Great reviews!

[@belogical3961]

I'm giving you a thumbs up for making this video because it's exactly what I wanted to make a decision on a bird cam!

[@bubblegirl6265]

What about squirrels? Is there a way to make it squirrel proof?

[@shaneomack5018]

We have the wuipet feeder with solar and a camera its amazing. Unreal video. My biggest complaint is the battery for the camera is awful. The solar panel will charge the battery but by the end of the day is completely drained

[@hairiestwizard]

Philosophical question: is it cheating to add a bird to my backyard feeder list if I only saw it from my phone while at work? 😂

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I think you can add it to your list but couldn’t count it as a lifer if it was 😂

[@pauraque]

I mean I personally wouldn't, but then do NFC count either???

[@tedk2814]

Thanks for this video was very helpful. My daughter got me one for Christmas a " Dellotoa. I think its called. Nice quality camera and design, but I can't figure out what the micro sd card is for. Does it record video or stills even without the wifi? I got the app and paired it with my iPhone easily. It notifies me if it sensed motion but I haven't seen any video yet, guess I need to make settings on the camera. Everything seems to be quality built and robust, silicon electrical covers, large feed tray, solar panel etc. I wish there was someone at the company like customer service who could answer questions. Your video was interesting, looks like mine is in the third tier. I swear the camera looks like a go pro. My wife and I live in Sebastian, Fl and have for three years set up feeding stations for our favorite birds, the painted bunting and Indigo bunting. Thanks again, Ted in Sebastian, Fl.

[@pat9604]

Is there any way to watch the birds without paying a subscription?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

There shouldn’t be any subscription needed to just watch the livestream for any of the ones I’ve tested, unless they’ve changed something since then.

[@talusrs]

The seed volume of the Bird Buddy is a definite con. I have to refill my feeder every 2-3 days. It would be interesting to hear if any of these do a better job of keeping moisture out of the hopper. Even with frequent use, the Bird Buddy frequently accumulates congealed crud in the corners that starts to mold.

[@kpieleck]

I have the bird buddy , it’s good but they make you pay extra to use the better built in features of the camera, like 1080p.

[@TheWiiHunter]

DONT CLICKBAIT A VIDEO untill you read this comment! You're a terrible clickbaiter shilling out your Amazon affiliated link.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@TheWiiHunter this is a literal guide to everything anyone needs to know before buying a smart bird feeder. Nobody should buy one before getting all their info. Nothing about this is clickbait, especially since I’ve tested and reviewed every single product mentioned.

[@mromar2724]

awesome content.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks!

[@emkultra8]

which camera would you reccomend without the feeder housing? i just want a good camera with more quality than a ring that i can install where i already feed birds

[@BadgerlandBirding]

This one has a 4k removable camera that’s really nice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j36ZkIKujKp4m8Usi=-OpKosky2GmdQAVy If you want just a camera, Netvue and Green Backyard offer some that you could set up and stream

[@stevestory8483]

What would your top pick be? I live in Florida so a lot of sun and rain

[@SueLuken]

Very interesting. You do a great job of breaking this down with pros and cons. Have you reviewed the Bird Genius AI bird feeder? I saw it advertised in a local store but have seen no reviews for it.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I have not yet

[@leighschinaia6712]

Thanks for this, there’s so many I was so confused.

[@littlemaggie]

Hello, I loved your review! I was wondering what part of the country you are located in? I was wondering how this would work in the winter in Canada, specifically in Edmonton, Alberta where the temperature can get to -40 c?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thanks! We’re based out of Wisconsin where it gets pretty frigid in the winter. The main things I would worry about is lower battery life in the cold and solar panels not charging as often because of gray skies or snow cover. Plastics could also become more brittle and prone to breaking in the cold. If you’re worried, you could take it inside on the coldest days to recharge.

[@Theoreocat]

Hi Derek, and thanks for this video! Can you live stream with the metal one? Also do you know if you can record the stream or set it up to be able to see it on your TV? I am looking for something so my cats can watch lol. I am also interested in being able to stream the video via our KZbin channel. PS. I subbed! ❤

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Hey! Thanks for the sub! The metal one does livestream. You should be able to set it up on KZbin or TV but you may need to use a program like OBS or something similar in order to do that.

[@Theoreocat]

Yea that’s what I figured! It looks real nice and sturdy. I wish I had seen this video before purchasing one of those tier 3 ones. I couldn’t even get the app to work. Thanks so much for the info! I will look to purchase the metal one.

[@urahoho]

so which one do you recommend out of all of them?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It really depends on what’s most important to you. I like the durability of the Soliom though

[@SimpleSteBirds]

Great information and honest, thanks buddy

[@awilkie15]

My dad got a second hard bird camera. It was doing great... receiving photos and videos through the alarm system and loving it... but then we received an alert and it had a very strange photo... like it was taken inside a warehouse and in the pic there were boxes with Chinese writing on them 😳 ... So what are your thoughts on how they access your WiFi system through the connection? Do you have any advice on how to avoid hackers?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Is it still taking pictures in your yard? It was just the one photo? Also what brand?

[@rtaylor3350]

Bird buddy was ridiculous at the amount of time it took to develop. I ordered it and eventually after constant delays, i told them to cancel and refund my credit card, especially in the $300 price range with the solar. I already own a number of Blink Outdoor cameras, so Wasserstein was a no brainer for me

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I think that’s totally fair. They’ve been disappointing in a lot of aspects lately

[@gregoryeditor6500]

Could give me the link to the first one you reviewed. I have no cellphone or wifi? I think I could handel this one.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Here you go! (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases) amzn.to/48aF3ZV

[@gregoryeditor6500]

Thanks looks complicated I may have to have a friend set it up for me if I buy it. I do like it.@@BadgerlandBirding

[@RoseannPott]

Thank you very much.

[@ScottMoran001]

Thanks, great video

[@HeiligerBiber]

Can you review the apps aswell? Or do they all work the same?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I go more in depth about the apps on the individual reviews of each feeder you can find on our channel

[@pjcoleman]

Great overview. Thorough and really helpful.

[@rickpaulos]

if the manufacturers are taking feedback: We like and feed squirrels too. I'd like to see the AI be able to identify each of the neighborhood squirrels. Rocky, Scrat, Sandy Cheeks... Let us name them like pets and let the AI text us when our favorites show up. And why ignore other critters like racoons, mice, rats, cats, etc. It's a given other critters will get on the feeders. IMO, the cameras are too close to the birds. Back off a few more inches please. The photos are too much like looking through the peephole in the apartment door. I see Menards has one. Tasty Tweets Smart Bird Feeder. Since Menards is based in your state, it should be included.

[@kathleenrog4212]

Received one of these but was unable to set up the camera because it runs on 2.4. My WiFi is 5.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Most of them only work with a 2.4 but some work with the 5. Which brand was it?

[@b0njam0n]

Your router config might allow you to enable 2.4 or unlink the two frequencies

[@trkalyan]

Very helpful, Thank you

[@JohnDuthie]

Why doesn't anyone mention which brands require a subscription for ai identification.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

As of now, the AI is not even worth having with how inaccurate it is and shouldn’t be much of a factor in buying until it improves -Ryan

[@JohnDuthie]

@@BadgerlandBirding Thanks for the reply! I ended up buying a Harymor Bird Feeder for 129$. Hopefully the mom enjoys it.

[@sunnydays316]

I’ve had mine for weeks. All squirrels no birds yet 🐿️🤪🤣😆🙏🏻 🐦 🦜

[@jillmeyers7584]

Really informative reviews. How does the Harrymor bird feeder stack up against the Soliom feeder? Right now using a Blink camera in my bluebird house and it works great.

[@dcampbell3111]

Two questions/comments…did you test ease of cleaning…one good rain and wet clumped seed, how easy to clean. Have you ever looked into just bird cameras for a diy feeder?

[@deanyanko3326]

The drought has had an impact on bird food sources no insects, worms the kingbird only had one surviving fledgling, the robin only one also young died,they;re trying again only one swallow returned this year. don't see many songbirds this year 2023 in northern Wisconsin U.S.A. Hey wood craftsmen new idea !

[@keystone1355]

We are about to get into these any my issue is with internet security. Anyone have any thoughts on that? Can these companies just hop on your network and do whatever they want?

[@madelinep6993]

super helpful! cheers

[@heidejg]

Very helpful video! I'm glad you added a snippet on solar. I wish you would do a more extensive video on solar v non solar. In the bin solar, how long does the battery last? How long does it take to charge? Do you have to replace them? Is it worth it to get the solar panels etc? Thank you!!

[@miltlewis6679]

I got a feeder for Christmas, it says it only works with 2g. I have 5g is there anything I can do to make it work

[@mdawggodizzle1864]

This helped! Thanks.

[@fahimanwar94]

Has anyone gotten the Gennizz or Blusky Cam bird feeders? And if so how were they?

[@janetharbry9158]

How do I keep squirrels out?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Mount on a pole away from trees or objects they could jump from and install a squirrel baffle

[@terrycarkner1698]

We got a fararo smart bird feeder but i cannot get the camera to connect. Any ideas?

[@GratefulDeb270]

Central Wisconsin here and the osprey only have one chick. Hard year for birds an others.

[@brianallen1559]

I really want to get a smart bird feeder for my mom for Christmas, but I know they only have a T-Mobile hotspot for their WiFi, and while I works for them to stream tv/netflix/Hulu, I’m wondering if it will be fast enough to use one of these. Does anyone have any idea if it would work well off a hotspot?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Doing a quick search it appears that at least Bird Buddy should if your hotspot meets these requirements: “Wi-Fi Frequency and Range Bird Buddy cannot access mobile data networks, but it can use your phone's hotspot in a pinch. 2.4GHz Wi-Fi generally provides more expansive coverage and will be able to extend the signal outside your living space.”

[@brianbates7840]

great overview of so many of the options. I was gifted the isYoung Smart Bird Feeder and have had a pretty good user experience so far. The biggest problem we've encountered is not necessarily product related, but pigeon related. I wish there were an add on component to deter pigeons and morning doves.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

You could put some type of cage around it to be size-selective for smaller birds only

[@redfisher4132]

Too bad you didn't go into the subscription costs, and what each feeder can do with/ without ongoing fees. The company websites (i.e.: Soliom, etc.) are suspiciously lacking in this info as well.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

When I tried them they didn’t charge any subscription fees and to my understanding most of them still don’t unless you want more features.

[@racht1030]

@BadgerlandBirding apart from the trail can do any of these connect to the computer. Looking for a Father’s Day gift and he will never update to a smartphone.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

If they have an SD slot you should be able to put that in the computer and see the media. Netvue security cameras you can access on the computer but unfortunately not the bird feeders yet. The Wasserstein one uses a security camera so you might be able to watch that online, but the clarity wasn’t great when I tested it.

[@racht1030]

@@BadgerlandBirding thank you!

[@VioletSparkle]

Question: My mom is bed ridden so I'd like to get her a bird feeder with really good live stream capability. Not so interested in taking pics or identifying specifically - just something she can watch on her ipad in bed. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I would probably go with the Soliom BF08 or the Netvue Birdfy (links in bio). Soliom is metal and heavier, Netvue is lighter weight but both worked well to pull up and and see the livestream.

[@VioletSparkle]

Thanks very much! @@BadgerlandBirding

[@ColorsRfun]

After watching the channel, My daughter bought me a SOLIOM camera feeder. Looks well built and was very excited to use it. We downloaded the app and read the privacy policy. Whoa. That stopped the bus 😮 anyone else have the same with other models?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

What in the privacy policy are you concerned about?

[@johnstranzl]

@ColorsRfun That's like going to the doctor and saying it hurts and not telling the doctor where it hurts. Please be specific about the issue to which you refer.

[@mmxcix]

Not for apartment dwellers, sadly. 😂

[@obitomango]

what’s this mean

[@mikeCavalle]

thank you. i'm looking for a motion capture hummingbird feeder. i was using blink motion sensing cameras but their wi-fi to cloud then download to pc is problematic. Do you have a recommendation for one that goes directly from the camera via wi-fi to my windows pc or laptop?

[@mikeCavalle]

btw- only hummingbirds and solar powered, not concerned at all about identifying AI. thanks again. This is in AZ and the AZ sun crumbles plastic within months.

[@mikeCavalle]

studio.kzbin.info0K5RurdXgn8/edit

[@GMT439]

Pointless Crxp

[@BadgerlandBirding]

You're watching it

[@jdugan27]

Which ones have free ap and which ones charge for service?

[@BadgerlandBirding]

For all of the ones I tested the apps were free (at least at the time, idk if they have since changed) but there were paid features or add-ons you could get for some of them too.

[@greggillson388]

I received an early one for review (not any of these but Chinese type). Software to hook it up buggy and I never could get it to work. Bird Buddy approached me to review theirs and I waited 2 years for them to get the first model produced. They notified me it was ready and when I told them to go ahead and send it, then they said they weren’t interested anymore! 😮

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I think they have a lot of employee turnover so it may not even have been the same people who contacted you initially about it that responded to your email later

[@remi1498]

JCS Wildlife has a new smart bird feeder, can you review something like that? It built out of recycled poly lumber so I'm curious how it'd hold up

[@StamfordBridge]

I think it’s discriminatory to feed only the smart birds! 😡 😏

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I DEMAND A DUMB BIRD FEEDER!

[@Artbug]

The plastic feeders are not only flimsy and not environmentally friendly, but they also look like a toddler toy😂

[@clickityclick5237]

Great review!!