MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I've finally found something that my 13 year old stepdaughter might be interested in, other than clothes, make up and facebook.
I mentioned a scout leader I work with was putting up a bird box with a built in camera on the scout hut, wired to a lap top inside, and we could do something similar with the bird's nests under the eaves of her house.
The nests are already established and it's well under cover, all we need is a miniature camera or two to connect to the PC in the house.
No need to be wireless, it's a wooden house so I'll just drill a hole to poke the wires through.
Any recommendations for a simple plug & play small video camera ?
Infra red or image intensifier ability would be nice, but I'll start with a basic daylight one if they are too expensive.
You can buy these things from the gift shops in The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust centres ([url= http://www.wwt.org.uk/ ]WWT[/url])...is there one near you?
Probably not the cheapest source, and I have no experience of them...but at least you'll have someone to speak to if it doesn't work.
Another option might be to make your own with stuff bought from Maplins.
We have one of these watching a box in our garden http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-CCTV-Security-Camera-Spycam-Night-Vision-Weatherproof-Infrared-LEDs-/360447396714?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item53ec56cb6a
Works fine. Pictures are not spectacular, if you could find a higher resolution cam I would go with that.
I would have thought a decent quality colour one with IR from Maplin would give you the best balance between price and quality, and it's easy to return it if dissatisfied.
I've just reserved [url= http://www.maplin.co.uk/wired-outdoor-cctv-camera-with-audio-223581 ]this one[/url] to collect from Maplin tomorrow.
420 lines, so slightly higher resolution than coffeeking's, infra red lights for night time use and 9m of cable with a scart lead to plug straight in the telly, all for £25.
Right now thats sorted, what tyres for a birdbox ?
You have a duty to start a thread called Graham's STW Springwatch, and post regular pictures of chicks.
I'd almost never say maplin make for good value but that actually does look like a nice find, well done!
Try and check that the camera will focus close-up before you part with your cash.
Generally you can pull them apart and adjust the lens but not all, especially if you want your guarantee
One of my efforts .... used hand held camera on a tin of beans.
We got the rspb one, a bit more pricey but utterly faultless. Captivating until a cold night kills off most of the roost....
That's brilliant, Eyepic.
I've got the camera and it seems pretty good trying it out in the living room.
I hope we can get something as good as that when I've got it set up outside.