Bird Buddy, a tech for nature startup, has announced its new AI-powered Smart Hummingbird Feeder. The Hummingbird feeder utilizes AI technology to capture photos and videos of hummingbirds with wing speeds of up to 60 mph. Once a bird triggers the camera’s motion sensor, the images it captures are run through an algorithm to identify the species and notify the user via the Bird Buddy app.
The second major tech-forward bird feeder from Bird Buddy is built with recyclable and sustainable materials, and caters to a hummingbird’s unique feeding style by offering a simple and intuitive design, removing barriers hummingbirds have to access food from traditional feeders.
“Hummingbirds are truly magical and increasingly becoming an endangered species that require a specific food source that is harder and harder for them to find,” said Kyle Buzzard, co-founder and chief hardware officer. “In order to create a product that both people and hummingbirds would want to use, we knew we had to develop a practical design that allowed for quick assembly, zero leaks, and easy cleaning. And, of course, we’re proud of our high-quality camera that provides crisp images and amazing videos of hummingbirds from a completely new perspective.”
The pandemic is bringing people back to nature, with bird watching said to be the second most popular hobby in the US, with over 45 million committed birders with year-over-year growth up 18% in 2020. In response to the surging consumer interest in its original product, Bird Buddy has focused its research efforts on expanding its product lineup for specific breeds of birds, with the Hummingbird feeder expected to hit the market in late 2023.
Consumers can expect the best features from its original bird feeder carried through to this new product in addition to ports with a red flower in the shape of a lily. Hummingbirds see red well and the flower design makes it easier for the hummingbird’s beak to access nectar – a liquid, sticky food source.
The Bird Buddy team also designed a unique, two-part feeder that easily snaps together with a seal which prevents mold growth and leakages, and makes it easy to disassemble and clean regularly. Similar to the original, innovative Bird Buddy design, the Hummingbird Feeder has the same swappable camera module, optional solar roof, motion sensor detection and AI-fueled species recognition as before.
Users also have the option to use the Bird Buddy app to gamify the experience and store all of their bird friends in an album, as well as share with the broader Bird Buddy community, which is now 100,000 strong.
“We are a crowd-funded company, and our community is a critical, real-time focus group of sorts that is helping us innovate every day,” said Franci Zidar, co-founder and CEO at Bird Buddy. “We started to receive requests for this type of bird feeder and it felt like the natural progression for our class-leading hardware and software products. It’s an exciting development for us as we celebrate our two-year anniversary.”
In addition to the Smart Hummingbird Feeder, also announced is the Bird Buddy 3-in-1 accessory set as well as a first-time modular pole and mount system. The 3- in-1 set features a jelly tray with an optional water fountain and fruit stake and jelly tray that will attract a broader range of birds dependent on personal configuration. Ergonomically appealing with a modern design in keeping with Bird Buddy’s brand, the accessories provide for multiple hanging unit arrangements, an optional squirrel deterrent as well as a choice of plant tubs to encourage biodiversity close to the feeder.
Bird Buddy started out on Kickstarter in November 2020 becoming the most-funded project in the gadget category and ending in the top 1% most funded projects on that platform and Indiegogo. Since that time, Bird Buddy’s AI team has been developing the built-in AI technology that started over two years ago with tester units deployed across the globe to gather critical imagery data. Developing the AI intelligence for species recognition (and for intruders) has been key to Birdy Buddy’s success, which is scaling rapidly post-launch fueling the development of new products and future conservation efforts.
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