Nesting season in full swing now!
 

THIS PAGE CONTAINS BASIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR SETTING UP BOTH WEBCAMERA AND CCTV CAMERA NESTBOXES.

(At the bottom you will also find instructions for using a Videocap Adapter to convert cctv input to connect to a PC)

FOR ALL TYPES OF CAMERA NESTBOX IT IS  IMPORTANT TO SET UP AND TEST THE CAMERA
IN ITS BOX INDOORS
 ALSO PLEASE CHECK THAT THE CABLE is long enough for your needs BEFORE hanging the nestbox outside!

 A. SETTING UP A WEBCAMERA NESTBOX FOR LAPTOP/PC

(INSTRUCTIONS FOR CCTV CAMERA NESTBOXES
ARE FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE)

1.    Connect the usb lead to a usb port on your pc and check that it is working with your webcam software.  (See links on our website or read below regarding free software).  If you have been supplied with an extension cable test the camera with this attached.

2.    Check camera position is correct.  To adjust camera position unscrew the lid of the birdbox.   Ensure the camera lens faces the centre of the floor area – it swivels horizontally and vertically. The lead may pull on the camera so test the final position with lid in place before refastening. 

3.    You should not need to adjust the camera focus as this was done before packing.  Should it become necessary it is controlled by rotating the camera lens.  The clearest focus should be a little way ABOVE the floor of the box – place a marked object such as coloured pen in the hole to test this.    

4.    Finally disconnect the camera and hang the nestbox where desired.  Keep exposed metal on cables covered or indoors when possible to protect from damp - use cableguard tube if appropriate (instructions on packet).  If you intend to keep the extension cable permanently connected it may be better to cover the joint with plastic insulation tape and then cover the tape with waterproof mastic/pvc glue.

SOFTWARE FOR WINDOWS PCS:

To use the webcam in your birdbox you will need a programme on your pc that includes capture software.    If your pc is on Windows 8.1 or 10 the Camera application on there is the easiest choice. Here are some basic instructions for Camera:

Open the list of programmes on the pc's start menu, scroll to camera and click it open.  On laptops this will usually open with a view of yourself from an inbuilt camera but by clicking on the "reverse view" icon (little swivel sign) at the top right of the camera screen the view should switch over to the birdbox webcam. 

Click on the video icon on the right hand side and the camera starts rolling (timer shows at bottom of screen). If you don't want it to record just click on the red square at the right hand side and you will just see the live feed without making movies. 

To find any videos you have made: From the record video screen click on the small picture square at the bottom right of the screen.  Three little dots will appear to the top right of the screen. Click on "open folder" to look at the folder where the recordings are stored.  You can, of course, copy and past the recorded videos from this folder to the location on the computer where you prefer to store videos.

For the microsoft version of these instructions go to the microsoft site either at: Using camera app on Windows 10 

or at: Using camera app on Windows 8.1

If your pc is using an older version of Windows you will need to decide what (free) software to download.

At Birdboxview we have been watching our nestbox using NCH's Debut programme for a long time because it is very versatile and shows a large camera window on screen.
There are free and paid versions of this  programme and if you choose this you will need to know which version to download so if you want to try it please take a look our instructions at: PC camera nestbox detailed instructions 

If you want to start by using something simpler then other great open source/free software for this includes free2x.com and Yawcam.  If you want to stream the output from the camera you might can, of course, do this via Facebook or if you are a bit "techy" minded why not take a look at OBS (Open Broadcaster Software).  'Finally, to view more than one camera on the same laptop/pc there is another free programme available from Manycam. 

For more information on downloading and using camera capture software please do visit our set up support at: instructions for setting up a PC/webcamera nestbox  

SOFTWARE FOR APPLE MAC PCS:

For pc's using the OSX10 operating system all you need to do is connect the birdbox to the iMac, open the Photobooth app and under Camera in the Photobooth menu and select the USB 2 Camera.  For other apple pc systems you may need the MACAM software to drive the camera (for links to this software and instructions on its use please go to: INSTRUCTIONS PAGE at Birdboxview.com) 
As well as Photobooth some of our customers with Macs have used Dwayne Cam for Mac OSX 10.7 or later

There are great tutorials on You Tube for most if not all the programmes we have mentioned above. For example here is one for Yawcam: Yawcam tutorial

For more information on downloading and using camera capture software please do visit our customer website at:     Detailed instructions for setting up a PC/webcamera nestbox  


NESTING BOX:  Basic instructions for using the nestboxes are on the label.  We suggest that you put up nestboxes well before the nesting season to give birds time to “househunt!” Most birds will avoid south facing nestboxes as they do not like direct sunlight on the nest.  They are likely to nest near a source of food and somewhere safe from predators.  Species nest at different heights, sparrows and starlings will nest in colonies quite high up (3m – 4m) whereas bluetits like to be a little lower.   When cleaning your nestbox at end of breeding season please unscrew bolt and remove the webcamera first, to protect the lens.   
                                                                                                                                        
LIGHTING:   The LEDS on the your webcamera are controlled by the switch on the camera cable, near the nestbox so it is best to set them at the level you will require in relatively low light conditions and then, assuming you will not wish to approach the nest area during the breeding season, cover the switch as tightly as possible with polythene to protect against damp damage.   We have found that there is not much to see after dark as the birds nestle down and sleep – so please be kind and disconnect the camera from your pc in the evening so as not to disturb their rest cycle!

OTHER HELP AND ADVICE:
For further, detailed information and help using your webcamera nestbox  you are encouraged to browse the FAQ and TROUBLESHOOTING pages at www.birdboxview.com

We hope you will get as much enjoyment from your nestbox camera as we get from our own.  If you have any problems or queries not answered here or on our support website just write to us at support@birdboxview.com and we will be glad to assist you.

Lastly, if in setting up and using your birdbox camera you discover any useful tips you would like to share with others or want to share your footage and photos we would love to hear from you.   Happy watching! 

 

SETTING UP A CCTV CAMERA
NESTBOX FOR TV

Please test indoors before hanging your nestbox outside!
We fit cameras in 2 types of nestbox, for which the instructions are a bit different so please scroll down lower if you have a box with sloping green roof (Model BBV/CCTV)

1. SETTING UP CAMERA NESTBOX WITH
BROWN V-SHAPED ROOF 

The wires from the camera are in the plastic cable trunking down the side of the nestbox.  The trunking has a cover that clips off and on.  Remove this cover and connect the cables from the camera to the matching coloured leads on the extension cable.  Clip trunking back securely to protect the cable joints!

Now connect the white and yellow jackplugs into the matching sockets AV sockets on your TV.  The audio on the camera is very sensitive and the nestbox creates an “echo chamber”, so you will   probably want to keep the TV volume low until you find a comfortable level for you to hear nestbox activity.  Also please place the nestbox at a reasonable distance from the TV before powering up the camera to avoid unpleasant feedback from the TV speakers when testing!

·         Plug the power adaptor into your electric power socket (the power socket should be turned off at the wall at this point) then plug the red cable into the adapter.  You may find the diagram at the end of this page helpful with this.

·         Turn on the wall socket and you should see the inside of the nestbox on your TV.  If not then you are probably not tuned to the correct (AV) channel on your TV so try changing channels.  

·         If the camera is not in focus or is not facing square towards the base of the nestbox unscrew the 2 or 4 screws in the lid, lift off the lid.  Adjust the focus by gently turning the lens on the front of the camera whilst watching the TV screen until best clarity is obtained.  Adjust camera position by very gently tilting on the bracket until correct.   Carefully replace the lid once done.6. Finally disconnect the leads from the TV and hang the nestbox where desired.  Keep exposed cable ends tucked carefully in the plastic housing until birds move in to protect from weather damage. 

(PLEASE SEE END OF PAGE FOR NOTES ON LIGHTING AND COLOUR IMAGES)

2. SETTING UP CCTV CAMERA BIRDBOX WITH
GREEN SLOPING ROOF

·         First connect the white and yellow jackplugs into the matching sockets AV sockets on your TV.  The audio on the camera is very sensitive and the nestbox creates an “echo chamber”, so TO AVOID FEEDBACK please turn the TV volume low until you find a comfortable level for you to hear nestbox activity.  Also please place the nestbox at a reasonable distance from the TV before powering up the camera to avoid unpleasant feedback from the TV speakers when testing!

·         Plug the power adaptor into your electric power socket (the power socket should be turned off at the wall at this point) then plug the red cable into the adapter.  You may find the diagram at the end of this page helpful with this.

·         Turn on the wall socket and you should see the inside of the nestbox on your TV.  If not then you are probably not tuned to the correct (AV) channel on your TV so try changing channels.    

·         Now unscrew the nestbox lid in order to secure the cables in the cable guard tubing provided and improve focus or position of the camera if necessary.

·         If the camera is not in focus or is not facing square towards the base of the djust focus whilst watching the TV screen by gently turning the lens on the front of the camera.  Adjust position by very gently tilting the camera until correct. 

·         Disconnect the camera jack plugs from the extension cables and push the plastic cable sheath over the connector point and up under the lid of the nestbox.  Carefully replace the lid once all is in place and screw down again.  When you wish to watch the nest you will need to push to end of the extension cable into the plastic sheath and join up the jack plugs. 

·         Meanwhile please use a wire tie to secure off the end of the sheath and keep the plugs protected from damp

conditions outdoors.   Finally hang the nestbox where birds are likely to nest!   

 


ABOUT COLOUR AND LIGHTING  

The camera will work in any kind of light but will default to black and white automatically when it is too dark for colour vision.   To get better colour vision we have added an opaque plastic “window” in the side of the nestbox, try to site the box with this window facing the best light.  Too big or clear a window could discourage birds from taking up residence in the box as they will see it as exposed to predators, we have made it a reasonable size and opacity with this in mind! 

For in depth information about setting up Birdboxview camera nests, links to download free software and instructions on how to use it, and interesting information about wild bird care please visit our customer support website at one of the pages below: 


    Detailed instructions for setting up a PC/webcamera nestbox   
   
    Troubleshooting support page for PC/webcamera nestbox   

or

Detailed instructions for setting up a CCTV camera nestbox  
        
    Troubleshooting support page for CCTV camera nestbox


    FAQs