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:
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, or you just want to try other camera capture systems some great open source/free software for this is
available online such as free2x.com and at Yawcam. If you want to stream the output from the camera you might like to do this via Facebook which has facilities to do this or if you are a bit "techy" minded why not take a look at OBS (Open Broadcaster Software). To watch more than one camera on the same laptop/pc there is another free programme available from Manycam
APPLE MAC SOFTWARE:
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 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 use the free programmes VLC
for Macs or tried using Dwayne
Cam for Mac OSX 10.7 or later
You will find tutorials on You Tube for most if not all the programmes we have mentioned above. For example this one for Yawcam: Yawcam tutorial
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
