L&L Project :: Backyard Birding with Cameras

I’m fully hooked on my backyard birds. Over time, I’ve added three different types of feeders (seasonally rotated), a birdbath, and two birdhouses. A few years ago, I rigged a DIY setup to film inside one of the birdhouses—it involved a camera, a battery pack, and a solar panel to keep it charged. It worked (sometimes), but it was a hassle.

Now, I’ve switched to a much simpler, more reliable solution: Amazon’s Blink cameras. They’re so easy to use, I currently have four that I rotate among the birdbath, feeders, and birdhouses. I can easily keep an eye on all of the cameras with an app on my phone, which also allows me to control the settings of each camera individually.

I often post bird videos on social media and frequently get questions about my setup. With Amazon Prime Day around the corner—and Blink cameras deeply discounted—it’s a great time to start documenting your backyard birds.

My Camera Setup for Backyard Birding

I use Blink Outdoor 4 cameras, which are weather-resistant and easy to manage. As of this writing, I have four of them.

You’ll need a Sync Module to connect the system to your WiFi, so make sure you purchase a camera that comes with one for your first purchase. After that, you can just buy add-on cameras. A Blink subscription isn’t required, but I highly recommend it. For just $30/year for one camera or $100/year for unlimited cameras, you get:

Motion-activated recording
Instant access to video clips
60 days of cloud storage
Plus, a lot more useful features

Setting it up is incredibly simple: plug in the Sync Module inside your house and connect it to WiFi. Once you pop batteries into your camera, it automatically finds the module.

Battery Life & Tips

Blink Camera Mounted to Top Lid of Birdhouse — **Blink Camera Mounted Near Top of Lid of Birdhouse**

The cameras run on lithium batteries. Amazon claims they last two years, but in my experience, it’s closer to one—which is especially important to know for the birdhouses. I swap those out ahead of nesting season just to be safe.

Last year, I received a low-battery alert right after a Carolina Chickadee built a nest and laid eggs. Fortunately, Blink cameras have tons of customizable settings. You can extend battery life by turning off motion detection (which I suspect drains the most power), reducing the time of a motion recording or reducing camera sensitivity.

Mounting Cameras for Backyard Birding

**Camera Mounted with Birdhouse Door Open**

If you want to place a camera inside a birdhouse, check the space between the entrance and the roof. You’ll need 3–4 inches of clearance for the camera and its mount. I’m currently using this birdhouse, which fits the Blink perfectly.

For use near feeders, I recently added two clamp mounts—they’re perfect for attaching to my deck rail and positioning toward my hummingbird feeders. These are easy to move and adjust as needed.

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I am not an Amazon affiliate, so if you purchase any of the products I’ve linked to, I get nothing. 🙂