There’s a new way to enjoy bird feeding and bird watching, and it’s all thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Bird Buddy, an AI-powered bird feeder, not only feeds birds but also takes candid photos and identifies the species of each bird as it lands for a snack. The CEO of Bird Buddy, Franci Zidar, explained that the product uses AI technology to take clear and “interesting” snapshots of the birds that come to feed. The smart bird feeder detects when a bird lands and captures a clear photo, then identifies the type of bird species and sends a notification with the photo and bird information to the owner’s mobile device.
But Bird Buddy doesn’t stop there. It also runs a live network that displays captured images in an online, real-time feed. Zidar and his team, including an in-house ornithologist, built the AI model by planting hundreds of global cameras to collect data on various bird species. This data was then used to develop a highly accurate recognition model. The learning model of Bird Buddy has grown a huge dataset, with over a million detections occurring around the world each day.
Zidar’s vision for Bird Buddy is to reconnect people with nature, as bird feeding is the second-largest outdoor hobby in the U.S., second only to gardening. He believes that this technology can have a multi-level impact, including analyzing bird migration and conducting important research for protecting animals. In the future, Bird Buddy’s technology could even lead to identifying specific birds that interact with the cameras, allowing watchers and researchers to keep track of individual birds without physically tagging them.
But Bird Buddy’s network is about to expand even further with the launch of its newest initiative, Bird Buddy Explore. This initiative will allow anyone, with or without a smart feeder, to access feeders in 30 remote locations around the world, including Ghana, Hawaii, Chile, and Kenya. Through the Bird Buddy app, users will be able to access cameras in these locations and enjoy the content shared by the community. Zidar believes that this expansion will allow people to connect to a broad network of Bird Buddies and enjoy bird content beyond their backyard.
Beyond the joy of bird watching, Bird Buddy also has potential mental health benefits. Research shows that people who are more connected with nature tend to be happier in life, with lower levels of depression and anxiety. Feeding birds is a way of contributing to environmental protection and giving something back to nature.
Bird Buddy is continuously evolving and has recently announced two new accessories for its feeders: the Bird Buddy Perch Extender and Bird Buddy 3-in-1 Nutrition Set.
With Bird Buddy, you can enjoy the pleasure of bird feeding while also learning about different bird species and contributing to important research. It’s a perfect blend of technology, nature, and happiness. So grab your Bird Buddy and start exploring the diverse world of birds.
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