Nest Box Video Cameras

Bluebird Video Nest Box Cam

The nest box
This nestbox is appropriate for small cavity nesters including bluebirds, tree swallows, chickadees, tufted titmice, Carolina wrens, and nuthatches, Select the proper entrance hole diameter for the species of your choice. Wrens, tufted titmice, chickadees, and nuthatches can use the 1 1/4" entrance hole. Eastern bluebirds and tree swallows require the larger 1 1/2" entrance and mountain bluebirds need a 1 9/16" entrance, which can be special ordered. I use the 1 1/2" entrance for all my boxes, but, if your yard is infested with house sparrows, offering the 1 1/4" entrance for the smaller species may help a little. The interior of the red cedar box is 5" square. A large tapered vent hole at the top rear of each side provides ideal ventilation while preventing blowing rain from entering the box. The 3/4" exterior plywood roof is painted with 2 coats of latex sealer primer followed by 2 coats of bright white latex elastomeric roof coating. The box is assembled with predrilled and countersunk galvanized deck screws. Preferred methods of mounting nest boxes have grown so diverse that this is left up to the user - (I bolt mine to a post). An extension on the lower back of the box facilitates mounting to a pipe, conduit or post.

The camera
An extremely sensitive monochrome video camera with 6 low powered infrared led's is mounted in a 4' pvc cap that can be instantly fitted on the box lid. When the camera is not needed, a blank pvc cap is provided to replace the camera housing. The camera connects to your vcr "video in" jack. The infrared LED's provide bright illumination 24 hours a day. The light is invisible to all birds and produces no measurable heat in the nest box. The infrared light provides bright video in the pre-dawn hour when birds are quite active and also allows night time monitoring for predation. Four 6hr videotapes per day can give 24 hour coverage of a nesting or you can watch the action live on a tv in your office or home. Everything is included - just plug the video cable into your vcr or tv and the power supply into a wall outlet. Order extra nest boxes and move your camera to whichever box is currently being used.

Universal Infrared Videocam
This camera can be mounted on the side or top of larger boxes for owls, kestrels, or woodpeckers. It can also replace the lid of many bluebird size boxes. In certain situations, this cam board can also be fitted to natural cavities or hollow log boxes. The camera can then be instantly removed or replaced by simply slipping off the pvc cap and exchanging it with the blank cap which is included. To fit the base to a large nest box, simply cut or drill a rough opening in the side or top large enough to not obstruct the camera's view and screw the plywood base to the nest box, using a bead of silicone or flexible caulk to seal the joint. Extra bases with blank caps can be mounted on multiple nest boxes and a single camera easily and quickly moved from box to box, as needed. The 8" sq. base can also replace the lid on many smaller nest boxes, provided there is 4 1/4" inside clearance for the camera opening and adequate roof overhang. The camera can pivot to accommodate most sloped lids. By fitting a cam mount on each of your nest boxes, the camera can instantly be moved from box to box, as needed. The base plate is 3/4" exterior plywood, primed and painted white.

Hanging the box from an attic or upstairs window sill allows easy access without the use of a ladder.

The attic window box I mounted this box for a demo only, since this is a west facing wall and the box would be too hot if the kestrels nested late in the season. Boxes should be placed on east walls, when possible.

Method of attachment The lower wood blocks are cut to the width that the window sill extends from the wall (to keep the box plumb with the wall). A 6" mending plate screwed to two wood spacers on the back of the box simply slips over an angle bracket screwed to the sill. The box can be lifted off this bracket from inside the house. Also, pulling off the camera cap allows close up inspection through the 4" hole from inside the house.

To order your kestrel cam, please email your zip code so I can check the exact UPS charge. Order an extra box and share one camera. Also, the bluebird cam or universal cam will work on the kestrel box.
Kestrel/screech owl nestbox cam with 150 ft cable, 12vdc power supply and blank cap..........$185 plus UPS ground
Extra kestrel cam boxes without video equipment.............................................................$48 plus UPS ground

Barn owl cam box
An interior box for mounting on the inside wall of a barn, shed or attic
The plywood box is 3 feet long by 20 inches high and 18 inches wide. A smaller than usual entrance (5" x 5 1/2") and extra long box provides protection from the great horned owl. The 20" high sides provide a cooler box with better air flow through two rows of 5/8" holes in the lid. The large box also allows the owlets adequate room to exercise, as observed with the nest cam. The nest box is fitted with an interior dial thermometer, visible in the camera image, an interior perch, and a starling and pigeon trap. Two camera ports are provided. The top cam is most useful early in the nesting to view the eggs and very small nestlings. The second cam port in the end of the box is useful as the nestlings become mobile and to view the adults interacting throughout the nesting period. The box is mounted on an interior wall and an opening is cut in the siding to match the 5 x 5 1/2" entrance. The owls do not have access to the interior of the building. An entrance can also be cut in a plywood insert replacing an attic window or ventilator.

Installing and using the owl box

Barn owl interior nest box with infrared video camera, 66 ft cable, 12vdc power supply..$195
Includes thermometer, starling trap, interior perch, and two cam ports

Barn owl interior nest box with no video equipment................................................................$95
Includes starling trap, interior perch, and one cam port for removing trapped starlings

Due to the large dimensions of the barn owl box, it must be picked up in Maryland.

HOW TO ORDER
To order online by credit card, click on the "add to cart" link above. Or, if you prefer, mail your order with a check to: