As hardware startups go, few are more fun than Bird Buddy. The simple innovation of mounting a connected camera on a bird feeder has developed a strong customer base and an army of knockoffs. Our own Sarah Perez is a noted fan of the gadget.
Today, the Michigan-based company announced Name That Bird, a new AI-powered feature that lets users name — and track — individual birds. While we can’t yet speak to the feature’s efficacy, it’s easy to see how it was one of the most requested among users. It’s an added kind of emotional connection to these strange little backyard visitors you watch eating on cam.
Name That Bird determines individual members of a species by identifying distinguishing characteristics that most humans would be hard-pressed to spot.
“The detail made available by the 5MP high-resolution Bird Buddy sensor present in all our feeders along with its close-up format is designed to bring out the full character of visiting birds,” CEO Franci Zidar notes in a release. “This makes Bird Buddy uniquely capable of capturing the features required to make this work. The potential is massive and I couldn’t be more excited for what this unlocks.”
Name That Bird arrives as part of a larger AI-powered feature set from Bird Buddy called Natural Intelligence. Among other things, it can also determine whether individuals are injured or sick, “something bird enthusiasts are keen to know about in order to help prevent disease spread,” the company writes.
It brings non-bird animal notifications, as well. It will spot bees, butterflies, lizards and raccoons, along with cats. While it doesn’t identify the individuals, homeowners may want to know when felines are prowling around the bird feeder for their own snack.
The new features aren’t free, however. Even smart bird feeders are getting into the subscription business. Natural Intelligence is available as part of the $6/month Bird Buddy Pro subscription.
