Anchorage Daily News

The loyal reader knows I am a big proponent of attracting birds to the yard during all seasons, not just summer. Well now is the time to get those feeders out to attract birds during the winter. Rick Sinnott and Fish and Game have given us the "all is clear."

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Granted, we complain about other forms of wildlife the gardens attract, but no one complains about birds, save starlings and the occasional magpie. In fact, next to gardening itself, there probably isn't any greater hobby in Alaska than birding. So put those feeders up!

Ah, but wait. This year there is more. Several years ago while selling macroscopes at a convention of wildlife biologists, Wayne Lewis and I sat next to a gentlemen who sold video bird cams that enabled biologists to study what was going on in nests without having to climb the tree or disturb the birds. These were really cool instruments and both of us would have bought one right then if the price hadn't required at least one grant from the NSA.

Flash forward to last month's rollout of new products at the annual Garden Writers convention in Portland, Ore. There, attracting much attention, was a booth showing off the BirdCam produced by Wingscapes, a division of Alabama-based EBSCO. (Yes, they make fishing lures as well.) Unfortunately, it was attracting so much attention that I never got a chance to talk to the reps, but I did get several chances to play with the system and I want one. You will too.

For starters, the cost of this BirdCam is now under $250, so no more need of that grant. For the money you get a really sophisticated camera that is extremely easy to use, rugged, 9 inches by 3 inches by 5 inches, fully weatherproof and can be mounted on any pole or tree with included bungee fasteners or with an optional mounting arm. Because the camera will focus down to 18 inches, you can really get close up to a feeder or a summer nest.

The Wingscapes BirdCam takes AVI videos with sound and JPEG still pictures. Pictures and video can be taken manually or automatically using the special motion sensor built into the system. There is also a really neat time-lapse feature. When you are done, just download the pictures from the camera as you would from any digital camera via a USB connection or a card reader.

The BirdCam operates using a remote control that you can use up to 30 feet away, presumably inside your house. With up to 4 GB of memory in the camera and the ability to focus down to 18 inches, you simply turn on the camera's infrared motion detector and stand back. If you don't have an AC power outlet near your feeder (or bird nest during the summer), the camera also operates off 4 D-cell batteries.

The Wingscapes folks have thought of everything, but what I like best of all is you don't have to miss seeing the action at your feeder because you leave for work and come home when it is dark. The BirdCam works automatically: A bird comes to the feeder and triggers the infrared motion sensor to turn the camera on. When the bird leaves, the motion sensor turns the camera off. By the way, the sensor is calibrated to not go off just because the wind blows the feeder around.

The Wingscapes BirdCam is lightweight and really easy to use. And, yes, you can use it to photograph those (pesky) squirrels that probably invade your feeder. The pictures I saw at the GWA show were fantastically sharp and clear.

A BirdCam from Wingscapes: I want one. If you enjoy watching birds, you do too. Check it out at www.wingscapes.com and when you get yours, share some of your pictures with me.

Jeff Lowenfels is a member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame. You can reach him at www.gardenerjeff.com or by joining the "Garden Party" radio show from 10 a.m. to Noon, Saturdays on KBYR AM-700.

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