Birdbuddy released its latest line of smart bird feeders equipped with cameras that can detect birds by species on Thursday, and it’s never been a better time to start birdwatching at your home. The reason is a new model called the Birdbuddy Nook, which starts at $99 and offers its AI features for free with no subscription needed.

Read more: The Best Smart Bird Feeders, Tested and Reviewed

Most of the smart bird feeders we’ve tested, including past Birdbuddy models, cost around $200 or more. The particularly affordable Nook includes a 2K-resolution camera with both portrait and landscape orientations, plus a 3.8-cup birdseed container. It wakes up via motion but can keep recording for longer periods of time when there’s lots of activity. All the alerts and species recognition features happen on your phone, via the Birdbuddy app.

The Nook comes in both a standard model for $99 and a model with a solar panel built into the roof for $159. I’ve tested many solar-powered security cameras, and these small panels really do help keep wireless batteries charged for long periods. Since the Nook’s battery is only rated for around a month, and the bird-feeder battery looks a bit more complicated to charge up, I highly recommend the solar model.

Along with the Nook, the company is releasing a Birdbuddy Home mode for $219, which is similar, except it has a larger 6-cup capacity and a wraparound bar for more perching space.

Where should you put the Nook?

Feeders should be placed within 4 feet to 10 feet of shrubs or trees, which is close enough for birds to feel safe from predators, while still being far enough to deter squirrels, according to Mary Mack Gray, Birdbuddy’s in-house ornithologist, who told CNET the best placement options. “If using a pole, a height of 5 to 6 feet off the ground is ideal. Nook is designed for compact spaces like patios, balconies and small yards.”

If you’re worried about squirrels messing up your view or getting in the way, Gray suggests using safflower seeds and suet, which squirrels tend to ignore, and avoid feed like corn or peanuts that squirrels love.

How does the bird recognition feature work?

Birdbuddy uses AI that has been trained on bird species visits to feeders, so it can analyze shape, color, markings and other aspects to pull up a match if one is available. The camera needs a couple of moments to wake up and take a snapshot, as well as a Wi-Fi connection, so you don’t want to put the feeder out too far from your router.

Once a bird lands on the feeder, the feeder will send a snapshot to algorithms for analysis and return an identified species or label it as currently unknown. Birdbuddy doesn’t say if it’s all local AI or if processing is done in the cloud.

CNET’s previous birdwatching reviewer noted that, aside from an occasional misstep, the bird recognition was quite good and even self-corrected itself. That sounds like a handy package for someone who wants to get to know birds in the area while paying the minimum amount.

Tyler Lacoma

Senior Editor / Home Security and Smart Home

Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations.

With degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation.

Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends.

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