Bird Buddy introduces new AI feature allowing users to name and identify individual birds
When it comes to hardware startups, few are as entertaining as Bird Buddy. By attaching a connected camera to a bird feeder, the company has attracted a loyal customer base and spawned numerous imitators. Our colleague Sarah Perez is a big fan of this device.
Today, the company based in Michigan unveiled Name That Bird, a new AI-powered feature that enables users to give names to and keep track of individual birds. Although the effectiveness of this feature has yet to be proven, it is clear that it was highly requested by users. This feature adds a new level of emotional connection with these peculiar little backyard visitors that you can watch feeding on the camera.
Name That Bird identifies individual birds by recognizing unique characteristics that most people would have trouble spotting.
“The level of detail provided by the 5MP high-resolution Bird Buddy sensor found in all our feeders, along with its close-up format, is meant to highlight the full personality of the visiting birds,” said CEO Franci Zidar in a statement. “This makes Bird Buddy uniquely equipped to capture the features necessary for this function. The potential is enormous, and I am extremely excited about what this will unlock.”
Name That Bird is part of a larger AI-powered feature set from Bird Buddy called Natural Intelligence. In addition to identifying individual birds, it can also determine if birds are injured or sick, information that bird enthusiasts are eager to know in order to help prevent the spread of disease.
It also provides notifications for non-bird animals, such as bees, butterflies, lizards, raccoons, and even cats. While it cannot identify specific individuals, homeowners may want to be notified if cats are lurking around the bird feeder looking for a snack.
However, these new features are not free. Even smart bird feeders are getting in on the subscription trend. Natural Intelligence is available as part of the $6 per month Bird Buddy Pro subscription.
