The Two LIVE Cameras In My Backyard!

My name is Scott, and I live in a suburban neighborhood in northeast Ohio, close to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. I have been feeding the wildlife in my backyard for a few years and am still amazed at the incredible variety of species that visit. My goal is to keep transforming our one-acre yard into a place that attracts animals and birds by planting native plants and providing shelter (such as nest boxes and brush piles).

A few years ago, I decided to take on the project of installing cameras in my backyard that would continuously stream my feeding station.

 

Honestly, it was one of the BEST decisions I have made. Not only do I love watching what is happening on my feeders, but many other people from around the world have also found the birds to be entertaining, relaxing, or even a great video to show their cats. 🙂

 

Make sure to scroll to the bottom to see answers to 10 Frequently Asked Questions. 

 

Currently, I have two cameras set up:

• Make sure to check out the Bird Watching HQ YouTube channel, where you can watch both of my cameras, along with any other feeding station live cams that I have partnered with!

 

#1. Bird Feeder Cam

 

This live camera watches my bird feeding station! It’s located at the back of the yard, just on the edge of the woods where the grass meets some trees. Nearby is a small swamp that attracts many wetland birds and also an open field with many native flowers. I live in northeast Ohio, near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

 

On most days, you can expect to see a wide variety of bird species, and my cam provides a great way to learn the common birds of the eastern United States.

 

Common Birds Observed:

Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, House Finch, House Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Grackle, European Starling, and Black-capped Chickadee.

• Learn to identify the birds listed above: ID Guide To The Most Common Birds On The Live Cams (Mammals Too!)

 

It’s also common to witness our resident Eastern Grey Squirrels make a giant leap of faith from the trees to the feeders.

 

Featured Bird Feeders:

If you could look inside my shed, you would see that I have MANY bird feeders. This fact makes it hard to keep an updated list of the ones that are currently on display. To view a list of all of my favorites, I recommend reading this article –> The 16 BEST Bird Feeders In MY Backyard!

 

Most Common Foods Used:

• Sunflower kernels, peanuts (shelled and in the shell), safflower, nyjer seed, and suet.

 

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#2. Animal Cam UNDERNEATH My Feeders

 

This animal camera points at the ground underneath my bird feeders, which gives an incredible opportunity to observe ground-foraging birds and many species of mammals. It’s active, whether it’s day or night, and features incredible night vision!

 

Please remember that this camera is situated only about 100 feet from the back door of my house. It’s common to see my dog running around, my kids playing and saying something to the cameras, or me filling the feeders. I‘m sorry if we accidentally scare away something you were watching. 🙂

 

COMMON WILDLIFE YOU CAN OBSERVE:

Birds: Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, House Sparrow, Common Grackle, Mourning Dove, and sometimes even a Mallard duck.

Mammals: Virginia Opossum, Eastern Cottontail (rabbit), Eastern Gray Squirrel, American Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, White-tailed Deer, Red Fox, Groundhog, and Raccoons.

• Learn to identify the birds and mammals listed above: ID Guide To The Most Common Wildlife on the Ohio Live Cams

 

Featured Feeders: (links take you to Amazon to see prices)

• Woodlink 3 in 1 Platform Feeder
• JCs Wildlife Ground Birdbath

 

Most Common Foods Used:

• Sunflower seeds, peanuts, safflower, and corn
• Learn more HERE -> Bird Seed 101: The 10 Best Types For Wild Birds

 

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9 Frequently Asked Questions.

 

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1. What kind of cameras do you use?

 

• Click here to see the camera I used for live streaming.

 

Let me tell you that setting up one of these bird feeder cameras is not for the faint of heart. Between the equipment and the software needed, the whole process is quite costly. In addition, these network cameras don’t work on WiFi, so you will need to supply PoE (power over ethernet) underground.

 

If you are serious about setting up a bird feeder camera, using an Axis network camera is definitely the BEST option, but also the biggest commitment and most expensive. Lastly, I am looking for additional live cameras to stream on my YouTube channel (I’d give you most of the ad revenue!). If you are interested, send me a message HERE.

 

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2. Where is this located?

 

I live in Akron, Ohio, near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

 

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3. What type of bird/animal did I just see?

 

If you have a specific question that is not answered here, then my recommendation is to head over to my YouTube channel. Visit Youtube Channel!

 

Youtube has a “Chat” feature for live streams, which allows anyone to ask questions about backyard bird feeding. You can watch my bird feeders live, and ask a question directly to know everything from the feeders being used or what species just visited.

 

You can expect to receive a response at almost any time of day using the Youtube live chat, thanks to a group of dedicated volunteers that are called “moderators.” These “mods” volunteer their time to help answer bird feeding questions, and keep the chats a safe and clean place, absent from trolls.

 

Also, why you’re visiting, please make sure to Subscribe to my channel! 🙂

 

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4. What does the surrounding area look like?

 

Check out this video to get a “Behind The Scenes” tour of my backyard and feeding station.

 

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5. Where are the animals?

Please remember that all the live cameras you find on this page feature WILD animals. Food is continually provided to try and attract them, but you never know when they will make an appearance.

 

Also, keep in mind that I live in Akron, Ohio, and my timezone may be different than yours. If it’s night, then it’s unlikely you will see any birds, as they roost at night.

 

But both cameras have excellent night vision, which allows you to view nocturnal wildlife! Make sure to check out the ground camera once the sun goes down.

 

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6. Do you have any worksheets/resources to use while watching?

 

Yes! We have heard from numerous schools and retirement communities that enjoy using our live bird cameras to help facilitate learning and fun. To see our current list of activities and sheets, please view the page below:

• • Worksheets to use with the Bird Watching HQ live cameras.

 

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7. How do you try to stop or slow down squirrels?

 

Stopping squirrels from eating all of your bird food is one of the most common problems backyard birders face. There are a few strategies that I use and recommend.

• • Learn more –> 8 Effective Ways To Keep Squirrels Off Your Bird Feeders

 

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8. How can I get blackbirds, such as grackles and starlings, to go away?

 

Blackbirds can overwhelm bird feeders when they visit in a giant flock. Whenever this happens to me, I have found the most effective way to discourage these aggressive birds is to change the food that I am using.

• • Learn More: 3 Proven Ways To Get Rid of Starlings TODAY!

 

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9. How much food do you go through, and how much do you spend?

 

As you can imagine, the amount of bird food and seed that gets eaten each day is highly variable and depends on the weather, season, and the birds that visit. At my feeding station in Ohio, I probably go through about 5 lbs of food per day. As for how much I spend to feed all these hungry birds; currently, I am paying about $250/month!

 

If you enjoy the cameras and want to donate to the cost of food, you can do that here via PayPal.

 

Please know that while never expected, donations are greatly appreciated!