Raining again? If you’re living in an area prone to sudden shifts in weather or you have to deal with tons of rain, your bird box camera may potentially suffer especially when it’s not designed for outdoors. Water can damage the hardware of the camera and leave it completely nonfunctional. But don’t worry, there are options available that can help you protect your camera from bad weather, and these solutions do not have to be complicated or cost you a ton of money. Read on and find out the best possible solution for your system.
But before you can ever worry about protecting your bird box camera from the rain, you should ask yourself a question: Is Your Bird Box Camera Vulnerable? Simply put, you need to figure out if your bird box camera is at risk of water damage:
First, check if your bird box camera is properly installed. If your camera is located in an area with no cover, you should consider moving it to a more sheltered place if possible, inside a nest box or somewhere built with eaves or overhangs.
Second, check if your bird box camera is waterproof. People often try to save money by using indoor cameras in an outdoor environment. However, these cameras are extremely vulnerable as they have zero protection against rain or other elements. Although you can keep the bird box camera in a shelter, it’ll eventually fail if it’s not rated for the outside.
Lastly, if your bird box camera is previously damaged, it’ll have a higher risk of failing once it gets wet. Even if your bird box camera is protected in a birdhouse, the rain still might leak into your birdhouse and direct the flowing water straight to your camera.
The Best Solutions to Protect Your Bird Box Camera from Rain
Giving you added peace of mind and saving you money
1. Invest in a Waterproof Bird Box Camera
The best option is to invest in a waterproof bird box camera that can stand up to almost any weather. It usually comes with a weatherproof housing or cover to keep out the rain, dust, or other natural elements that may get into the camera and damage the internal components of the equipment. And by placing it in a sheltered area like the birdhouse where it’ll have added protection. Waterproof bird box cameras are tested for varying levels of protection against harsh environments. And we recommend you use a camera that is at least rated IP66 for care-free outdoor applications. IP66 cameras have a full dust cover and are protected from rain, but cannot withstand water immersion; IP67 cameras are fully protected against dust and can withstand not only rain but can even be immersed in the water for a short time; IP68 cameras offer full protection against dust and can be submerged in one meter of water.
We have developed a collection of waterproof bird box cameras that can be viewed not only on your smartphone, tablet, and PC but also on TV.
Recommended Model: Wireless Bird Box Camera
This wireless bird box camera is designed with a rugged build that offers extra durability in a variety of settings, giving you peace of mind in outdoor applications and more flexibility on placement. You can place it in the birdhouse, at the bird feeder, or mount it on a post to record wild birds from different perspectives. Once connected to the network, this bird box camera will automatically record and stream the live feeds to your smartphone, tablet, and PC. You can even configure the camera to only activate when the birds are active.
The resolution is at 3MP and so will give a you reasonably good high-definition picture. The invisible infrared LEDs are also equipped to provide a clear view at night. A highly sensitive microphone (7000 Hz) is also incorporated so you can hear every cheep and ruffle inside the birdhouse. Equipped with a wide-angle lens, it yields a 120-degree angle range to give you the best possible perspective inside the birdhouse. The bird box camera also includes a memory card slot so that you can record the best moments.
2. Protect Your Bird Box Camera with Proper Installation
If you don’t have a waterproof bird box camera, there are also some tips to help you protect your camera from water damage.
1) Choose and Install Your Birdhouse Wisely
Natural wood like cedar is the best material for birdhouses, which not only provides optimal insulation for eggs and young but also has a natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insect damage. If you’re making the nest box yourself, it’s suggested that use untreated wood and glue the panels before screwing them together to keep the finished product waterproof. To extend the life of your birdhouse, you can also paint the exterior and seal it against potential water damage. A slanted roof or pitched roof will be easier to protect than a flat roof which allows for water runoff, but you’d better apply a strip of metal or waterproofing tape to the roof seam. For added protection, you can seal the roof with double-sided tape. More importantly, make sure your birdhouse is well-ventilated and has drainage holes, or water droplets accumulated inside will eventually damage the camera. And it’s also recommended to install your birdhouse in a sheltered spot, such as under the eaves of your roof.
Recommended Product: Natural Cedar Birdhouse
Made of natural cedarwood, this birdhouse welcomes small birds like bluebirds, chickadees, and wrens. The entrance is large enough for a variety of birds to slip in while keeping larger predators out. The roof and front panel are removable so you can clean the nest box at the end of the season and get it ready for the next brood. A window on the side of the birdhouse is covered with a clear plastic panel, which lets in enough light to enable colorful videos. The base of the box has four ventilation holes to circulate the air inside and evacuate the water.
2) Prevent Water from Getting into Your Connections
Apart from the bird box camera, the connectors and cables should also be waterproofed. One of the most common reasons for camera failure is water getting into the connection between the camera and the cable. Moisture can run along the surface of the electrical cable and penetrate directly into electrical connection points, causing major problems and costly repairs. So when installing the bird box camera, you have to make sure the connection is fastened tightly. If you’re using a wired bird box camera (PoE), the simplest way is to use a waterproof lid to cover the Ethernet cable connector and prevent water ingress.
If you need to run long cables across your backyard, whenever possible, go for durable and outdoor-rated cables (DC12V Power Extension cable and 20m Outdoor Waterproof Extension RJ45 Ethernet Cable are for sale). But there is one thing you should pay attention to: If you use a long heavy gauge extension cord, there’s an increased risk of lightning strikes. Your bird box camera will be more likely to get hit in a thunderstorm. To address this problem, you should install an Outdoor Waterproof DC12V Surge Protector to protect your bird box camera from power surges and discharge the excessive currents to the ground. For wired bird box cameras, the Waterproof Outdoor PoE Surge Protector is also for sale.
