When testing the Bird Buddy smart bird feeder, I needed to subscribe to Ring Protect Basic to capture video footage, priced at $4 per month or $40 per year, increasing to $5 per month or $50 per year after March 11, 2024. Alternatively, free local storage options are available for Blink or Wyze cameras using a flash drive or SD card, or you can opt for a cloud subscription. Additionally, the Wyze camera can identify motion caused by animals, vehicles, people, or packages, allowing for motion filtering to focus on animals.
The Wasserstein feeder is sturdy and spacious, accommodating multiple birds at once. With a capacity of just under 2 quarts of seed, it holds slightly more than the Bird Buddy. The feeder is easy to load by removing the roof and pouring in the seed. Regular maintenance can be done by disassembling the feeder and cleaning it with bleach, soap, water, and vinegar, as recommended by Wasserstein. Alternatively, filling the feeder tray will require more frequent refills depending on the bird traffic.
The Wasserstein feeder is priced at $70, excluding the camera, accessories (like a solar panel), and a video storage subscription if required by the camera. While the total cost varies depending on the camera, it is comparable to the Bird Buddy’s price, albeit without visitor identification capability, requiring a separate bird guide. For a Blink or Ring setup without a storage plan, the total cost is about $170. Nonetheless, it remains a suitable choice for bird-watching or for current owners of these existing cameras.
