Do You Like Birds? I’ll Show You Birds!
Or at least, this fun gadget will…

Binoculars, field guide, hiking boots, there’s a standard, stereotypical kit associated with the hobby of bird watching. And like many time-honored pastimes, you’re still welcome to play along and do things the old-fashioned way. But now there’s another option. A modern option.

Bird Buddy.

So many inventions are X + Y. The best ones combine two useful effects to create an emergent masterpiece that becomes a staple of life. Steam Engine + Carriage becomes Automobile. Spoon + Fork becomes Spork. That sort of thing. There’s also the comedic value of just combining two random objects and trying to posit a use for the result.

Toothbrush + Television

Hat + Cupholder

Bird Feeder + Cell Phone Camera

Except the last one really kind of works. If you love watching birds, it’s not always the easiest thing to chase them down in the wild. And bird feeders, while a pleasant way to enjoy a little nature from the comfort of your kitchen, don’t give the best view of the birds.

That’s where the camera comes in. You’re not seeing pictures of a bird taken from YOUR point of view. You’re seeing the bird up close and personal, like it’s in a confession booth on a reality TV show. You’re seeing them like their own reflection in a mirror from a couple inches (a few cm outside the US) as they look up from happily enjoying the food you provide.

As a bonus, the app cross-references an entire encyclopedia of birds to tell you just what kind you’re looking at. No leafing through paper books while hiking. No debates over whether there was a little red crest on its head or a yellow one. Just enjoy the birds.

(for those who, at this point, are protesting “OMG, just go see a real bird!” these are real birds, and they’re in your backyard. You can see them from afar if you happen to be there at the time)

It’s also super easy to use. So many new technologies are gated behind finicky user interfaces or clunky remote connections. With a little setup, these things just work. Basically anyone who can operate a modern cell phone can use one. That’s perfect for the core bird-watching demographic which skews a little older and a little more nature over technology focused.

Even if you have no interest in getting one, check out the nifty application of technology to bring a tiny delight into people’s lives.