Birdbuddy: ID & Collect Birds

Love almost everything about Birdbuddy but ui is restive and doesn’t allow for easy picture collecting within the app, I suggest just downloading photos you want to photo library and making collections there

This has to be one of the most predatory apps I have ever seen. Firstly, when signing up and connecting, I get hit with a page that wants me to spend money on an annual subscription plan. Wasn't planning on paying it cause everything said that you can still use the feeder while not having a subscription. Here is the first problem, THERE IS NO 'X' TO LEAVE THIS PAGE!!!! This is a textbook predatory tactic to make people feel like the only way forward is to pay for a subscription. The only way to get around it is to completely close the app and go back into it. Though, that is not all. I get a prompt that tells me to share access to the feeder with family and friend. I do so, but I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION TO LET THEM JOIN!!!! Another textbook predatory tactice where people will feel bad and pressured to buy a sunscription since they already sent a message to family, yet they can't actually view the feed. The dumbest thing is that they can see the feeder exists on the app, yet they can't watch any live feed. 4.8 stars is also hard to get on the app store, especially with predatory subscriptions like this? Probably targeting only users who have had a positive experience with the app. Please do not buy or gift any of this company's products for anyone

I hate that they changed the membership. Now feels like another greedy company.

This bird camera is expensive, and many times it doesn’t capture the video of my hummingbird. I watched a bird on my feeder for over a minute, and the camera did not capture it. Plus you have to pay extra for any additional features they offer in a monthly subscription. The video quality when it does capture a bird is very good. But frustrating that it doesn’t always capture a visit.

In a new update, they provide no option to turn off AI, and no alternative (or the default tools we’ve had for years) for ID. Given the damage data centers are doing to bird habitat, this forced feature adoption means you should look for alternative products if you care for birds. It’s still a nice camera, but ID has to be done with a bird guide if you want to avoid AI and the harm to the environment this product now causes.

This app and its platform is more frustration than it is fun. I’ve had a Birdbuddy feeder and the app for a few weeks and while it was engaging at first, the sheer volume and frequency of issues has quickly turned it into uselessness.
The camera simply will not stay connected to the internet. It won’t identify birds and turn on (record) till they’ve been at the feeder for 5-10 seconds, which means it never gets those quick birds that dart in and out (I.e. the good ones you want to see). My “feed” is full of the same bully birds over and over and over again, yet it CONSTANTLY misses the woodpeckers and chickadees that visit the feeder.
The best thing I can do with it is go into the live feed and manually take pictures of the birds that visit, but this is also an exercise in frustration. First, it takes 5 minutes to get the live feed working (have to make 5-10 attempts, shutting down the app over and over again to get it to work). Then, when you see a bird, you snap a bunch of pictures and send those off for identification. Ah, but it caps the number of pics you can take at 12, and once you’ve met the limit, you can’t simply save the pics and ID later. You have to send those off for identification, and of COURSE it kicks you off the live stream every time you do this. So every time you take a series of pics on the live stream, you have to spend another 5 minutes to log back into the livestream.
Save yourself the hassle…try another brand, or save yourself some money and just go with a regular bird feeder.

The charging cord came apart. The camera won’t charge. Have no one from the company to assist. Am totally frustrated. This was a gift from my children and I am so disappointed in this. Will end up using it as a bird feeder because nothing works. Solar roof is a joke does not charge the camera. I am so upset and disappointed with this product.

The previous version of the app is what made the bird buddy exciting to use. Now they want you to pay. I agree with another review that stated this is now a bird feeder with a camera. Once my bird food runs out I’m done with this product

The Birdbuddy is easy to use and videos are very clear. Really enjoying seeing our backyard visitors!

It’s all or one and I find myself constantly pausing the notifications because otherwise they are nonstop and distracting. There need to be a new notification option developed for those that want something in between

I was so happy with my bird buddy for several years! I received it as a gift and bought one as a gift for someone else. However with the latest app update, one of the core functions has been converted to paid subscription. Now it is merely a bird feeder with a camera - it doesn’t even record every bird visitor. Not sure how this change got approval, but it has definitely ticked off a lot of loyal customers (check out Reddit on the topic) So disappointing!

Overall, I love my Birdbuddy. It has awakened an interest in birdwatching that I've never suspected I would enjoy so much.

The app has a lot of trouble connecting to live stream, however. It usually takes at least five attempts before it is successful. I must shut down the entire app between tries. If a brows other aspects of the app before trying to connect to live stream, the live stream will not work and I have to shut down the app entirely first. Once connected, the live stream also freezes occasionally.

One other small thing in the app; there has been a "1" badge next to my inbox icon ever since I invited someone to share and they accepted. Shouldn't this badge disappear after I opened and read the message?

Thanks for being open to suggestions, and I hope live stream connection can be improved soon.

I paid a premium price for the hardware, and now they’re trying to force a $100/year subscription just to access features that were originally included.
This wasn’t the deal when I bought it.This wasn’t advertised.And it’s not acceptable to lock existing customers out of their own device unless they pay again.The feeder itself is great, but the business model has turned into pure greed.
If you’re thinking about buying one, understand that the company can (and apparently will) take away features you already paid for and shove them behind a subscription later.

I can’t recommend this product anymore until they respect the people who supported them from the beginning.

I received Birdbuddy for Mother’s Day this year , and absolutely love it !!!! My Daughter has one also, so we check in on each other’s birds often. Excellent gift for anyone who loves to watch birds !!!!!!

The automated identification feature was removed from the free subscription to paid subscription.