Handykam.com

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Cat camera on The One Show


Cam cameraGreat to see the cat camera used on the The One Show tonight (Tuesday 3rd July 2012). In the show they explored the adventures of a cat around a cathederal. Cat cameras or pet cameras are a perfect way to find out what your cat, dog or pet is doing while you are not around. They are a perfect gift for family and friends too.
More info
Handykam
cat cam or pet camera
The one show on iplayer – click here

Keywords to help search

Cat camera, cat cam, catcam, cat cameras, pet camera

Monday, 28 May 2012

BBC Springwatch 2012

Great to see BBC springwatch is back for another year. This year the team of wildlife experts return filming the delights of Ynys-hir nature reserve in Wales.


The live 3 weekly shows feature all the best from The Great British Wildlife including blue tit cameras, nest box cameras, owl cameras and lots more. If this is not enough, you can tune into the live webcams or the fun filled unsprung showing a few of the behind the scenes footage.

Fancy filming your own wildlife, then why not get your very own wildlife with birdbox camera, wildlife cameras, trail cameras.

More exciting links
Check out the Springwatch live webcams
Check out the Springwatch website
Buy bird box cameras and nest box cameras
Buy wildlife cameras

Keywords to help search
Springwatch, BBC Springwatch, nestbox cams, nest cameras, owl cameras, wildlife cameras, outdoor cameras

Monday, 26 September 2011

Amazing pic wins British Wildlife Photography Award - 3rd year in a row!

We have just received news that a good friend of handykam, Doug Mackenzie Dodds has just had great success in the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2011 (BWPA). But wait, this is the third consecutive years of success in a row!

The shot of Malu catching a blackbird chick swept the competition away in the urban wildlife category.

We have long since said that Doug's photography is stunning and great to see him been commended in one of the most prestigious awards around.

Congratulations to Doug and Anna from all at Handykam.com.


Read more

Doug Mackenzie Dodds and his stunning Images - Click here
Daily telegraph article - click here

Words to help search
Photography award, Doug Mackenzie Dodds, BWPA, British Wildlife photography award.

Sunday, 25 September 2011

Making your own camera trap or trail camera

Every fancied how to make your own camera trap or trail camera? Well no problem, wired have created a helpful video clip showing you how. All you need is a digital camera, components and a soldering iron and you are away. Check it out:
How to Make a Camera Trap

More trail cameras and camera traps at handykam.com

Keywords to help search
Camera trap, trail camera, cam, homebrew trail camera, homebrew camera trap, make your own trail camera, build your own trail camera, making a trail camera.

Thursday, 1 September 2011

Where has summer gone - Enjoy September

September is here. The sun seems disappearing faster and faster and there is a slight little nip in the evening air. Where has our summer gone?  Not to worry, September great time of the year to:
  • Enjoy harvesting wild fruit like apples and blackberries
  • Enjoy winter arrivals of birds as well as groups of birds swarming to leave
  • Help stock up your feeders for the newborn birds that have come along. Don’t forget your bird feeder camera where you can get up an close to them.
  • Start to look for signs of Autumn ie leaves changing
  • Put a hedgehog box in your garden for hibernating hedgehogs. Don’t forget your hedgehog camera to see them come and go.
  • Put up owl boxes to help roosting owls. Don’t forget your owl camera. They are one of the most amazing things to watch and worth every penny.
  • Go beachcombing or rockpooling. With the lower tides and the bigger winter swells arriving, the coastline is a wonderful place to explore for various treasures.
These are some of many exciting things you can do in September....Go for it enjoy it.

More wildlife cameras and wildlife articles at handykam.com

Photo copyright - Thanks and check out Vlado's photos on Flickr

Keywords to help search
September, signs of autumn, harvest, hibernating

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Watch BBC wildlife film - Heligan: Secrets of the Lost Gardens

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are one of most delightful botanical gardens and wildlife in the UK. The wonder of the gardens are captured in a BBC program, produced by Philippa Forrester and filmed by her husband Charlie Hamilton-James.

Heligan, situated in the corner of Cornwall off the the cost of St Austell, was created by the Tremayne family between C18th and C20th. The gardens were later found and restored and now boast a huge range of plants and wildlife.

The program explores a year in the life of Heligan, capturing the magic of its location and features many of the wildlife characters around the 6 miles of gardens. This program is a much watch for 2011. Check it out - click here

Why not create your own wildlife film with mini wildlife cameras and bird box cameras. We have a range of cameras, giving you a magical view of your garden or property

More information

Watch on iplayer - click here
More about Heligan - click here
Wikipedia about heligan - click here
Filmed by Charlie Hamilton-James and produced by Phillipa Forrester of Halcyon media - click here
Wildlife cameras at handykam.com
* © Wikipedia for photo above

Keywords to help search
Heilgan, Lost gardens of Heligan, Heligan gardens, Wildlife, charlie hamilton-james, Philippa Forrester

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Rare mammals caught on trail cameras and camera traps

Nice footage of mammals caught on camera traps and trail cameras around the world from BBC Nature. Have a look, it is worth it.

Trail cameras are historically used to record and document animals around the world. Many research institutions are finding them an extremely valuable for monitoring specie numbers and migration patterns. Today, many trail cameras and camera traps are relatively inexpensive and perfect way of monitoring what is happening in your garden or acreage. We currently supply many organisations with these wonderful devices. Check them out and what they can do.

More info
Article from the BBC Nature - click here
Buy a trail camera or camera trap
Compare trail cameras

Keywords to help search
Trail cameras, BBC nature, camera traps, camera trap, trail camera, camera trap research.

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Buying the best trail camera or camera trap

There has been a huge change in remote camera technology over the years. In the early days, they were quite big items and bolted onto an old SLR camera. Today, they have a huge amount of features.

We, at handykam.com look at vast array of trail cameras and camera traps from around the world. To help you choose, we have created a FREE trail camera guide, comparing all features including file sizes and resolutions. This is a fast way to choosing the best trail camera or trail camera for your needs.

Read FREE trail camera comparison.


Keywords to help search

trail cameras, camera traps, trail camera, camera trap compared, trail camera compared


Sunday, 31 July 2011

An inspection camera can save your business money

Inspection cameras can inspect areas that have a fault, quickly and easily. This is a perfect device for inspections, plumbers, surveyors and more and can save your business a lot of time and money.

When faced with a technical problem, like a blocked drain or lost cable, this can cost many hours in fault-finding, digging and problem solving. With an inspection camera, you can drill a small hole, view or record the footage on a small screen and quickly diagnose the issue without incurring many hours of work or specials equipment hire.

Handykam.com can supply a range of inspection cameras that quickly allow you to inspect a problem and solve it quickly. Having an inspection camera can save you a considerable amount of money in time and resources. Just drill a hole, pop in camera record and then go. Have a look at how inspection cameras can save your business money. More on inspection cams >>

Read more
Inspection cameras and drain cameras
Inspection cameras on Wikipedia – click here

Keywords to help search

inspection camera, inspection cam, pipe camera, sewer camera, pipe cam, pipeline inspection camera

 

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

Time-lapse video - London olympics 2012

Only a year to go to the Olympics. The size and rate of construction of the buildings is amazing. In order to show this, they installed several time-lapse cameras around Stratford area. These took shots every 5 - 10 mins for a few years. The results are amazing: See clips from the telegraph newspaper below:


London 2012 Olympics: Games architecture takes shape

Why not create your own time-lapse footage with a time lapse project cam. It may not be to the same resolution used on the Olympics cameras, however the camera is jam packed with features and very easy and economical to set up. All you do is take it out the box, pop batteries and a memory card in and set the recording timer to a variety of settings and you are away. Perfect for any development, construction project, exhibition setup etc.

More information
Get a time-lapse camera from handykam
More information about the Olympics time lapse cameras - click here
More information from the Telegraph newspaper - click here

Keywords to help search
time lapse camera, time-lapse camera, time laps camera, Olympics construction camera, Olympics time-lapse camera

Bee cam, bee webcam inspires 9 year old to take up bee keeping

A nine year old bee enthusiast has been inspired to take up bee keeping, when father sets up a live bee cam. The howling family setup the bee cam and is now also inspiring many others around the world. This is what technology is about. Why not set up your own bee cam and get your friends and family involved.

More information
Create your own bee cam with a camera kit
More about Howling family on BBC - click here
See live Bee Cam - click here
More about bee cams on handykam website

Keywords to help search
Bee cam, beecam, streaming bee cam, bee web cam, bee webcam

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

When is a gull not a gull? When it is a robot.

From Leonardo da Vinci to modern day, they have been trying to recreate the motion of birds. After many years they may be nearly there. Check this footage out. It is stunning:
A robot that flies like a bird

More information
Great article on the Guardian - Flying bird.
More about Smartbird
More news at handykam.com

Keywords used to help search
flying bird, bird robot, bird technology

Sunday, 26 June 2011

A birds eye view

Seagull stole camera and takes it on a shoot across the French Riviera skyline. Check this out....

The camera was placed in a garden only to be picked up by a seagull who then is seen flying to its roost. It is then see investigating the camera with a few pecks! The cameraman, was able to locate the camera only to find that it filmed the whole thing.

Read more:
Small bird cameras
Daily Mail article

Keywords to help search

bird camera, bird cam, seagull camera,

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

BBC invisible camera

The BBC film unit developed developed a specialist stealth like movable camera positioned behind specialist 2-way mirrors. The camera is operated remotely and is moveable on remote control caterpillar tracks. The mirrors give the illusion of being part of the scenery, therefore animals do not see the technology. They are able to get up and close without the animals spotting the cameras. Wonderful footage, check out the video below:
Rare black bear captured on Invisible camera.
Black Bear Mother and Cubs - Bears - Spy in the Woods - BBC

You can buy mini wildlife cameras and remote trail cameras at handykam.com

Words to help search

small wildlife camera, wild camera, invisible camera

Friday, 18 February 2011

Groups of animals or birds

Isn't the English language amazing? We have terms for groups of things depending on what they are. They call these collective nouns. Here are a few for various animals:
  • Badgers - A cete of badgers
  • Bats - A colony of bats
  • Bears - A sloth of bears
  • Bees - A grist, hive, swarm, drift of bees
  • Birds - A flock, flight, parcel of birds
  • Bitterns - A sedge of bitterns
  • Budgerigars - A chatter of budgerigars
  • Butterflies - A swarm, rabble of butterflies
  • Buzzards - A wake of buzzards
  • Caterpillars - An army of caterpillers
  • Cubs - A litter of cubs
  • Dear - A herd of dear
  • Dogs - A pack of dogs
  • Doves - A flight of doves
  • Eagles - A convocation
  • Elk - A herd of elk
  • Finches - A charm of finches
  • Fish - A shoal, school of fish
  • Flies - A cloud
  • Geese - A gaggle, flock of geese
  • Grasshoppers - A cloud of grasshoppers
  • Hares - A husk of hares
  • Hedgehogs - An array of hedgehogs
  • Horses - A stud, string of horses
  • Hounds - A pack of hounds
  • Rabbits - A husk of jackrabbits
  • Jellyfish - A brood of jellyfish
  • Larks - A bevy of larks
  • Moose - A herd of moose
  • Mosquitoes - A herd of mosquitoes
  • Nightingales - A watch of nightingales
  • Partridges - A covey of partridges
  • Pelicans - A pod of pelicans
  • Ponies - A drove of ponies
  • Rats - A colony, pack, swarm of rats
  • Seagulls - A flock of seagulls
  • Snakes - A den, bed of snakes
  • Tortoises - A creep of tortoises
  • Walruses - A herd of walruses
  • Whale - A school, pod or whales
  • Worms - A clew of worms
  • Wrens - A herd of wrens
  • Zebras - A herd of zebras
As you can see there is a load of them. All brought to you by handykam.com. The home of wildlife cameras.

Words to help search
Groups of animals, groups of birds, collective nouns of birds, collective nouns of animals.

Bird camera - Radio controlled hummingbird with camera

Imagine flying a hummingbird with a built in camera? Well now you can. This new device created by AeroVironment. The 19 grams, 16cm flying device was designed to fly easily inside and outside a building with the need for wires. Simply amazing. Check out the video:


More info
Inspired by this wired article

Keywords to help search
bird camera, remote control bird, flying camera, flying cam

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Wildlife cameras and technology for school national curriculum

Schools have changed since my day. (Showing my age now :) ) Bang goes the blackboard and books. Now, technology is revolutionising the classroom with interactive whiteboards and laptops. One aspect of modern learning is the growing need to interact with the outdoors. Today's curriculum encourages our kids to getting out and learning about wildlife around us. However, with technology, they can see, learn and enjoy about wildlife around us, indoors too.

We have many schools using our bird box cameras, wildlife cameras and more. The nice thing is that our systems are easy to use and fit straight into most school IT structures. Most schools like to opt for a bird box camera (Either wired or wireless) and connect them to their computers with a USB or network via a IP converter. The experience is enhanced with advanced motion capture and we streaming software, where they can glue a live feed into their website as well as back it up on a computer too. Some schools are using advanced wildlife inspection cameras like the Meerkam gadget to find wildlife everywhere and record it for later lessons too.

It is so good that schools and colleges are get using technology to learn and enjoy the natural world around us. Hopefully, helping educate and create a thirst for more budding Chris Packham's and Bill Oddies of the future. Great!

More information
National Curriculum information.
Bird box cameras from handykam
ICT network connection ideas

Thanks to

Thanks to all the schools have bought our systems and all the children we have help.
Thanks to South Wales Argus for good article and image on High tech pupils in Newport using our camera nest boxes.

Keyword to help search
Wildlife and national curriculum, wildlife learning, wildlife in classroom, ICT and wildlife, birds and curriculum, classroom technology, IP connection

Wednesday, 16 February 2011

How to make a bird box

Making a bird box or nest box can be great fun. We should know as we make many thousands every year sending them to all corners of the globe from our unit in Cornwall.

The biggest consideration when making a bird box is deciding what birds you would like to use the box. Most of our domestic songbirds are happy in a box around 15cm-20cm cubed made out of 15cm-19cm of good wood. Birds will certainly nest in most boxes made out of many materials, but a well built box will ensure a new family to use it for many years to come.

First start with a single plank around 150mm x 1170mm. Mark the base, sides, front and roof out off it like the diagram provided. See diagram above.

Fit the box together with nails and screws so they are secure. Also include a couple of holes in the base to allow for drainage and don't include a perch for predators. Include a hinged lid if you want to inspect the camera easily.

Don't forget your bird box camera

Add that little something extra by including a bird box camera. These can be easily fitted by drilling a 5mm hole into the side of the box and fitting one of our wired or wireless cameras to it. The camera are plug in and play, allowing you to monitor and enjoy your birds too. You can also fit windows to your box to allow light into the box, not enough to disturb the birds, but enough for the cameras to see in colour. Perfect....

Go for it, make a bird box today
Making bird boxes are great fun especially with all the family. They are often one of the best, small wooden projects to do as they don't cost a lot and take no time at all. However, you can always buy a complete camera bird box if you pushed for time or it is late in the nesting season. Perfect for you birds and you too.

More info
Please support the BTO - click here
Article on building bird box at BTO - click here
More info on building bird boxes - click here
Handykam bird boxes, nest boxes and camera bird boxes

Credits
Thank you for the BTO for all your good work and picture above.

Keywords to help search
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Saturday, 12 February 2011

Choosing a particular bird for your camera bird box.

We are often asked how we can attract certain birds to our camera bird boxes. It really depends on what birds are in your garden, what birds are dominant and the type of bird box you have.


A great way is place a multispecies camera bird box in your garden. A handykam.com bird box is perfect as it can be used for most types of our native birds. It has been specifically designed with bird comfort in mind and to all the recommended specifications by the RSPB and BTO.

Bird box entrance hole


The key points are to place the box a little bit away from a feeder or feeding station, but with a bit of cover from foliage.  The next key point is to choose whether to have a round entrance hole or open front. Most boxes have a 35mm entrance hole and some camera bird boxes have the ability to remove the middle panel to allow open fronted nesting birds like Wren, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Blackbird, Spotted flycatcher.

hole sizers

With an entrance hole, you have the choice of using a hole sizer or hole protector to help discriminate between certain types of birds. These are metal plates with hole, which can be easily pinned to the entrance hole of the box.  The plates have different sizes that can allow certain bird types to enter the boxes. Here is a guide:

  • Blue tit, Marsh tit, Coal tit – 25mm (1in)
  • Great tit, Tree sparrow, - 28mm (1 1/4in)
  • Nuthatch, House sparrow, Nuthatch – 32mm (1 1/2in)
Choose a hole sizer to match birds you have in your garden and ones you would like to see nesting.

Once sited, leave you camera nest box and keep an eye on it on your TV. Don’t despair if it is not occupied quickly. Most birds take a while to get used to boxes in their territory.

Have fun and enjoy your camera bird box.

More info
Buy a camera bird box
More info about bird boxes from the RSPB – Click here
Build a camera bird box from the BTO – Click here
Keywords to help search
Bird boxes, bird box hole, nest box hole, nest box hole, hole sizers, correct bird box hole, nest box holes, choose hole size, which hole size.







 

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Winter freeze drives birds to the UK.

Ever wondered why we have many exotic birds on our shores this winter. It turns out that we are awash with fieldfare, redwings, waxwings and more. This may be due to the severe winters in Northern Europe and Russia. Why not replenish your camera feeder or install a camera bird box and enjoy our new winter visitors.

Read more
Interesting guardian article - click here
Picture acknowledgement - © Flickr
Handykam.com - bird box camera
Keywords to help search
Migrating birds, winter birds, bird watching, bird migration, weather effecting birds.

Give a camera bird box on National Nest Box Week 2011

Birds need our help. During the past few years, many of our native birds have seen a decline in numbers. Sadly this is due to changing habitats and feeding patterns and conditions. One major factor has been our unseasonably strange weather patterns over the past few months. Having a nest box, will not only keep them warm, but will help them raise a brood too.

Valentines day gift

One major way to help reverse the declining numbers is to put up a nest box. As part of  a national campaign, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) holds National Nest Box Week. This is where they are encouraged to put up a bird box. The campaign starts on valentines day – February 14th 2011 and runs for a week.
British bird box week

Why not get involved.
Read more about bird box week and grab yourself a box. If you want something a little more, why not invest in a wonderful camera bird box. This way you can help your birds and enjoy them too.

Handykam – Supports National Nest Box week. Broods need our help. Adopt a brood today!
More information

Nest box week website – http://www.bto.org/nnbw/index.htm
BTO website – http://www.bto.org
Buy a camera bird box from Handykam.com


Keywords to help search
National bird box week, National bird box week 2011, NBBW, NBBW 2011, BTO Birdbox week, valentines bird box week.
Article based on national bird box week, NBBW, using camera bird boxes and camera nest boxes to help bird numbers this valentines day.




Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Bird box camera - Connect scart or phono?

We have many customers asking, should we use the scart connector or phono plugs on our nest box camera cable. Good question. This is purely a personal choice.

Scarts are strange shaped plugs with 21 pins. They have become the most common form of connecting av equipment (Like bird box camera cables) to TV's. Most AV equip still has a scart connector, but it will become obsolete when HDMI plugs get popular.

Phono or RCA connectors have been around since 1950's and stood the test of time. They are used for all type of AV equipment and still very popular. Normally the only colours you would use is yellow - video and white - audio.

Both connectors are very good and choice is purely on which one you prefer to use. The ports are often limited on a TV, so a good choice will allow you to connect more AV equipment.

More info
Buy a scart connector - click here
More info about scart connectors - click here
More info about phono connectors - click here

Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Camera traps find more animals in urban forests

Interestingly, a study into animals in urban areas found that animals seemed to concentrate in mainly urban environments. Could it be the weather, feeding patterns or something else?

When the curator of New York Museum and author with a technology student used camera traps and GPS to document a wide range of wildlife. Camera traps or trail cameras are a perfect way of monitoring animals with disturbing them. They work remotely, triggering a camera through motion sensitive sensor. The footage can then be studied at a later day.

The research shows that through technology there is a lot we can learn and understand about our wildlife and the environment.

Handykam.com is a leading supplier of trail cameras and remote cameras for watching wildlife.

More information
Thanks for the New York Times for the great article and pictures.
More about trail cameras.

Monday, 7 February 2011

Future of wildlife cameras and bird box cameras.

The future is bright, the future is QuantumFilm. This is the new technology that may revolutionise the convention ways of camera sensors. At the moment you get CCD cameras and CMOS cameras. QuantumFilm developed in Toronto.

The technology boasts 4 x the sensitivity with 100% light recorded. The biggest plus is that the cost will be a lot less than conventional light chips.

Can't wait for the release of these. Who knows, we may have a bird box camera with hyper reality, making you feel you are in there with them.
Read more
The article was based on this - click here
Thanks CNET/InVisage technologies for pic. 

About Handykam.com
Leading company in bird box cameras, wildlife cameras and inspection cameras.



Monday, 3 January 2011

Bear bashes £130,000 bear cam

Bear smashes 130,000 remote bear camera while filming a documentary for the BBC.
What are you looking at: The spy cameras took some incredible close-up footage before they were destroyed
Wildlife documentaries like 'Polar Bear: Spy On The Ice' are increasingly looking at ways to use camera technology to learn more about the wildlife around us. With a camera you are able to get up close especially if it is disguised as a iceberg or snowball. Sometimes, animals outwit man, however, cameras are getting smaller and more discreet and becoming impossible to spot.

Make your own covert camera for filming
Why not make a wildlife covert cameras to monitor your wildlife or use a trail camera for remote recording.

Keywords to help search
bear cam, covert camera, wildlife camera, bbc camera,

Thursday, 21 October 2010

Bird box camera - Streaming cams...you gotta see these

There are many good quality bird box camera websites out there. We often dip into their live streams to see how well they are doing and if there is any live action. Bird box cameras are a great way to watch a hidden world of birds. Often not seen or heard, a bird box camera can pick up the most hidden secrets of birds from communicating, mating, building nests, laying eggs and fledging. Check out these sites and bookmark them for future.
Would like a bird box camera?
If you want a bird box camera then check out our wired bird box cameras, wireless nest box cameras.

Keywords to help search
bird box camera, nest box cameras, streaming websites, bird cams, nest cams

Friday, 10 September 2010

Oldest bird found

Spanish palaeontologists may have uncoverered a dinosaur with the earliest evidence of feather follicles. The animal named 'Concavenator corcovatus' is a type of theropod and found around 100-146 million years ago. If only they had bird camera to see what they looked like.

Read more
Oldest bird - BBC website

*Image copyright - BBC

Keywords to help search
Oldest bird, old birds, first birds


Thursday, 9 September 2010

Make a bird out of paper: Paper crane

Make a paper crane in origami. Great fun making birds out of paper.

A perfect project for children too. Check out the paper cranes

Keywords to help search
Origami, paper cranes, paper birds,

Covert cameras used for caring

In the US over 90% of old people wanted to stay in their homes as they got older. There is a growing need to use cameras to monitor the elder generation. So called telecaregivers, people who help the elderly remotely by watching in-house cameras and offering advice. Its a great use of cameras and ultimately to help elderly relatives.

Why not use one of our covert cameras to monitor your home.

More about cameras used for caring.

Keywords to help search
cameras, webcams, carecams

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Bird box camera images, nest box camera images

Over the years, we have taken a few photos of bird box cameras and nest box cameras. Here are a few of them:
Bird box camera images
Pine bird box, standard black & white CMOS resolution cam system

Bird box camera with black and white camera
Pine bird box and standard CMOS resolution camera system

Camera bird box and colour camera

Pine bird box and high resolution CCD resolution camera system

Bird box camera and high resolution colour camera

Cedar bird box and feeder with high resolution colour CCD camera

Cedar bird box camera and camera feeder
Cedar bird box and standard CMOS resolution camera system

Cedar bird box camera and colour camera
Pine bird box standard wireless CMOS resolution camera system

Wireless bird box camera

Keywords to help search
bird box camera images, nest box camera images, bird box camera photos, nest box camera photos

Inspection camera as used on Help my house is falling down

Inspection cameras are a great way to survey old properties. Often a property is very hard to fully survey without the use of inspection cameras.

With an inspection camera you can do:
pipe inspections and surveys
drain inspections and surveys
structural and building inspections
chimney inspections and surveys

With a inspection camera system Sarah Beeny would be proud of you. The kit is perfect for professionals from builders, plumbers, surveyors, architects, chimney inspectors, maintenance men and more. Once bought it will save you hundreds of hours and 1000's of pounds too.

Check out the inspection cameras on the Handykam website.

Keywords for search
Inspection camera, drain cameras, pipe cameras, drain inspections, chimney inspections, camera inspections, structural survey equipment, building inspections, help my house is falling down, camera surveys, sewer cams, sewer cameras




Waterproof your bird box and wildlife camera connectors

Having cables exposed to the elements could cause corrosion and loss of quality. Worry no more as we are now selling special waterproofing amalgamation tape to stop this from happening. This is a must for outdoor wildlife cameras.

Keywords to help search
waterproof connectors, waterproof tape, connector tape, bird box connectors


Saturday, 7 August 2010

Brand new wildlife camera shelter launched from Handykam.com

Yet another innovative product by Handykam. This is a camera shelter allowing you to use your small bird box camera outside to film wildlife in all weathers. The hand made Cornish cedar is perfect for keeping the worst of the weather off your camera and connectors.

Now you can extend the use of your bird box camera or wildlife camera to be used outside. The shelter comes with a bracket and can be positioned in virtually any position.


This is perfect for:
  • Open nesting birds
  • Hard to reach wildlife
  • Feeding stations
  • Pointing at bird box entrances
This is a perfect gift for anyone of all ages.

Read more about the camera shelter

Keywords to help search
camera shelter, camera protection, weatherproof camera box, outdoor wildlife camera box, weatherproof wildlife camera box.

Thursday, 5 August 2010

Perfect gardening birthday gift?

Sometimes buying gifts are really hard. Faced with isles of disposable gifts can really turn the fun part of buying a gift a chore. Not to worry as we have a great selection of garden gifts that are perfect for males to females, children to elderly, couples to singles.

Our ideal gifts are beautifully made and give lots of pleasure for years to come. Have a look at our products as they represent value for money and are wonderful to receive for the special day.

Bird box camera
Wildlife cameras
Feeder cameras
Other gardening gifts

Keywords to help search
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Wednesday, 4 August 2010

Old bird boxes and nest boxes

Have you seen an old bird box, nest box lately?
Most bird boxes don't tend to last very long. Often they are are well seasoned and weathered.

Handykam bird boxes are built to last for many years. Most of our boxes are made out of 19mm wood and designed out of long lasting Cornish cedar or treated (outside) tough pine. Why not update your box, give a  brood a home and maybe pop a camera in there too.

[Great shot by aiddy on Flickr © All Rights Reserved ]

Keywords to help search
old bird box, old nest box, replace bird box, new bird box

Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Bird box from Tesco

There are many bird box camera systems around. They are now available at Tesco too. This one we have have spotted and bought. It is a neat b/w camera and waterproof ducting. Why not pop it into your shopping the next time you are buying online or going down the isles. Check it out. Otherwise, we have a full range of boxes with useful add-ons available.

More information
Tesco camera bird box
Our range of bird box camera systems

Keywords to help search
Tesco, black and white bird box, supermarket bird box

Camera bird box for schools

It is great to hear from schools and how they are using technology to learn about the environment around us. Today's curriculum is multifaceted and requires kids to cover many aspects of the modern world. With a camera bird box, the learning can span over many months and years too. Nothing better than hands on learning.

Pictured on the left are pupils from Newport Primary School as photographed for The South Wales Argus. They are using a handykam.com nest box camera system. Check the bird box article out and we are thrilled to be able to provide a good source for learning.

Read more
The South Wales Argus article
Pine camera bird box pictured
*** Image copyright - South Wales Argus

Keywords to help search
bird box, nest box, schools, school, school bird box, education, nation curriculum.

Monday, 2 August 2010

Bird box made of VHS tapes

Want a good use for those old VHS fitness tapes? How about converting them into a bird box. It is the new rise in recycling old technology. We really like the fact that one of the holes is an entrance hole for the bird. Although, plastic is not a brilliant material for boxes as it does not breathe as well as wood. What a great idea though...Go for it, build one today.

If you get a camera kit, we give you some plans on how to build your own. Check out the bird box camera kit here.

Keywords to help search
bird box, recycle, nest box

Define a bird box

Over the years, bird boxes have been called many things. The names can vary from country to country and can be very different. Here are a few of them:
Define bird box: A box like structure built to house birds. Often made of wood and got an entrance hole for access.

More info
Handykam bird boxes only

Read more
Wikipedia bird box
Define bird box on google

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Mouse trap or bird feeder?

Mice will do anything to get their claws on some bird food. A mouse keeps popping back to have a good feed. Amouseing!

Read more about mouse in bird feeder

Why not place a bird feeder up to feed your birds. Handykam can also supply camera bird feeders too so you can keep an eye on them too.

Copyright
Mercury Press Agency

Daily Mail

Friday, 23 July 2010

Film more than birds on your bird camera

Sometimes you can get more than you bargained for on your bird camera. A garden in Pepperell Massachusetts (US) spotted something more than just birds on their cam. The owner tried to attract various birds, but found that squirrels and raccoons were the only troublesome visitors. After investing a bit more money protecting the feeder from visitors, he rigged up a wildlife camera only to film another visitor. Check out the picture....

More info
Why not rig up your wildlife camera and see what you get.
Check out the bear article

Keywords to help finding article
Wildlife camera, wildlife cam, bear cam, feeder camera, feed cam, camera trap


Tuesday, 20 July 2010

1000+ artist bird boxes on view

Imagine seeing 1000+ nest box / bird box hanging on a wall together. Well you can in Cardiff city. It was unveiled last year from world famous, German born, London artist Gitta Gschwendtner.

The 50 metre long wall is festooned with various types of bird boxes for all types of birds.  It was built to encourage birds to settle and limit the impact of 1,000 new apartments built nearby.

All, that is missing are the bird box cameras or nest box cameras.

Read more about Gitta
Read more about her work
Bird box camera kits by handykam

Keyword to help search
Bird boxes, bird homes, bird house development, environmental design.

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

Birds really love wooden bird boxes

Traditionally, bird boxes are made of wood as they mimic the natural bird habitat. But they are know to be made of concrete, woodcrete, plaster, corrugated signs and yes even metal! However, the best boxes are large, wooden, dry, easy to access and feel safe and secure for raising a brood. Handykam nest boxes are built with birds in mind. They are large, dry, robust and well designed for most birds. Built from years of knowledge of birds in mind and bird box cameras too.

Read more
Bird boxes
Why choose Handykam bird boxes
Nest box Wikipedia article

Keywords to help searches
bird boxes, bird box, birdbox, nest box, nesting box, nest boxes, nestbox, bird houses, bird house

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Forget 15 Megapixel - 33 Megapixel is here

Imagine a 33 Megapixel camera....Its here. The Mamiya rz33. A mere snip at £12,000.  Featuring a
33MP, 48 x 36mm CCD sensor. It is the first RZ series camera to feature
fully integrated electronics for direct communication with the digital
back. Other features include true 16 bit/channel RAW capture,
built-in rotating sensor, ISO range of 50-800 and image capture rate of
1.1 seconds per frame. The RZ33 is compatible with all RZ system
lenses and most accessories. Dear father Christmas.....

Read more - Review
Read more - Mamiya

Keywords to help search
digital camera, still camera, CCD sensor

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Stop at the lolli-cam

Cameras are being fitted into so many things these days. They are so small, they often cannot be seen. In fact, they are being fitted to hand held lollipop stop signs. So think twice before speeding on a cross street as you may be on camera.

Read the miniature camera article from the BBC.

Read more about miniature cameras or covert cameras at Handykam.com


Keywords to help search
miniature cameras, secret cameras, traffic camera



Sunday, 4 July 2010

BBC Springwatch wildlife cameras

Photo copyright - © BBC

 Springwatch rules
As a camera company, we are huge fans of Springwatch and Autumnwatch, brought to you by the hard working team at the BBC Natural History unit. Over the years, we have had contact with a number of BBC cameramen who have given us some very good tips on filming wildlife closeup and what technology is needed.

The team
Within the outside broadcast team, they have over 90
experts and technicians at hand. Each playing an important role in
getting valuable shots to our screens. The small cameras are brought to
you by the 'minicam team' who work tirelessly building highly bespoke
solutions to get tailored shots perfect for the big screen. Before
any filming is done, there is a lot of research and planning. By
knowing what, where and how to film can help save valuable time and
effort.


The technology
The main technology they use are high quality
mini cameras that are broadcast quality in HD format. The cameras are
often linked up to huge bank of video splitters and monitors via miles
of coaxial cables. Everything is individually powered by huge site
generators. Normally white light is used in order to get the high
quality colour and clarity. They do not normally go for infra-red as
they mainly monitor and film during active parts of the day.

The filming challenge
Filming in remote locations can prove to be very difficult. Often problems like remoteness, inaccessibility, humidity and moisture requires specific technological solutions. Not to mention that small creatures do like to chew cables too. However, problems are often conquered by the use of new technology, resulting in ground breaking filming techniques and footage.  So if you see the cameras on Springwatch, you must know that they are high end broadcast quality with bespoke technologies, techniques and huge budgets behind them.

Future of filming
Filming wildlife can always prove a challenge. As technology improves, price drops we will see new exiting footage. We must thank the pioneering team at the BEEB, who have helped push the envelope of filming and raise the awareness of the natural world around us. Programmes like Springwatch and Autumnwatch have helped promote accessibility of wildlife around us. Who knows, with a little bit of kit you can have your very own Springwatch too.

More reading
BBC springwatch website
BBC natural history unit

Keywords to help search
springwatch, bbc springwatch, springwatch cameras, wildlife cameras, HD wildlife cameras, BBC Natural history unit,







Saturday, 3 July 2010

Nest camera on black redstart

Black redstarts are very, very rare. Even more rarer is seeing them close up on a bird camera. The BBC film a brood nesting in a secret location in Birmingham.

It is said that there are only 90 breeding pairs in England and Wales choosing to nest in old abandoned buildings, normally in cities and industrial areas throughout England.

Facts about black redstart:
  • Latin name - Phoenicurus ochruros
  • Size - Small as a robin
  • What they eat - Insects, spiders and worms

Check out the redstart nest camera clip from the BBC.

Pic Copyright - RSPB - Check out there great bird database.


Keywords to help search
nest camera, redstart camera



Thursday, 1 July 2010

Stunning pics of bird box camera

Shirl has got some great photos and footage of here blue tits in her bird box. Have a look at her great footage and follow the story of her birds within her garden. Click here for more

Don't forget she was voted 'A TOP VIEW' - Check it out

Keywords to help search
bird box camera, bird box cam, nest box camera



Pic Copyright - Shirls Gardenwatch

Don't waste it - Handykam.com recycling intuitive

We have often been asked if we recycle paper in Handykam.com. Well, yes we do. Not only do we use recycled packaging for our products, but we also like to consider the environment with our waste too.

Every year, we get thousands and thousands of card board boxes which needs to be disposed of. We have teamed up with our local paper recycling station who take all our cardboard and make sure that it gets fully recycled into paper products. This helps reduce carbon as well as help the environment.

See the material received waste transfer form on the left. This was a van load today.

Feel rest assured with Handykam.com.

Keywords to help search
Recycle paper, recycle card, eco bird box, environmental bird box

Wednesday, 30 June 2010

Free bird box designs

Fancy building your own bird box or nest box? It is so much fun and really enjoyable thing to do with the kids. All you do is grab some wood, some screws and nails and you are away. If you are not sure how to design one, there are plenty of plans on the web. In fact Chris Packham from Springwatch has put a couple from his book on the web. Check it out the free bird box plans. However, don't forget you can watch them too with a bird camera kit. The kit includes free bird box plans to create a camera nest box too. Worth a good look. Go for it and have fun building today.

Keywords to help search
Free bird box plans, Free nest box plans, Free plans, Nest box camera, bird box camera

Monday, 31 May 2010

BBC Springwatch 2010 is here

How a year fly’s by. Thankfully it is time for BBC’s Springwatch. This is the award winning (Should be) LIVE wildlife show which is on BBC 2 for three weeks starting 31st May 2010. For the third year in a row the team are at Pensthorpe Park in northern Norfolk.


The park normally welcomes 90,000+ thousand visitors a year to witness is wonderful wildlife from a mixture of habitats.


Springwatch is a broadcasting technology masterpiece. With over 50 mini cameras and over 12km of fibre optics recording 500+ hrs of footage. This is all edited and often displayed LIVE to a seamless program presented by Chris Packham, Kate Humble, Simon King Gordon Buchanan and Martin Hughes-Games.

springwatch2010

Go for it, after a busy day of work, grab some pop corn, sit back and enjoy the delights of Springwatch. If you have some footage too, why not submit to the team online. Have fun and enjoy.


Check out these features

The LIVE web cams streamed on the web – click here

Jump between the cameras and enjoy the live commentary

Great wildlife articles – click here

Good section of articles from attracting wildlife to your garden to seeing wildlife


More links

Springwatch 2010 website – Great new website – click here

iPlayer website – Check it out if you have missed it – click here

Pensthorpe – click here


Why not have your own Springwatch

Have your very own nest box camera

Enjoy your wildlife with a wildlife camera

Capture your footage and display to the world with a capture device


Keywords

Springwatch, spring watch, springwatch 2010, Chris Packham, Kate Humble, Simon King Gordon Buchanan and Martin Hughes-Games, BBC nature, UK nature, Pensthorpe,