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Troubleshooting

3.  BirdCam takes an unusually

 

high number of empty images

  

(without birds) in AUTO mode.

Suggestions:
Some empty images are inevitable. Empty images most commonly 
result from birds flying past the BirdCam without landing or, in rare 
cases, movement of the feeder itself. If the ratio of empty images to 
images with birds is unusually high, try the following...

•  DECREASE the SENSITIVITY setting.
•  DECREASE the #PHOTOS/EVENT setting.
•  Position the BirdCam to minimize open area behind the 
  

target (eg - aim at feeder against a wall or seed on the ground). 

      This should reduce the number of ‘fly-by’ triggers. 

4. Photos or Videos are 

too dark or too light.

Suggestion:
As with any automatic camera, the BirdCam’s image quality  
depends on many variables, such as the source and intensity of 
light. During dawn and dusk, it is normal for the BirdCam to take 
some dark images.

Ideal light conditions are shade or indirect sunlight. 

If your images are poorly exposed in all conditions, please contact  
customer support.

Summary of Contents for BirdCam

Page 1: ...BirdCam User s Guide ...

Page 2: ...This product is covered by one or more of the following US Patents 6735387 6768868 and 6834162 Other patents pending 2007 Ebsco Industries Inc All Rights Reserved ...

Page 3: ... Customer Support Phone 888 811 WING 9464 Fax 205 408 6157 Email support wingscapes com Web www wingscapes com support Address Wingscapes 150 Industrial Road Alabaster AL 35007 ...

Page 4: ...Quick Start Guide 6 Getting to Know the BirdCam 7 Mounting the BirdCam 14 MODE Menu 19 SETUP Menu 21 AUTO Mode 36 MANUAL Mode 37 TIMELAPSE Mode 38 Accessing Photos and Videos 40 Troubleshooting 42 BirdCam Accessories 46 Warranty 48 Additional Information 49 ...

Page 5: ...2 to 4 feet in front of it Weather bird species feeder type feeder placement and other factors all influence BirdCam performance Custom settings allow you to optimize the BirdCam for a variety of conditions Finding the correct combination of settings and BirdCam placement for a given situation may require some experimentation and practice At any time you can reset the BirdCam to its factory defaul...

Page 6: ...eferably within 4 feet Secure the BirdCam with the included stretch cords 4 Adjust the focus ring to match the distance between the BirdCam and the target 5 Move the BirdCam s power switch to the ON position 6 Close the door and secure the latches of the BirdCam What Happens Then The BirdCam will be in the MODE menu After a 30 second countdown the BirdCam enters AUTO mode using the factory default...

Page 7: ...elp you familiarize yourself with the Wingscapes BirdCam What s in the Box BirdCam Stretch cords for mounting 2 USB cable for downloading photos and videos to a computer TV Out cable for viewing photos and videos on a TV User s Guide Warranty Registration Card ...

Page 8: ... infrared sensor display photocell turns BirdCam off at dusk on at dawn loop for mounting and or aiming camera lens shutter button in MANUAL mode cutaways for attaching stretch cords latches security hasp for padlock not included ...

Page 9: ...ut cable plug slot for optional SD memory card TV out cable plug easy start guide mode button menu navigation buttons photocell turns BirdCam off at dusk on at dawn power ON OFF switch plug for optional 12 Volt DC power supply focus ring and camera lens laser aiming device READ LASER WARNINGS FIRST Getting to Know the BirdCam ...

Page 10: ...lapse Delay Variable No Delay Daily Multiple Shots Event 1 10 for Photo 1 3 for Video Lens multi element glass fixed aperture f 2 8 Lens Field of View 52 degrees roughly equivalent to a 46mm focal length in film camera Shutter Speed 1 8 1 4000 Focus 18 inches infinity Infrared Sensor Passive Max Detection Distance 8 for birds 32 for humans Detection Field of View 22 degrees Weight with batteries 2...

Page 11: ...tored on the SD card are accessible when the BirdCam is connected to a computer or TV or by using an optional SD card reader IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT SD MEMORY CARDS a Always turn the unit off when inserting or removing an SD card to avoid damage and ensure that the BirdCam properly updates the memory information b When an SD card is inserted in the BirdCam any photos stored in the BirdCam s internal...

Page 12: ...n optional external 12Volt power source When the BirdCam is active the amount of remaining battery capacity is displayed as a percentage When display reads B20 or lower replace batteries Average Memory Capacity vs Photo Resolution Photo Quality Included onboard 32MB Optional SD Card 256MB Optional SD Card 512MB LOW 640 x 480 339 2 993 5 995 MED 1328 x 996 92 812 1 624 HIGH 2048 x 1536 37 327 653 V...

Page 13: ...n stantly measures available light In very low light the photo cell forces the BirdCam into NIGHT mode This conserves battery power when there is not enough light to take pictures When the light level increases the photo cell will wake up the BirdCam which will resume operations according to current settings ...

Page 14: ...k situation e g inside a nest box When mounted the BirdCam should not move e g do not hang the BirdCam Position the BirdCam so there is no obstruction like branches or leaves between the BirdCam and its target Remember unlike bird feeders the BirdCam does NOT need to be mounted where you can see it It watches birds when and where you cannot Think about image composition Frame your shot Position th...

Page 15: ...the warning label on BirdCam before operating the laser To operate the laser aiming device 1 With the BirdCam door open use the MODE button to display ENTER SETUP and press to enter the SETUP menu 2 With the BirdCam pointed toward its target and away from people press the LASER AIM button This will activate the laser aim while you adjust the positioning on the BirdCam 3 To turn off the laser and r...

Page 16: ...Cam This is an excellent way to get close up photos and videos of many birds that do not regularly visit feeders Scenario 2 Mount with Included Stretch Cords The two included stretch cords can be used to attach the BirdCam to a tree or large post To do this simply hook the cords to the recessed cutaways on the back of the BirdCam This is the best way to target a feeder hanging from a tree limb ...

Page 17: ...h the BirdCam Note Most tripods are NOT weatherproof Shooting through Glass Windows A tripod is a great option for users who want to setup the BirdCam indoors aimed out of a window However the BirdCam s infrared sensor can not detect bird activity through a pane of glass If you plan to set up the BirdCam this way use the TIMELAPSE mode to take photos or videos at a specified interval This can resu...

Page 18: ...et optional accessory Wingscapes has designed an accessory bracket that makes it easy to mount a BirdCam on any round feeder pole with a diameter of to 1 For more information about this accessory contact your local Wingscapes dealer or visit www wingscapes com ...

Page 19: ...E to enter the MODE menu Navigate the MODE menu To navigate between the three operating modes AUTO MANUAL and TIMELAPSE and the SETUP menu press either the MODE or button Enter your selection From the Mode menu you can press the button to activate a selection NOTE In the MODE menu if no button is pressed within 30 seconds the BirdCam will enter whichever selection is displayed ...

Page 20: ...20 Press MODE or Press MODE or Press MODE or Press MODE or Mode Menu At any of the above screens press to enter your selection ...

Page 21: ... and other options that will optimize the BirdCam in different conditions REMEMBER At any time you can reset the BirdCam to its default factory settings by scrolling to RESET TO EASY in the SETUP menu and selecting EASY PHOTO Using the SETUP Menu Enter the SETUP menu From the MODE menu press the or MODE button until the display reads ENTER SETUP Press either or to enter the SETUP menu ...

Page 22: ... the or button will save that value Exit the SETUP menu Press the MODE button at any time to exit the SETUP menu and return to the MODE menu NOTE If the BirdCam is left in this mode without activity for more than 4 minutes it automatically goes to AUTO mode which is initiated by the 30 second countdown SETUP Menu Settings and Values Explained RESET TO EASY This setting allows you to reset ALL sett...

Page 23: ...red For a chart showing the EASY VIDEO values see the table below EASY PHOTO and EASY VIDEO Settings Setting NO EASY PHOTO EASY VIDEO RESET TO EASY No EASY PHOTO EASY VIDEO PHOTO OR VIDEO saves current setting Photo Video PHOTO QUALITY 1 saves current setting Medium see note 2 DELAY saves current setting 5 min 5 min PHOTOS EVENT 2 saves current setting 3 VIDEOS EVENT 2 saves current setting 1 SENS...

Page 24: ...tos or 10 second videos PHOTO Choose this value to take photos VIDEO Choose this value to take videos PHOTO QUALITY NOTE This setting does NOT appear when VIDEO is selected in the PHOTO OR VIDEO setting Use this setting to control the resolution of the digital photos taken by the BirdCam ...

Page 25: ...r and TV screens and are sufficient for photo prints up to 5 x7 HIGH 2048 x 1536 Use this value to take high resolution images These images consume more memory but they offer enough detail for photo prints up to 8 x10 Some will prefer to reduce these images on a computer before emailing We recommend using a lager capacity SD card when taking video or high resolution pictures Estimate of average ca...

Page 26: ... the time interval between photos or videos When the BirdCam wakes from a delay in TIMELAPSE mode it will immediately take photos or videos and then re enter a delay Notes about DELAY NO DELAY option This specialized option is intended for advanced users It will drain batteries faster and possibly result in an increased number of empty images without birds Long delays settings Long delays 4HR 6HR ...

Page 27: ...27 SETUP Menu DELAY values NO DELAY 30 MIN 30 SEC 45 MIN 1 MIN 1 HR 2 MIN 4 HR 5 MIN 6 HR 10 MIN DAILY 20 MIN 5 MIN is the default setting ...

Page 28: ...etting becomes VIDEOS EVENT and the maximum value is reduced from 10 to 3 see table below Recommendation If you are getting two many images or too many empty images select and lower value for PHOTOS EVENT If you want more images select a higher value PHOTOS EVENT values VIDEOS EVENT values 01 01 02 02 03 03 04 05 06 07 08 03 is default value for EASY PHOTO 09 10 01 is default value for EASY VIDEO ...

Page 29: ...then fails to detect motion for 60 seconds it will re enter a delay without taking the maximum number of photos In TIMELAPSE mode when a delay period ends the BirdCam immediately takes the specified number of photos or videos and then re enters another delay period SENSITIVITY The SENSITIVITY setting controls the infrared sensor Factors such as weather bird species distance to target and feeder ty...

Page 30: ... MEDIUM value and then adjust to HIGH or LOW accordingly HIGH Use this setting if you think the BirdCam is not triggering often enough with the MEDIUM value selected This value can be useful when the distance between BirdCam and target is farther than 5 feet or when you are trying to capture smaller birds IMPRINT INFO This setting allows you to imprint the time and date that a photo was taken alon...

Page 31: ...TE TIME and CAMERA NAME 1 Press or to display YES CHANGE 2 Press to enter SETUP DATE TIME 3 Press and to change values for day month year hour minute and AM PM 4 Press and to move between day month year hour minute and AM PM 5 From SETUP DATE TIME screen press to enter the CAMERA NAME screen 6 Press and to change characters in a given position in the camera name 7 Press and to move between charact...

Page 32: ...s the default factory value The optional BirdCam remote control will not work when NO is selected ON This option tells the BirdCam to look for a signal from the optional BirdCam remote control The BirdCam will consume batteries faster when YES is selected Please refer to the instructions for the optional BirdCam remote control for more information about installing and using the remote ...

Page 33: ...value will have no affect on the BirdCam YES To permanently erase all photos and videos stored in the BirdCam s memory select YES and press When DONE is displayed the memory has been erased SD Card installed This option will only erase the SD card It will not affect images stored in the BirdCam s internal memory SD Card NOT installed This option will erase the BirdCam s internal memory ...

Page 34: ...ng has two options NO This option is the default factory value Selecting this value will have no effect on the BirdCam YES Select this option and press to run a diagnostic test When you see the message WAVE HAND NOW wave your hand horizontally about 12 inches from the BirdCam s infrared sensor When you see the message TEST IN PROGRESS stop waving and wait for results For an explanation of test res...

Page 35: ...on BirdCam before operating laser To operate the laser aiming device 1 With the BirdCam door open use the MODE button to display ENTER SETUP and press to enter the SETUP menu RESET TO EASY will display 2 With the BirdCam pointed toward its target and away from people press the LASER AIM button This will activate the laser aim while you adjust the positioning on the BirdCam 3 To turn off the laser ...

Page 36: ...ity through a pane of glass If you plan to shoot through a window use the TIMELAPSE mode or optional remote control Enter AUTO mode From the MODE menu press the or MODE button until the display reads START AUTO Press to enter AUTO mode The BirdCam will countdown for 30 seconds before watching for birds This gives you time to shut the door and walk away Exit AUTO mode Press the MODE button at any t...

Page 37: ...hosen in the SETUP menu NOTE The motion sensor is NOT active in the MANUAL mode Enter MANUAL mode From the MODE menu press the or MODE button until the display reads START MANUAL Press to enter MANUAL mode Exit MANUAL mode Press the MODE button at any time to exit MANUAL mode and return to the MODE menu To see which SETUP menu settings take affect in MANUAL mode see the chart on page XX ...

Page 38: ... press the or MODE button until the display reads START TIMELAPSE Press to enter TIMELAPSE mode The BirdCam will countdown for 30 seconds before entering TIMELAPSE mode This gives you time to shut the door and walk away Exit TIMELAPSE mode Press the MODE button at any time to exit TIMELAPSE mode and return to the MODE menu To see which SETUP menu settings take affect in TIMELAPSE mode see the char...

Page 39: ...es yes yes PHOTO QUALITY 1 yes yes yes DELAY yes yes PHOTOS EVENT 2 yes yes SENSITIVITY yes IMPRINT INFO yes yes yes REMOTE CONTROL yes yes yes ERASE IMAGES TEST CAMERA 1 PHOTO QUALITY setting does not appear when PHOTO OR VIDEO is set to VIDEO 2 PHOTOS EVENT becomes VIDEOS EVENT when PHOTO OR VIDEO is set to VIDEO ...

Page 40: ...e to the TV OUT jack on the BirdCam 2 Connect the opposite end of the supplied A V cable to a VIDEO IN jack on your TV 3 Turn the BirdCam ON and enter the SETUP MENU 4 Use the and buttons to scroll through photos and videos View Images on a Computer Using Supplied USB Cable When connected via USB cable the vast majority of computers will recognize the BirdCam as a new drive This method will work u...

Page 41: ...ry should appear as new drive in Finder Viewing Images on a Computer Using Optional SD Memory Card and Reader Using an optional SD memory card not only allows you to expand your BirdCam s memory but it allows you to leave your BirdCam mounted outdoors while accessing images from the SD memory card IMPORTANT Always turn BirdCam OFF when inserting or remov ing a memory card See other notes regarding...

Page 42: ...thing is between your target and the infrared sensor DECREASE the DELAY setting INCREASE the PHOTOS EVENT setting INCREASE the SENSITIVITY setting DECREASE distance between BirdCam and your target 2 BirdCam takes too many photos or videos in AUTO mode Suggestions DECREASE the PHOTOS EVENT setting INCREASE the DELAY setting DECREASE the SENSITIVITY setting WINGSCAPES 150 Industrial Road Alabaster A...

Page 43: ...ting DECREASE the PHOTOS EVENT setting Position the BirdCam to minimize open area behind the target eg aim at feeder against a wall or seed on the ground This should reduce the number of fly by triggers 4 Photos or Videos are too dark or too light Suggestion As with any automatic camera the BirdCam s image quality depends on many variables such as the source and intensity of light During dawn and ...

Page 44: ... until YES appears 3 Press or button to activate your selection 4 When you see the message WAVE HAND NOW wave your hand about 12 inches from the BirdCam s infrared sensor When you see the message TEST IN PROGRESS stop waving Diagnostic Test Messages After the diagnostic test is complete a message indicating the status of the BirdCam will display If no problems are detected ALL SYSTEMS OK will disp...

Page 45: ...ttery O V or Battery Low 1 0 IR Sensor Test IR Sensor Passed IR Sensor Failed 3 0 Cam Mod Test Cam Mod Passed Cam Mod Failed 4 0 Clock Test Clock Passed Clock Failed 9 0 Memory Test Memory OK or No SD Card MemOK Memory Full SD Card Locked SD Card Damaged Comms Error 5 6 7 8 ...

Page 46: ...the BirdCam to most standard bird feeder poles BirdCam Remote Control Product WSRC01 The BirdCam can be controlled remotely with an optional accessory creatively named the BirdCam Remote Control NOTE Some BirdCam s are sold with the Remote Control system included WINGSCAPES 150 Industrial Road Alabaster AL 35007 Phone 888 811 WING 9464 Fax 205 408 6157 support wingscapes com www wingscapes com sup...

Page 47: ...cause harmful interference and 2 this device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equ...

Page 48: ...rt or parts which have been found to be defective in original material or workmanship Should you require in warranty service call our Customer Support Department If your problem cannot be addressed over the telephone we may need you to send us your defective product plus proof of purchase Wingscapes Customer Support WINGSCAPES 150 Industrial Road Alabaster AL 35007 Phone 888 811 WING 9464 Fax 205 ...

Page 49: ...ardous to the eyes Do not stare into the beam or direct it toward other people Caution Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference and 2 this device must ...

Page 50: ...50 Additional Information This product label can be found inside the battery compartment This yellow laser warning label can be found inside the door on the face of CK70300001 ...

Page 51: ......

Page 52: ...wingscapes com 888 811 WING 19064 This product is covered by one or more of the following US Patents 6735387 6768868 and 6834162 Other patents pending 2007 Ebsco Industries Inc All Rights Reserved ...

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