Bob is back! Smart bird feeder leverages AI to recognize individual birds

Bird Buddy, the tech-for-nature startup, has unveiled a new AI feature called Name That Bird. The technology allows people to identify and name individual birds visiting a smart feeder in their yard. Using Bird Buddy's high-resolution camera, the AI can recognize unique elements of each avian visitor, enabling bird enthusiasts to form deeper connections with those who regularly stop by.

This personalized bird identification system not only lets users name their favorite visitors but also notifies them when a specific bird returns to the feeder. For instance, users can name a Northern Cardinal 'Bob' and receive alerts whenever Bob flies in for a snack. While still experimental, this non-invasive approach to tracking individual birds could massively benefit conservation efforts as it becomes more accurate over time.

Name That Bird is part of Bird Buddy's Nature Intelligence suite. Another feature detects sick or injured birds and tells users how they can help, while Pet Alert warns users of the presence of pets (read cats 🐈) near a feeder. Bird Buddy has also extended its species recognition capabilities, enabling identification and recording of butterflies, raccoons and other backyard creatures.