This is 9 days ahead of last year!

Well, did we get another egg today? None of the cams work worth a darn, so I can’t see anything. Kip, you need to go back to the setup you had last year.

Same exact setup in the bluebird house as last year Ron. I get lucky occasionally, but you pretty much have to have access to the streaming computer 24/7 because a computer, ustream, or my Internet connection crashes at least once a day. Or if the neighbor sneezes real loud the power goes out in this neck-of-the-woods.

“None of the cams work worth a darn”? I don’t think that’s a very fair statement. Sure the control cam & chickadee cam need some work, but I’ll get to it, and I think I do a decent job at streaming the bluebird nest & hopper cam until I have to leave the house. Yes, I have an offline life sometimes. Sorry for any inconvenience.

I have always wondered about the movements & behavior inside the bb house. This has been an awesome experience already! Thank you soooo much! I can hardly turn away from the computer, she is so beautiful. Thank you again for all of your hard work that allows us to be a part of this special miracle.

Kip,
Sorry that I came off sounding so bit(hy about your efforts. I should have taken the time to say what i meant in a more diplomatic manner.
I just remember last year when the control cam seemed to work better. This year, it seems to take a very long time to respond to selection of a different view. Maybe the internet is getting too crowded Also, it doesn’t seem to want to let me make fine adjustments (PT&Z) when I go to a view.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what you are doing and the fact that you are willing to put yourself out there for criticism from know-it-alls like me. And to answer that burning question, no, I don’t think I could do any better. Keep on, we love you for it.

P.S. I had my money on 6 eggs. Tomorrow will tell.

Well I hope I didn’t come off that way either Ron. I didn’t take it that way from you, but I was just like, “None”? Hey, wait a minute, I at least have one or two out of eight cams (5 are at the house) always broadcasting! lol

I TOTALLY agree w/ you on the PTZ cam and to put it in a kid-friendly way, I am not happy with usrelay.com regarding this $1300 cam. I bought this cam based upon the two links under “Latest News” on their homepage.

http://www.usrelay.com
http://www.usrelay.com/about_us/news.php?id=13
http://www.usrelay.com/about_us/news.php?id=14

Now you would think this cam would work with their interface after reading that right? Well after we get it going and I point out the issues, they recall that they encountered the same issue with the same cam here: www.throwdownsandiego.com. You’ll notice the cams don’t have zoom and you can only move to presets. Sound familiar? Don’t get me wrong, they’re very nice folks (at about $400/month for all control cams they should be), but I can’t really return a cam because it doesn’t work with them.

I think you know I won’t leave it unresolved forever. I’m hoping they’ll come up w/ a solution or Canon will upgrade their firmware, but if not, I’m just going to have to throw money at it.

Thoroughly appreciate your response, and you may be right. I didn’t know until today they would do over 5 (4-7) eggs: http://www.sialis.org/eggnumbers.htm

Keep up the awesome work Kip. We really appeciate all your doing!!:)

Oh yeah, I read (& we recalled from last year in chat today) that she starts incubating on the penultimate egg, so I’m calling her done at 5 eggs–for the record. Hope I’m wrong.

Kip,
I concede. I guess my 6 was just wishful thinking. Hopefully all 5 make it.

Thank you!!!!! This is great being able to watch “mother nature” like this. I try to get bluebirds in my back yard but haven’t been very successful ~ too many predators. So, if I can’t have them myself this is the next best thing!!!! But, I’m not going to give up!

It’s been a little while since I’ve checked in, but I am just amazed at what all you have done Kip! This is just totally awesome that we get to see so many birds and at different activities! I am so happy at just seeing them at all, never mind the luxury of watching them in real-time with zooms and such.
We put a bluebird house up, but unfortunately the pair (first ones I’ve seen at our cabin!) went to our neighbor’s birdhouse. Chickadees decided our “bluebird house” was just right for them, but that is okay, they need a home too.
Thanks again so much Kip for all your hard work, time and money on the birding projects!

Thanks Brenda & Terri. Great “cam” time of year.

Ron, is it me or is the control cam panning, tilting & zooming correctly? I’m not calling it solved yet, but I’ve been PTZ’ng all day w/o issue.

Kip, is the male blue bird still around?

Hi Kip,
The PTZ seems to be working a lot better now. The response time is a little slow, but it responds to commands. Before, it just kinda took off on its own when you tried to zoom or tilt. You’re getting it tuned in

Hi Kip, I’m back this year to watch and cheer on the bluebirds… and also the other families you let us visit with now too… I’m up in New York State (but can’t get bluebirds to enjoy my turf). I do have a pretty good wildlife view but nothing like what you provide to us to enjoy. Thanks for your efforts and generosity….

Hi Linda. Oh yeah he’s around. Been feeding his mate in the nest occasionally.

Welcome back Ginny T! Hope they put on a good show for you all.

Everything looks great this year Kip. You have done such an excellent job in setting things up.
I am keeping an eye every day for the first “crack”!!
Have a terrific weekend.
Snowypeach

Kip’s a daddy again! Here’s hoping all continues to go well…

Thank you Mary & Ginny T. All systems are go; they look great–growing by the day.

What a wonderful nest full of little blue birds. I read that you wrote the papa was raising them on his own. What happened to mama blue bird?