"I want photos of birds at my feeder sent to my phone."
A tiny camera board next to the feeder takes a photo when something moves and sends it to your phone. It's cheap and fun; the photos are decent, not wildlife-magazine sharp.
Cost $15–30 · Time one weekend · Level some experience helps · Power USB (solar is harder)
What to buy
| Part | Why this one | Rough cost |
|---|
| ESP32-CAM with its USB programming board (ESP32-CAM-MB) | Camera and WiFi on one small board. The add-on board makes uploading code easy. | $8–15 |
| PIR motion sensor (e.g. AM312) | Detects warm, moving bodies. Small and low-power. | $1–3 |
| 5V USB power supply, 2 A | The camera and WiFi together draw a lot; weak supplies cause random resets. | $5 |
| Weatherproof box with a clear window | Keeps rain and condensation off the lens. | $5–10 |
Prices are rough ranges, not quotes. Check the current price and stock before you order.
What to install
An Arduino sketch that wakes on motion, takes a photo and sends it through a Telegram bot (the UniversalTelegramBot library has ESP32-CAM examples). ntfy can take photo attachments too.
Runner-up: a Raspberry Pi with its camera module. It costs more and uses more power, but takes much better photos and can spot motion in the image itself.
Build it in three steps
- Take a photo on your desk. Flash the camera web-server example that comes with the ESP32 Arduino package, and view the picture in a browser.
- Send one to your phone. Set up the bot, and send a photo when you wave at the motion sensor.
- Move it outside. Mount it 30–60 cm from the perch, facing away from the sun, and adjust from there.
What catches people out
- Motion sensors miss small birds. PIR sensors are made to spot people; a small bird a metre away may not trigger one. Mount the sensor close to the perch, or take a photo every few seconds and keep only the ones that changed.
- Focus. The stock lens is usually focused further away. For close-ups it can be turned carefully to refocus (it's often held by a dab of glue), or move the camera back.
- Random resets. "Brownout detector was triggered" in the log means the power sagged. Use a good 5V supply and a short, thick cable.
- Solar is a step up. The camera draws a lot while it's awake. Get it working on USB before you try solar.
This guide first appeared on IotMentor, a free chat mentor for small electronics builds (I make it). If your setup is different (distance, power, budget, experience), you can ask it there and it will plan your version.