During the past few years, my BirdCam setup has evolved significantly. As I mention in the UpFront section of this issue, I hope to get the stream transferred to a YouTube Live stream at some point, so I can watch the feathery show on my television. And although watching the birds is the end goal, I’m constantly on a mission to improve the quality and flexibility of my setup.
Right now, the “best” quality video comes from Logitech 720p cameras that connect to my motion server via USB. (You can check out the setup in previous articles—just search for “birdcam” on LJ.com, and you’ll find lots of information.) I’ve purchased several IP cameras, but each one has its limitations and frustrations. For one, the quality of an IP video camera is just not as sharp as a photo from a local device—at least not without spending literally thousands of dollars for a high-quality IP camera from Axis. I figured there must be an easier way, and with the dawning of the Raspberry Pi 3 era, I think I found it.
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Each Friday is PiDay here at Adafruit! Be sure to check out our posts, tutorials and new Raspberry Pi related products. Adafruit has the largest and best selection of Raspberry Pi accessories and all the code & tutorials to get you up and running in no time!