Designing a Better System for Crow Pics and Vids
For some time now, we've been trying to find a reliable way to both remotely photograph, and video record our crow tray with limited results. Oh, we've had our moments, but still, there has to be a better way. (It almost seems as if the tripod/cams rig scares away as many birds as it photographs.)
So, here's the deal... I'm starting to think about maybe building a single, canted, permanent camera support board that will be attached to the base of the crow tray. Since the focal lengths of the cameras differ (the NovaBird is 15", and the Flip Video is at least a meter), I'll have to arrange the board such that the NovaBird's lens will be at the bird's eye level, and the Flip Video will be shooting down; and both will have to be at the right focal length. Confusing? Just think of the Leaning Tower of Pisa rammed into the base of the crow feeder such that both cameras will be happy.
Alrighty then... What have we got to deal with? Well, this...
Here's what I'm thinking of. (And yes, I know the difference between the leg and the hypotenuse of a right triangle!)
Hopefully, this is the math that will all make it work... (I heard that groan... Don't make me come over there!)
Bottom line? I now know the scale I'm dealing with, and can easily make such a contraption, but I'm not sure I want it. (Ah, the crude beauty of pen and paper.)
We'll be thinking by the feeders,
CapeCodAlan
P.S. BTW... I used the "Law of Cosines" for much of the number crunching on this one.)
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: Inside Birding
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: All About Birding
Comments
CCA,
Sounds like the concept works unless it scares more birds away.
You might want to re-crunch some numbers, starting with the calculated angle at the ground base of the post. I think the angle is 17.2 degrees instead of 35.
Cheers,
Harry "Gipper" Morris
Posted by: Harry Morris | August 21, 2009 11:01 AM
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Posted by: Carly | August 21, 2009 11:05 AM
CCA,
Sorry for the postscript. I forgot to mention that you can make your "rig" totally flexible, letting you set your Flip Video and Novabird at any focal length you want using a similar setup you propose.
I'd be glad to email you a diagram of what I mean.
Cheers,
Harry "Gipper" Morris
Posted by: Harry Morris | August 21, 2009 11:49 AM