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DIY for Homeowners

DIY Bird House for Smart Outdoor Security Camera

10/25/2018

5 Comments

 
text by Vicki     Sign up to get Mother Daughter Projects updates in your email!

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.
To date, we have installed three Ring smart home devices at Steph's house and one at mine. We have been impressed with the ease of installation, as well as the app setup. 

As participants in the 2018 #smarthome campaign with The Home Depot, we are able to request smart home products to try out. Since we had already installed the Ring hardwired outdoor camera, as well as the plug-in version, we wanted to try out the battery one too!

We were sent a two-pack of of battery powered cameras to try out. 

The easiest install would have been to put them on the house, but we wanted to be able to see the exterior. We needed to install them away and looking towards the exterior of the house. 

Take a look at what we did, and how we gave them a bit of camouflage. 
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Outdoor Rectangle Security Wireless Standard Surveillance Camera in White (2-Pack)

Materials:


  • Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Outdoor Rectangle Security Wireless Standard Surveillance Camera in White (2-Pack) (Home Depot)

  • 4 in. Poplar Board (Home Depot)

  • 3 in. Poplar Board (Home Depot)

  • Titebond III 16 oz. Ultimate Wood Glue (Home Depot)

  • Rust-Oleum Earth Brown Camouflage Spray Paint (Home Depot)

  • Spar Urethane (Home Depot)

  • 8 ft. Landscape Timber (Home Depot)

  • RIDGID 15 Amp 12 in. Corded Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw with 70° Miter Capacity (Home Depot)

Ring Spotlight Cam Battery Outdoor Rectangle Security Wireless Standard Surveillance Camera in White (2-Pack) compatibility chart.
We purchased an outdoor post at The Home Depot.
We purchased an outdoor post (along with a post hole digger) for one of the cameras. The other will also be on a post, but there is already one in the backyard.
Poplar boards are good for crafty projects.
We also picked up some poplar boards for the 'birdhouses.' This is a perfect choice for crafty projects.
Making the cuts in the poplar for the birdhouses.
Steph created a 'birdhouse' design based on the measurements of the camera. She used a miter saw to make the cuts.
Making the bevel cuts.
Making the bevel cuts.
All the 'birdhouse' pieces were glued and clamped into place.
After all the pieces were cut, we used outdoor wood glue to connect the pieces. Everything was clamped into place and allowed to dry.
Glue the roof into place and allow to dry.
After the sides were dry, we added the roof. These weights helped to keep the parts in place as it dried.
Picture
The two pieces, we cut from the sides, were glued into the underneath side of the roof. This will make the 'birdhouse' fit flat against the top of the camera.
Painting the post with Rust-Oleum Earth Brown Camouflage Spray Paint.
Steph dug a hole and set the post and then backfilled the hole with dirt. I sprayed it with Rust-Oleum Earth Brown Camouflage Spray Paint.
The two little 'birdhouses' are finished and in place.
The two little 'birdhouses' are finished and in place. They fit like a slipcover. There is nothing extra holding them in place.
The finished post and 'birdhouse' in place.
From a distance, the camera blends into nature. The roof on this one is a bit long. Because of that, the full height of the house can't be seen, but we don't consider that to be a problem.
The placement of this camera gives a great view from the door to the backyard at Steph's house.
The placement of this camera gives a great view from the front door to the backyard at Steph's house.
One of the concerns we had about this product, was expected battery life. Steph set up the camera in the house prior to installing it outside to monitor battery life. She found the battery lasted 50 days before needing to be recharged. Also, there is room for two batteries in each camera so, in theory, if two batteries are installed, you could get 100 days of use before recharging. 

​We acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with us to participate in the Smart Home Campaign 2018. As a part of the Program, we are receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are our own words. Our post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

FYI: We are not professionals, and we don’t claim to be. This is what we found worked for our project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!

FYI: Affiliate links are being used on this page. Purchasing via these links help support MDP!

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5 Comments
Mike
10/26/2018 04:29:31 am

Tthat is exactly what I have been looking for! Though I'll never be able to afford it.

Reply
Bob link
2/1/2020 05:21:43 pm

I heard you say that hurricane Michael came through after you installed your Ring cameras. How did they hold up? Any damage from water being blown at high velocity into the cameras?

Reply
Steph
2/3/2020 06:57:04 am

Nope, no damage to the cameras.

Reply
Jean S Taylor link
3/22/2021 10:47:41 pm

My husband and I want to put a camera in a birdhouse in the back yard so we can watch the baby birds from egg stage to maturity. Does your birdhouse do that. Can you see inside of it and watch the birds? Just curious. Thanks

Reply
Steph
3/23/2021 08:12:17 am

This is not a real bird house, it's just a cover for the camera that makes the camera look like a bird house. But you could probably make a birdhouse to put a camera like this in. Wyze outdoor camera is a good option, as it is smaller that the Ring camera.

Reply



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