The ring is giving young Brits 50 stick-up outdoor battery cameras this spring, but will not spy on porch pirates or neighbors. Instead, it’s all about remote bird watching.
The gifts opened to UK residents ages 18-35 are part of a new partnership between the ring and RSPB, designed to encourage a new generation of birdwatchers.
In a new ring survey of 2,000 adults, 24% of Gen Z plans to try birdwatching this spring, with over 60% of Britons already finding birds in their gardens.
Of course, cameras like Bird Band and Bird have dedicated birdwatching cameras, but there’s no reason why “regular” smart security cameras can’t do their job.
Blue boobs, amazing boobs, magpies, pigeons and owls are said to be on top of the video charts, but the ring and RSPB hope people are keeping an eye on the regular guests, such as the song’s thrush, green finch, and sterling. All of this has plummeted over the last few decades.
The good news is that birdwatching not only helps conservation efforts, it may also boost your mood.
In a Ring study, 73% of people say birds and bird chirping improves health, while 57% believe it helps reduce stress in seeing birds.
To participate in the gift, birders need to explain why they want a camera (within 50 words or less). The Ring will also donate cameras to outstanding RSPB volunteers as part of the initiative.
Also, for ring users, RSPB asks you to use the “share” feature of the ring app to share clips of sterling, green finch and other important species.
The most useful videos will help researchers better understand population change and habitat use.
If you want to make your garden more attractive to our feather friends, RSPB recommends setting up nesting boxes, planting native plants, and making the green space more gentle to wild postures.
Ring’s blog also offers tips on how to set up your device for birdwatching, including how to use the “Smart Video Search” feature to quickly find the best bird moments.
