Birdhouse project October 2007

I needed to have a way to house/hide my color infra red camera surveillance system and thought a bird house would be just right.  Online I found plans to build a Purple Martin apartment with two floors and 8 units.  I decided to house the cameras on the top floor and block off two holes so birds could not get in.  One of the bottom floor rooms is also plugged to keep birds away from the camera cables.  I used left over building materials laying around for most of this project.

This "Bird Church" is a converted "Bird Hard Rock Cafe".    The roof has the same shingles as my house.  Under the shingles is a layer of aluminum foil.  Shiny side out.  The roof is vented at both gable ends and along the lower edges.  The walls also have air holes.   40 pounds.

The top floor walls, floor,  and ceiling are painted black to help hide the cameras inside.  Roof is hinged to open one side.

Wall is removable for servicing. 

The clock is made from an old meat thermometer.  The door knobs are guitar strap buttons.  Everything got 5 coats of oil base primer and 3 coats of base paint before the artwork was added.  Three coats of exterior polyurethane cover the art. 

Here it is installed facing the driveway and alley entry.   Notice the camera looking right from the top left window.  The poles are telescopic and can be raised an additional 3 feet if necessary. 

Below is the birdhouse in the back alley.

Another angle.

The tin roof is made from an old baking pan folded in the middle.

15" monitor and 4 channel DVR.  Camera #1 front of house showing truck in driveway and alley entrance on the right side of the screen.  Camera #2 faces down the side of the alley to the curve in the back.  Camera #3 picks up the alley curve from the back of the yard.  Camera #4 looks down the alley.  With this setup I have a record of every car that uses the alley.

Camera #2 view.  Since the camera sits on the fence line it can see down both sides of the fence.  The red light in the middle of the photo is from the camera that took this pic.  You can see the natural cave formed at the curve of the alley that has overgrown into a spot perfect for dirty deeds.  I like to keep an eye on it.

The cameras and DVR record continuously onto four channels.  So when reviewing the tape you can see one or all four channels at any time.