NewsBird Buddy’s new nature camera attracts and records more than just birdsThe Petal can identify over 2,000 species and generate narrated nature documentaries from what it captures.The Petal can identify over 2,000 species and generate narrated nature documentaries from what it captures.by Andrew LiszewskiApr 29, 2025, 1:00 PM UTCLinkFacebookThreadsThe Petal camera offers over a month of battery life that can be extended nearly indefinitely using a solar panel. Image: WonderAndrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2011, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Bird Buddy’s camera-equipped smart feeders helped make bird-watching more accessible and easier by autonomously documenting all the wildlife that stopped by to eat. The company’s new Petal camera is designed to do the same for plants and insects, while its reconfigurable Wonder Blocks will help attract more nature to your yard. They were first announced at CES 2025, but are finally available for preorder.The company has once again opted for a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to bring its new products to consumers, with delivery expected sometime in mid-2026. The 12-megapixel Petal camera, which captures videos at 4K and uses a “proprietary AI model trained to recognize over 2,000 species of birds, bees, butterflies, insects, and native plants in real time,” will be available on its own for $129. It will also be sold in a discounted $249 Duo Petal Pack, which includes two cameras and a pole to mount them to.Using a bendable grip the Petal can attach to various supports including a tree branch or other sturdy plants. Image: WonderUsing “low-powered architecture,” the Petal camera can operate autonomously for over a month on a single charge, but it also comes with a solar panel that can potentially extend battery life indefinitely if it gets enough exposure to the sun every day. Its lenses are swappable, letting you choose between a wide-angle view of your garden, or a close-up macro shot to capture detailed video and images of insects.All the footage it captures throughout the day is accessible through a mobile app, or you can watch what’s going on live. If you prefer just a highlight reel, the Petal Camera has a Nature’s Voice feature that pulls together “BBC Earth–style mini documentaries” that include AI-generated narration based on what insects and plants the camera identifies.The Wonder Blocks modular smart habitat system can be upgraded with planters, feeders, and housing to attract insects. Image: WonderThe Wonder Blocks are described as a “modular smart habitat system designed to support pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in your outdoor space” using components that offer water, food, and shelter. At its core is a smart planter called the Habitat, priced at $149, that serves as a base pedestal for upgrades like a bee habitat or a small constantly flowing stream.For $299, the larger Wonder Blocks set adds a single Petal camera and an Observation Pole, while a $499 Wonder Blocks Hero set includes two cameras, an arched frame to which magnetic accessories can be mounted, and three attachments for feeding hummingbirds and sheltering butterflies.The Wonder Blocks system will work with a dedicated Wonder App that is currently under development and will be separate to the app that works with the company’s smart feeders. However, Bird Buddy says “Petal and Wonder Blocks are designed as part of a broader nature tech ecosystem,” and it plans to eventually share more details about integrations between the two product lines in the future.See More: GadgetsKickstarterNewsPhotographyTechMost PopularMost PopularThe $20,000 American-made electric pickup with no paint, no stereo, and no touchscreenDuolingo will replace contract workers with AINothing’s second modular phone reinvents the rulesThe DJI Phantom is no moreNew Starlink subscription drops hardware price to $0InstallerA weekly newsletter by David Pierce designed to tell you everything you need to download, watch, read, listen to, and explore that fits in The Verge’s universe.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad
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