Nature inspired innovation: As the weeks get warmer and the nights grow longer, we can welcome better snapshots of nature and the animals and insects that make our gardens their homes over the season.
One area of technology that has surged in popularity since COVID and is also on the back of inflation is nature-driven innovation. Figures from GreenBiz show that the global market for ‘nature tech’ is poised to triple to 5.4 million euros by 2030. Some technological creations inspired by the birds and the bees include submarines, bullet trains, flight and even solar panels.
With that and the sunny weather in mind, we take a look at must-have technologies for nature lovers everywhere.
Bird Buddy
Designed for feathery friend lovers, this smart bird feeder features a landing platform with an AI-powered camera which you then connect to the Bird Buddy app. Through this technology, you can receive notifications on chicks that have paid your garden a visit, take pictures of them and pop together a collection of up-close images in minutes. It also helps you identify and learn about each bird making it great for adults and kids alike. What makes the feeder more impressive is that it operates off solar charging and a 5200mAh Large Battery and enables the identification of over eleven thousand species. Although the device is a little pricey, it operates off both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is available on Android and iOS.
Actman Wi-Fi Bluetooth Trail Camera
Every wildlife lover should have a trail camera to gain a glimpse into daytime and nighttime visitors. Although stacks are on the market, one of the most popular is the Actman Wi-Fi Bluetooth trail camera, which features a motion-activated sensor, has night vision, is waterproof and boasts 940nm no-glow IR LEDs, so animals won’t even see it in action. It enables users to take sharp pictures through the app also. Although battery-powered and almost always sold out, it’s one device worth putting on your Amazon wishlist and is Android and iOS compatible.
Bumblebee watch
Bee lovers will be left buzzing through this app dedicated to helping users track, engage and learn about the high-flying species around them. Originally developed as a conservation tool between BirdsEye and Bumble Bee Watch, it’s free to download and available on both iOS and Android, with over fifty thousand downloads on the Google Play Store alone. Designed for nature enthusiasts, it features a portal where you can submit sightings, upload photos, and identify and track bees in different spots worldwide through maps with recent sightings.
iNaturalist
Not just for animals or insects, iNaturalist is a platform that helps users identify and learn about plants, living creatures and more. Boasting a community of over four hundred thousand scientists and naturalists, you can record and share observations. The idea of submitting insights on nature around you is also to help create research-quality data for scientists working hard to protect and understand nature. Free to use, you can access it through the app on both iOS and Android or the iNaturalist website. The platform is growing in popularity and is on a mission to build a global community of 100 million naturalists by 2030.
Frog ID
One for Kermit the Frog fans, this amphibian-loving platform enables users to record and read about different species that visit their gardens. With over two hundred and seventy-two thousand records of frogs already identified on the website, people can use the FrogID smartphone app to log in and record where and when they hear the green creatures calling. Available on the website and with the app on iOS and Android, it’s great for those hopping mad about technology! Unfortunately only available in Australia; it is hoped it will be rolled out to other countries over the coming years.
Picture insect
Let’s not forget about tech for the bugs that exist in our gardens and homes. Insect lovers can enjoy using this identifier tool which uses AI-powered tech to help you identify, name and learn all about the creatures you come across. Whether you’ve identified pests in your garden, have moths in your house or have been bitten by an insect, this app provides you with all you need to know. Simply take a photo of a creepy crawly near you and let tech do the rest. This clever app is free to use and available on Android and iOS.
