When the picture is too small, blurred or dark to be sure of the species, Feeder Log says so instead of guessing: "Possibly House Finch" for a likely but uncertain name, a group such as "a sparrow" or "a woodpecker", or simply "a bird". Only species names Feeder Log is fairly sure of, or that you mark Right, go on your life list.
On your dashboard, mark the visit Wrong, or use It was… to type the right name. Your correction replaces the AI's and your life list is updated to match.
"New at your feeder" the first time a species is seen, and "Back again" when a species returns after 60 days or more. If you turn it on, an evening digest at 7 PM lists the day's visitors. Alerts appear on your dashboard and, unless you turn them off, by email.
Yes. On your dashboard, under Test a camera, choose a camera and press Test. Feeder Log asks Ring for that camera's latest picture from the last 10 minutes and names any bird in it. Make the camera record first: walk past it, or turn on Snapshot Capture in the Ring app. To try it indoors, hold up a phone or tablet showing a bird photo in front of the camera. Test results never send an alert or change your log or life list; a test photo with a bird in it is kept for 24 hours. One test a minute.
Squirrels, chipmunks, cats and other animals are noted on the visit ("A squirrel, no bird"), but they never go on your life list or set off an alert.
Each camera can be checked 150 times a day. A very busy feeder, or a camera that sees a lot of swaying branches, can reach that. Visits after that are not identified until the next day. Narrowing the camera's motion zone to the feeder helps.
No, by design. Feeder Log ignores alerts Ring labels as people, never identifies or describes anyone, never reads plates, house numbers or any writing, and discards any picture in which a person is detected. Video is never kept.
Use Delete all my data on your dashboard, or remove Feeder Log in the Ring app. Either erases everything, including photos and your life list, from the live service at once; encrypted host backups age out within 5 days (see the privacy policy).
Anyone can report a suspected misuse of Feeder Log, whether or not they use it: for example a camera aimed at a neighbour's property or used to watch a person. Email michaelbflynn@gmail.com with the subject "Feeder Log misuse report" and whatever you know (an address or street is enough; you do not need an account). We acknowledge reports within two business days. Where misuse is confirmed we suspend the account, stop all processing for it and delete its data, and we pass the report to Ring where Ring's terms call for it. Feeder Log never identifies people, so it cannot be used to find out who someone is.
Email michaelbflynn@gmail.com. We reply within two business days.