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kit:overview_doc [2023/10/03 02:17] – [3. Choose your location and start seeding your local corvid community] adminkit:overview_doc [2026/05/27 11:15] (current) – [4. Assemble hardware and configure software] - video series points directly to build videos steve
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   - Download and cut the housing (or order it pre-cut)   - Download and cut the housing (or order it pre-cut)
-  - Order the electronics+  - Order the electronics and other supplies
   - Choose your location and start seeding your local corvid community   - Choose your location and start seeding your local corvid community
   - Assemble the hardware and configure the software   - Assemble the hardware and configure the software
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 Ponoko is the easiest as they provide easy-to-use guidelines and ship everything to you, but note that the biggest price breaks come if more than one person orders at once. We’re not making any money from any of this, so if you can, combine your Ponoko order with a friend's and you'll both receive free shipping! (We don't make any money when you buy CrowBox parts from Ponoko.) Ponoko is the easiest as they provide easy-to-use guidelines and ship everything to you, but note that the biggest price breaks come if more than one person orders at once. We’re not making any money from any of this, so if you can, combine your Ponoko order with a friend's and you'll both receive free shipping! (We don't make any money when you buy CrowBox parts from Ponoko.)
  
-If you want to cut the materials yourself, chances are you already know about the necessary file formats, etc., but do take care to match the plexi thickness (3mm) and avoid bright colors. You can download all the necessary files as Open Source flat vector geometry files for laser cutters from the [[http://theCrowBox.com/wiki/doku.php?id=kit:CrowBox2_v20_bom|Bill of Materials (BOM)]].+If you want to cut the materials yourself, chances are you already know about the necessary file formats, etc., but do take care to match the plexi thickness (3mm) and avoid bright colors. You can download all the necessary files as Open Source flat vector geometry files for laser cutters from the [[http://theCrowBox.com/wiki/doku.php?id=kit:crowbox2_v20_bom|Bill of Materials (BOM)]].
  
 We don’t have any validated evidence that the birds don’t like them, but generally corvids are scared of new things so matte browns and greens seem sensible. If you’ve got questions, hit up [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]]. We don’t have any validated evidence that the birds don’t like them, but generally corvids are scared of new things so matte browns and greens seem sensible. If you’ve got questions, hit up [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]].
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-===== 2. Order the electronics =====+===== 2. Order or shop for the electronics and other supplies =====
  
-While you’re getting the housing in order place your order for the electronics. We’ve got a full [[kit:CrowBox2_v20_bom|Bill of Materials]] (BOM) listing everything you need. You can source directly from EBay (often the cheapest source) or Amazon (especially if you’ve got Amazon Prime) but you can also often find components at places like Home Depot or your local hardware store.+While you’re getting the housing in orderplace your order for the electronics and other supplies. We’ve got a full [[kit:crowbox2_v20_bom|Bill of Materials]] (BOM) listing everything you need. You can source directly from EBay (often the cheapest source) or Amazon (especially if you’ve got Amazon Prime) but you can also often find components at local hardware stores
  
 Note that many vendors offer some of the smaller parts in bulk only, requiring you to buy more than you’ll need to build a CrowBox. If you’re habitually making cool hardware solutions this should suit you fine, but if you’re not, see the aforementioned hacker / maker spaces. They may be willing to sell you parts piecemeal.  Note that many vendors offer some of the smaller parts in bulk only, requiring you to buy more than you’ll need to build a CrowBox. If you’re habitually making cool hardware solutions this should suit you fine, but if you’re not, see the aforementioned hacker / maker spaces. They may be willing to sell you parts piecemeal. 
  
-A special note on cameras: right now the CrowBox software contains code stubs to control cameras, but integrated cameras are not supported as part of our initial release. If you want to record video / photos of corvids using your box (and we totally encourage you to do so!) we’ve tested the following as standalone solutions:+A special note on cameras: right now the CrowBox software contains code stubs to control cameras, but integrated cameras are not supported as part of our this release. If you want to record video / photos of corvids using your box (and we totally encourage you to do so!) you might want to try a standalone motion detecting camera solution, such as Wyze. 
  
-  * [[https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=Reolink+web+camera&rh=n%3A172282%2Ck%3AReolink+web+camera|Reolink web-connected camera]] +More on future features we’d like to include [[kit:future_features|here]]. 
-  * [[https://www.amazon.com/Arlo-Security-System-NETGEAR-Wire-Free/dp/B072LBQD12|Netgear ARLO home security camera]] +
-  * [[https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=primos+truth+cam&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=153632237183&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=317726691101047988&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004395&hvtargid=kwd-20380002914&ref=pd_sl_6ac1sik5wu_e|Primos Truth Cam]] +
-  * [[https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=gopro|GoPro (various models)]] - this is what our videos were shot on! +
- +
-More on future features we’d like to include [[kit:Future_Features|here]]. +
  
 ===== 3. Choose your location and start seeding your local corvid community ===== ===== 3. Choose your location and start seeding your local corvid community =====
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 This can be tricky and requires a lot of judgement on your part. The good news is that you can change your location based on the behavior of the corvids over time. The bad news is you may have to. ;) This can be tricky and requires a lot of judgement on your part. The good news is that you can change your location based on the behavior of the corvids over time. The bad news is you may have to. ;)
  
-Lucky for you we’ve prepared a complete guide on [[kit:Site_Preparation|preparing your site]] for the CrowBox. The information in this guide can dramatically speed up the agonizing process of waiting for Corvids to find and use your new CrowBox.+Lucky for you we’ve prepared a complete guide on [[kit:site_preparation|preparing your site]] for the CrowBox. The information in this guide can dramatically speed up the agonizing process of waiting for Corvids to find and use your new CrowBox.
  
 Note that many locations suffer from Aggressive Squirrel Issues (tm). You may want to install your box on a pole mount, in which case the community had a lengthy discussion with some advice [[https://groups.google.com/g/crowboxkit/c/EJ6eRh6KxAc/m/dxCUQgUUFgAJ|here]].  Note that many locations suffer from Aggressive Squirrel Issues (tm). You may want to install your box on a pole mount, in which case the community had a lengthy discussion with some advice [[https://groups.google.com/g/crowboxkit/c/EJ6eRh6KxAc/m/dxCUQgUUFgAJ|here]]. 
 ===== 4. Assemble hardware and configure software ===== ===== 4. Assemble hardware and configure software =====
  
-We’ve got a complete hardware assembly guide [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpfDKGsrnBESVeekIrV1mNA?view_as=subscriber|video series]]. If there’s demand from the community for a written guide we’re totally open to someone transcribing the videos and converting them to this purpose! We’ll do our best to support people as they build their CrowBoxes, through [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]].+We’ve got a complete hardware assembly guide [[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55RinDSPfVUPfaxLV2Ef9dEO8SEhEmbo&si=5lJr4dSYYxHQo-hF|video series]]. If there’s demand from the community for a written guide we’re totally open to someone transcribing the videos and converting them to this purpose! We’ll do our best to support people as they build their CrowBoxes, through [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]].
  
 You should also download and print the paper [[http://www.thecrowbox.com/wiki/doku.php?id=kit:tools_and_helpers|tools]] to go along with the video assembly. You should also download and print the paper [[http://www.thecrowbox.com/wiki/doku.php?id=kit:tools_and_helpers|tools]] to go along with the video assembly.
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 If after a week they’re still not approaching it, try changing one thing and see if that helps. Wait another week, watching closely to see if the change has had an impact. Repeat the process until you see birds interacting closely with the box. This is where the forum is your friend; waiting is not easy, and it helps to get suggestions and ideas from other CrowBox maintainers.  If after a week they’re still not approaching it, try changing one thing and see if that helps. Wait another week, watching closely to see if the change has had an impact. Repeat the process until you see birds interacting closely with the box. This is where the forum is your friend; waiting is not easy, and it helps to get suggestions and ideas from other CrowBox maintainers. 
  
-  * Be sure to follow [[kit:electrical_safety|electrical safety]] precautions when deploying your CrowBox. 
 ===== 6. Conduct observations and iterate ===== ===== 6. Conduct observations and iterate =====
  
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 To that end, the more carefully you document your results (including # of cycles per phase, length of time in each phase, number of corvids using the box in your location, the weather, notes on the environment, etc. etc.!) and share those with the community, the better! [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|The forum]] is an ideal place to post these as well as to ask questions, compare notes, and suggest changes to other people’s placement and protocols.  To that end, the more carefully you document your results (including # of cycles per phase, length of time in each phase, number of corvids using the box in your location, the weather, notes on the environment, etc. etc.!) and share those with the community, the better! [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|The forum]] is an ideal place to post these as well as to ask questions, compare notes, and suggest changes to other people’s placement and protocols. 
  
-(Note that another feature not yet included is a cloud-based data logger to automate data collection and facilitate sharing. More on future features we’d like to include [[kit:Future_Features|here]].)+(Note that another feature not yet included is a cloud-based data logger to automate data collection and facilitate sharing. More on future features we’d like to include [[kit:future_features|here]].)
  
 ===== Summary ===== ===== Summary =====
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 See you on [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]]! See you on [[http://groups.google.com/group/CrowBoxKit|the forum]]!
 +
kit/overview_doc.1696324624.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/10/03 02:17 by admin