build in public

Build log.

Every step documented — the wins, the fails, the weird bugs. This is a family project, so entries come from dad and the kids.

Bryan
milestone
Apr 13, 2026

Project kickoff — hardware ordered

CanaKit Pi 4 2GB and Camera Module 3 ordered. Using the Shure MV7 from the studio for audio. Goal: working bird detector in the backyard by Sunday night.

Bryan
build
Apr 13, 2026

The website is alive

Deployed the project site to Vercel. It's basic right now but it gives us a home base to document everything. The kids can check utahbirdproject.com and see our progress.

The kids
build
Coming soon

First boot

SSH'd into the Pi for the first time. It works. We're in.

Everyone
milestone
Coming soon

First detection

The moment BirdNET hears its first bird in the Wasatch. This is the one we're all waiting for.

The kids
milestone
Coming soon

First video clip

The camera caught something. Time to see if it's actually a bird or just the neighbor's cat.