JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill Review

First impressions

The feeder came with nine pages of detailed, easy-to-understand, step-by-step setup instructions for both the feeder and the smartphone app. Several photos and diagrams were also included. Do not underestimate the quality of the instructions! I’ve set up many smart feeder cameras that had poor instructions or none at all. They took longer to set up and frustrated me along the way.

I also love the aesthetics of this feeder. It looks sharp in my yard.

Let’s dive into how the feeder aligns with the key factors.

Does The E-Z Fill Have the Key Factors?

The JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill feeder meets all the key factors I referred to earlier.

Below are the scores each requirement received, as a result of my hands-on in-yard testing, followed by supporting details about the score.

Weather-Resistant: Yes. The feeder roof, body, and plastic front are all sealed tight enough to keep out the elements.

It did a great job standing up to the rain, snow, and wind in my yard.

Image Quality: Yes. Camera specs include 1080P HD video and 2.0 MP2 for photos. The images are close-up, clear, and very detailed. See the video montage below.

Worth noting, for the best quality keep the feeder/camera as close to your WiFi as possible.

Wireless: Yes. It connects via Wi-Fi using 2.4GHz, which is the standard for smart feeders.

Easy to set up: Yes. The feeder came already assembled so the only remaining setup was the camera/app and mounting the feeder.

Setting up the camera with the smartphone app can be confusing. JCs Wildlife makes it easy with their 9-page set of instructions (see below) including diagrams and photos. I had mine set within minutes, it was so easy.

Don’t overlook the importance of setup instructions. Many smart feeder brands provide inadequate guidance, which can lead to frustration even before the first bird visits.

Easy to Use: The app is a bit confusing. Viewing the photos & images is not intuitive so you’ll need to refer to the written instructions and additional FAQs on the JCs Wildlife website until you become accustomed to the navigation. As with most technology, the more you use it the easier it gets.

Durability: The E-Z Fill is made from recycled poly lumber which doesn’t crack or split.

This feature secures your investment for years and also makes it an environmentally friendly option. The material is very strong, especially compared with other smart feeders which are made from polycarbonate.

While testing a different brand I dropped it and a giant piece of plastic broke off exposing the birdseed to the elements so the durability factor is important.

The E-Z Fill feeder is designed with a clever little lever that allows you to open the roof and fill it with birdseed.

By the way, this feeder holds a whopping 80oz of birdseed so you won’t be filling it as often.

Motion Detection: Yes. The camera’s built-in motion detection functions well. When a bird is there it begins recording and vice-versa.

Battery Life: When I first installed the feeder I did not set up the solar panel. I assumed that it would be useless since I live in Wisconsin (a sunshine-challenged state). I was wrong. Once I plugged in the solar panel the battery life soared! I can’t explain it but the panel seems to rely on any sort of light, not just bright sunlight.

I fully charged the battery and connected the solar panel. It’s been in my yard for 2 weeks now and the battery is still at 98%.

Lesson learned – don’t underestimate the power of the solar panel!

The camera comes with lithium rechargeable batteries so if it ever does need a charge you can easily remove the camera and bring it in to recharge for a few hours.

Easy to Clean: Yes. The camera and plexiglass front are easily removed and the roof is tipped forward for easy cleaning.

The E-Z Fill also meets some of the optional factors as follows:

Price: This feeder is in line with other smart bird feeder cameras. At the time of review, the feeder camera was about $230 (remember it includes the solar panel).

Solar powered: The solar panel is included. Other brands charge extra.

Audio: Yes, you set the audio to be one-way or two-way.

Night vision: Yes, night vision is supported.

Notifications Yes, the E-Z Fill sends a notification to your phone when activity is detected.

Zoom capability: No.

Subscription requirement: A subscription is not required. You can begin using the feeder right out of the box. Using the app, you can see a live feed, view motion-detected still images taken by the smart camera, and manually take photos or videos while viewing the live feed.

You do need a subscription (Cloud account) or a micro-SD card if you want to use the AI bird identification feature on bird images captured automatically by the camera when motion has been detected or if you wish to have the camera record motion detection videos of bird activity automatically. 

At the time of this writing, the subscription was less than $5/month.

You can still use the AI bird identification software on images you take “manually” by clicking the camera button while viewing the live feed. No subscription or micro-SD card is needed for this

Mounting the E-Z Fill Smart Feeder

This smart feeder comes with a bracket that attaches to the back so you can hang it from a post or tree.

The feeder can also be easily mounted to JCs Wildlife’s Universal and Denali pole kits. The bottom of the feeder seamlessly fits onto the pole mount as shown below.

This saves time and hassle as it eliminates having to drill additional holes or purchase random hardware to complete the mounting.

You can purchase the feeder by itself or with one of the poles. Bundled together saves you a big chunk of change compared with purchasing the poles separately.

1. The feeder with a Universal Pole Kit (does not contain a squirrel baffle)
2. The feeder with a Denali Pole Kit (does contain a squirrel baffle).

The photo below shows this feeder installed on the Denali pole in my yard.

The Verdict

I recommend the JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill Smart Bird Feeder. It meets all the key factors for a smart bird feeder, and the video and photos are up-close, clear, and impressive!

JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill Smart Bird Feeder

Use code OTF2024 for 10% off your order at JCS Wildlife.

While on the site you can (optionally) bundle the feeder with the Denali or Universal Pole Kit.

View on JCS Wildlife

View on Amazon

Pros

Easy to Setup

Durable

Long Battery Life

Easy to Clean

Large Capacity

Cons

Takes time to learn the app.

Buying Guide: What To Look For When Buying A Smart Bird Feeder Camera

There are a lot of features and options available in a bird feeder camera. After cutting through the endless list of features and specifications, I arrived at a shortlist of key factors that are important for a backyard birder.

Key Factors for Choosing a Bird Feeder Camera

Weather-resistant so the rain, snow, and wind don’t destroy it. Look for an IP rating of 65 or better.

Good image quality so you’re able to see the species of bird clearly. Look for HD video with 1080p.  

Wireless (wi-fi) connectivity so you don’t have to run ugly outdoor approved extension cords to the bird feeder.

Easy to set up so you can start enjoying the birds quickly rather than studying the installation manual. 

Easy to Use so you can easily navigate and use the app. don’t have to bother your teenager every time you want to see what the birds have been up to.

Look for a camera with a smartphone app to view images from anywhere vs one that stores images on a memory device (SD card or jump drive). Memory devices require you to retrieve the memory device before viewing.

Motion detection so you’re only capturing images when a bird is on the feeder which saves on power and time when you want to go back and view the recordings. 

Long Battery Life so you’re not wasting time recharging the batteries or recharging indoors.

Easy to Clean because regular cleaning is necessary to keep backyard birds safe and healthy.

Warranty to safeguard your purchase. 

Company to make sure your investment is backed by a reputable company that will be around to support you when you need it.

Bird Identification to accurately identify the species at the feeder so your investment in a “smart” feeder is worth it.

Optional Factors for Choosing a Bird Feeder Camera

Depending on your personal preferences or circumstances, I identified a few optional factors you may want to consider as well.

Price because we don’t all have a money tree in the backyard.

Solar powered to help the battery stay charged so you can save money on batteries or avoid the hassle of bringing the device into the house to recharge.

Audio because you want to hear what your feathered friends are tweeting.

Night vision because you want to capture the birds early in the morning and late in the evening. 

Notifications because you want to see what was happening at your feeder moments ago.

Zoom capability is a nice feature especially if the image is too small to make out the bird details. 

No subscription is required so you don’t have to pay monthly to use it.

FAQ

What if I don’t have Wi-Fi?

The JCs Wildlife E-Z Fill Smart Bird Feeder requires Wi-Fi to function. If you don’t have Wi-Fi you can try using a wired outdoor security camera and point it to a separate bird feeder. The Blink wired outdoor camera fits the bill perfectly.