CES 2025: Bird Buddy creators introduce Petal AI nature camera

Wonder thinks you should know your backyard like the back of your hand.

The new company from the creators of the popular Bird Buddy smart bird feeder introduced an AI-powered nature camera called the Petal at CES' Unveiled media event Sunday night. Inspired by community feedback, the device is designed to get users on a "first-name basis" with their local nature, said Franci Zidar, CEO of Wonder and co-founder of Bird Buddy.

The Petal is a colorful cup-shaped camera that can be installed a couple different ways: You can wrap its bendable stem around an object (like a branch or a fencepost), or attach it to the side of a planter using its universal clip. It's designed to blend in well with its natural surroundings either way, a notion that's hammered home by its optional solar panel attachment, which is shaped like leaf. As a complete set, it looks a lot like a minimalist, bionic flower.

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Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Petal captures photos and livestreams of its surroundings (and identifies its inhabitants), sending the footage to the user's smartphone so they can get a more intimate look at the goings-on in their yard or garden. Zidar told Mashable that its built-in "Nature Intelligence" AI gets involved to identify any outliers — say, a dried-up leaf, an abnormal number of aphids, or the chirps of freshly hatched bluebird chicks — balancing actionable care alerts with personalized "check out this cool thing!" insights.

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Zidar said a forthcoming chat feature will give Petal users the ability to "converse" with nature. For instance, asking a flower if it's lonely will prompt recommendations for other plants that thrive in similar conditions.

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Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

For those with less-than-lively backyards, Wonder has also launched a "Wonder Block" modular system of wildlife habitats — think seed trays, bug hotels, and butterfly feeders. You know the saying: If you build it, they (the birds and the bees) will come.

Zidar said the Petal will launch on Kickstarter sometime this spring and retail for less than $100, with shipping targeted for early 2026. The release of Wonder Blocks is still to be determined.