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.
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.
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.
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.
