Robert Fuller, a wildlife artist from the Yorkshire Wolds, is about to reach one million subscribers on YouTube with his livestreams from nestboxes. His channel, which features owls, kestrels, and kingfishers, generates an average of 2.8 million monthly views.
Fuller began building nestboxes as a child with his father, later adding cameras to capture the hidden lives of birds. He started livestreaming on YouTube with no expectations, but the channel gained traction during the Covid-19 pandemic. A Dutch bar even streamed his barn owl nest instead of sport, attracting viewers from China, South Korea, India, the US, and Europe.
Popular moments include births, fledgling flights, and first meetings. One clip of a young barn owl reacting to thunder has 27.7 million views, while a kestrel pair's nest defence has 16.6 million views. Fuller describes barn owl courtship as 'hilarious,' with males often knocking females over.
Viewers call the streams 'nature's soap opera,' with 70% returning regularly. Fuller's work has been featured on BBC's Springwatch, and he now advises traditional broadcasters. However, his art business subsidises the costly filming equipment, as ad revenue only covers staffing.
Fuller praises YouTube for reaching a global audience but criticises its support for AI-generated content, which he says undermines creators. He notes that some viewers mistake his footage for AI due to its quality, but he works over 100 hours weekly to capture it. YouTube states AI content must be labelled and that it removes low-quality material.
Fuller says the channel has changed him, making him more aware of others through letters from viewers who found solace during lockdown. 'The difference it makes to people that are struggling is incredible,' he said.
