diff --git a/frigate/config/camera/birdseye.py b/frigate/config/camera/birdseye.py
index e968956b9..407e500c6 100644
--- a/frigate/config/camera/birdseye.py
+++ b/frigate/config/camera/birdseye.py
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ class BirdseyeConfig(FrigateBaseModel):
     idle_heartbeat_fps: float = Field(
         default=0.0,
         ge=0.0,
-        title="Idle heartbeat FPS (0 disables)",
+        le=10.0,
+        title="Idle heartbeat FPS (0 disables, max 10)",
     )
 
 # uses BaseModel because some global attributes are not available at the camera level
diff --git a/frigate/output/birdseye.py b/frigate/output/birdseye.py
index 770078b69..f3243fd58 100644
--- a/frigate/output/birdseye.py
+++ b/frigate/output/birdseye.py
@@ -792,16 +792,9 @@ class Birdseye:
         self.frame_manager = SharedMemoryFrameManager()
         self.stop_event = stop_event
         self.requestor = InterProcessRequestor()
-        self._heartbeat_thread = None
-
-        # --- Optional idle heartbeat (disabled by default) ---
-        # If FRIGATE_BIRDSEYE_IDLE_FPS > 0, periodically re-send the last frame
-        # when no frames have been output recently. This improves client attach times
-        # without altering default behavior.
-        self.idle_fps = float(self.config.birdseye.idle_heartbeat_fps or 0.0)
-        self.idle_fps = max(0.0, self.idle_fps)
+        self.idle_fps: float = self.config.birdseye.idle_heartbeat_fps
         self._idle_interval: Optional[float] = (1.0 / self.idle_fps) if self.idle_fps > 0 else None
- 
+
         if config.birdseye.restream:
             self.birdseye_buffer = self.frame_manager.create(
                 "birdseye",
@@ -811,16 +804,6 @@ class Birdseye:
         self.converter.start()
         self.broadcaster.start()
 
-
-        # Start heartbeat loop only if enabled
-        if self._idle_interval:
-            self._heartbeat_thread = threading.Thread(
-                target=self._idle_heartbeat_loop,
-                name="birdseye_idle_heartbeat",
-                daemon=True,
-            )
-            self._heartbeat_thread.start()
-
     def __send_new_frame(self) -> None:
         frame_bytes = self.birdseye_manager.frame.tobytes()
 
@@ -868,28 +851,12 @@ class Birdseye:
             if frame_layout_changed:
                 coordinates = self.birdseye_manager.get_camera_coordinates()
                 self.requestor.send_data(UPDATE_BIRDSEYE_LAYOUT, coordinates)
-
-    def _idle_heartbeat_loop(self) -> None:
-        """
-        Periodically re-send the last composed frame when idle.
-        Active only if FRIGATE_BIRDSEYE_IDLE_FPS > 0.
-        """
-        # Small sleep granularity to check often without busy-spinning.
-        min_sleep = 0.2
-        while not self.stop_event.is_set():
-            try:
-                if self._idle_interval:
-                    now = datetime.datetime.now().timestamp()
-                    if (now - self.birdseye_manager.last_output_time) >= self._idle_interval:
-                        self.__send_new_frame()
-            finally:
-                # Sleep at the smaller of idle interval or a safe minimum
-                sleep_for = self._idle_interval if self._idle_interval and self._idle_interval < min_sleep else min_sleep
-                time.sleep(sleep_for)
+        if self._idle_interval:
+            now = time.monotonic()
+            is_idle = (len(self.birdseye_manager.camera_layout) == 0)
+            if is_idle and (now - self.birdseye_manager.last_output_time) >= self._idle_interval:
+                self.__send_new_frame()
 
     def stop(self) -> None:
         self.converter.join()
-        self.broadcaster.join()
-        if self._heartbeat_thread and self._heartbeat_thread.is_alive():
-            # the thread is daemon=True; join a moment just for cleanliness
-            self._heartbeat_thread.join(timeout=0.2)
+        self.broadcaster.join()
\ No newline at end of file