Love the idea, I've wanted to do something similar. I don't have anything very helpful, but I'd guess that the reason virtualbox isn't working is because it doesn't have direct access to the graphics hardware. Just a guess though, I ran into a similar problem trying to run Kali linux in VirtualBox but didn't have a ton of success because the system didn't have direct access to the Wifi module. Alternatively, you could simply shoot the pigeons with a pellet gun and it would be just as fun.
The damned pigeons don't come to the balcony when I'm there, and make a mess everywhere. I don't want to hurt them just that they hang somewhere else!
My background is anthropology but I've always worked as a data analyst (read: excel guy) but got "promoted" as project manager for a team that has some data scientist doing automation projects and got interested in CV and NLP. I know python but for data analytics (pandas, seaborn, scikit, and so on) but never did anything for myself in DL and just wanted to learn more while building something (I miss doing stuff besides slideware tasks).
Regarding virtualbox, I will probably give up and look again into dual boot Linux. Will ask a friend that is an experienced coder to hold my hand while I do that.
Keep with it if you can. Again, I told have any hard experience in that area, but I'm a software developer by trade, and a geography person (kind of) by academics. Physical Anthro and Geo have some crossover, and both stand to be going in the direction of applying some DL techniques at present and going forward. Particularly in the areas of remote sensing if you want a rabbit hole to dive into :) Unix can be a nightmare, and you just have to suffer it for a while to get used to the patterns. Otherwise, My recommendation is to just work slowly through the bits and pieces. The amount of projects that people seem to have just slapped together in a weekend is daunting, but far from reality for everyone. The expectation of fast progress is the enemy of actual progress.
What's your background?