ADAS ecologists are constantly keeping abreast of new technologies. The availability of trail cameras has proven invaluable and resulted in some spectacular wildlife footage.
Most people became aware of trail cameras for the first time during the television program ‘Lost Land of the Tiger’, produced by the BBC. In the program during an expedition to Bhutan, a number of trail cameras were deployed to survey for Tigers in areas where their distribution was poorly known.
The use made of the cameras by ADAS is not quite so exotic, but they are proving equally as valuable! Exactly the same model of trail cameras as used in Bhutan are now a regular piece of ADAS ecologists’ kit. The cameras are light, small, and very effective. They can record still photographs or video, which at night is black and white infra-red. They are equipped with a passive infra-red (PIR) motion detector that triggers the camera. The sensitivity of the motion detector can be varied, but experience has shown that it is sensitive enough to be triggered by Water Voles, rats and even mice!
Whilst the ability of an ADAS ecologist at identifying wildlife field signs is always of paramount importance, these cameras can provide additional information where field signs are not readily obvious (such as on hard substrates where footprints are not left).
ADAS has used trail cameras to monitor the level of Badger (and other mammal) activity at and near setts on railways, around electricity poles, and on development sites, as well as at artificial Badgers' setts.
Using trail cameras to prove a negative should always be treated with caution, but together with an assessment of field signs, the equipment is invaluable for confirming initial assessments of activity.
ADAS are using these trail cameras to provide important data, but occasionally during analysis of the data, the ecologist may be lucky to find photographs or video on the cameras that provide amusement. The two videos below are from a site where Badger activity was being monitored. The video of the Badger shows some interesting behaviour of a totally relaxed animal, whereas the second video shows the appearance of some unexpected visitors!
The resulting footage can be used to validate our assessment of field signs and clients enjoy seeing the photos and video of the species that are often causing them so much concern!
Please click on the links below to view the videos:
Badger Video
Deer Video
For more information please contact James Packer on 0117 9380636 or email James.Packer@adas.co.uk.