Night Vision and Daylight Camera Systems for Wildlife A Practical Guide

This is the latest title in Pelagic’s Data in the Wild series, which covers a wide range of practical applications for analysis and interpretation of environmental data. Back in 2016 this included the title Camera Trapping for Wildlife Research, which really addressed the professional end of the market. This new book focuses more on the consumer market and reflects the advancement and availability of home camera systems in the last decade.

My own efforts in this area have centred around using a simple trail camera to detect animals in the garden so this book represents quite a big step up from that and it is worth considering what it is you are hoping to achieve, because if it is just a few shots from a trail camera, then this book will be too advanced for you – although it is ideal for those who want to up their game.

A quick search of the internet will find that there are now many different home security systems that you can easily install to monitor security around your front door and elsewhere. In fact, some people have multiple cameras in place. So, the concept of redirecting your efforts to capture wildlife images in daylight or nighttime is a realistic one. The expense can run to maybe £200 or considerably more if you want to get the highest quality or consider utilizing your equipment in a more remote location with independent power supplies. But the main theme is that these are things that only professionals could have considered a few years ago.

This book is mostly aimed at those seeking to capture images of mammals, but birds are included too. There are sections on filming badgers, foxes, small mammals, deer and Tawny Owls. For those working with schools there are details of how to set up a small mammal feeding station or a bird-feeder camera system. For wider public engagement there are suggestions on how to work with dormice and otters. Understanding your subject is important so plenty of information is provided on their basic ecology and conservation.

In each case there are detailed drawings on how to set up your kit including what connectors to use and how to secure mounts both safely and reliably. Also explained are ways to connect all of this to a livestream if that is your aim, but importantly there is also an explanation of wildlife protocols so that you don’t disadvantage your target animals or break the law.

These are exciting opportunities, particular for mammal enthusiasts. I would suggest that if tackling these ideas alone without connecting with others in the same field you may find it a steep challenge, so it is worth finding out who else is doing this near to you and maybe you can learn from their mistakes. I am sure joining the Mammal Society would be a good start.a