discussion / Camera Traps  / 15 June 2016

Camera-trapping best-practices

Hi everyone, 

As part of a WWF-UK conservation tech initiative, I'm putting together camera-trapping best-practice guidelines, aimed at field practitioners with limited previous experience of the technology. We're keen to make recommendations on the best camera models to use, given the objectives and operating environment (budget, climate etc.), but to do this we need to know what models have and have not worked! This is where you guys in the Sensors group, many of which no doubt use cameras (or know others who do!), come in...

If you have a spare 10 mins at some point over the next few weeks, it would be great if you could point your browser to: http://goo.gl/forms/iAMnGgft6eujpNea2.

We're also collecting your views on the major current constraints towards more effective camera-trapping. I'll be in touch further with the group to field ideas we've been having in this respect - would be great to get some conversations going on this. 

Look forward to hearing your experiences and opinions, and I will of course share the results here once they're in...

Much appreciated,

Ollie




Hi Ollie, 

Thanks for sharing the survey! Have you seen this new publication, 'Out on a limb: arboreal camera traps as an emerging methodology for inventorying elusive rainforest mammals'? Andrew Whitworth and team might have some valuable opinions to add if you haven't been in touch with them already.

Otherwise, nice survey! I liked all the pictures you included and found it really quick and easy to fill out. How are your results going so far? 

Cheers,

Steph 

Hi Steph, 

Thanks for the link - I hadn't seen that, but am in touch with those guys. Great work they're doing.

We've had ~140 responses so far, which is fantastic. Ideally I'd like to get somewhere near the 200 mark, especially given the vast number of people out there using camera traps!

I'd just like to re-iterate if anyone has any networks they can tap into, it would be great if they could pass the link on. In particular, we'd like greater representation from people working on the front line of conservation (NGOs, land managers, industry), and we'd also be keen to hear from those on the technology development side of things.  

I'll share some initial findings here shortly (this week or next)...

Cheers

Ollie

 

Hi all, 

Here are some initial results from the survey (based on ~150 responses) - see below. Let me know what you think. Does it mirror your impressions? In particular, cost and security being the major impediments to more effective camera-trapping?

Also, we've had a good amount of feedback on Bushnell and Reconyx cameras, but would really like to hear from you if you have experience of any other camera models (good or bad). You can review your camera here.

Thanks a bunch
Ollie