Tutorial: Setting the (Camera) Trap
In groups of four, students sign up to check and reset the cameras on a weekly basis. Each student should have an opportunity to work with the camera and set up “lures” at least once. Cameras should be monitored in the schoolyard for 10 weeks or ~140 “trapnights”.
“If we say we haven’t gone out to check cameras yet, can we go out again?”—Riley, 5th grade
“I can’t believe this is the place where we watch the opossum with our camera. Are these really opossum trails?”—Corri, 5th grade
Objectives
• Select camera sites using the locations of animal sign to indicate best placement
• Practice using remote camera technology • Mark camera location with handheld GPS unit if avail- able
• Discuss where and why to place lures on animal trails
Materials Needed *Keep camera supplies in a backpack that goes outside each time • two remote cameras • two camera lock boxes for your brand of camera (Pur- chased where cameras are sold, they can be advertised as bear boxes, so to protect the camera from bears.)
• four 1.2-meter aircraft cables to attach camera boxes to trees (One cable will usually be sufficient to set up one camera. Use a cable clamp to connect two cables if more than one is needed to secure the box.) Purchase these at building supply stores.
• four cable clamps • one roll camouflage duct tape • one padlock with 2 keys (Keep spare key in a separate location in case one gets lost)
• spare batteries • two memory cards (Having a spare will allow you to swap cards in the field. Check images when you have returned to your classroom computer)
• wildlife lure (See below) • wrench and socket for tightening nuts on cable clamps • two camera identification tags (Use a camouflaged clip license holder and laminate printed page with ID to avoid having text become illegible in rain or snow)
• one GPS unit (if available) • one pocket knife for clearing light vegetation
What kind of camera to use?
There are many brands of remote cameras available, and they keep getting more affordable. I have tested many cameras and found Moultrie infrared cameras to be an excellent choice for schoolyard use. Remote cameras start at about $50 and range up to about $599. Moultrie’s I40 model costs $215. This camera performs well in a range of settings, its menus are
Page 40
simple to use and their laser aim function helps to minimize lost captures due to a camera being set incorrectly. With a bat- tery life of 150 days, this camera’s power is not quickly drained as with other brands I tested. See if there any grants for new technology are available to help with this purchase. To get used to using the new camera, set it up in your home
first. For a few days, monitor “well-used trails” frequented by humans and pets. Make sure that the camera is capturing images consistently, is aimed correctly, and image quality is set for your desired output. This trouble-shooting step will save you time and avoid lost captures outside. Once you have become comfortable using your camera and know that it is functioning properly, practice using it in the schoolyard before introducing it to your students.
Minimizing theft
Theft has not been a big problem at Afton-Lakeland Elemen- tary School, where we have been monitoring with cameras for three seasons, or the dozen other schools that used them this past school year. Because of this, we tried putting cameras out in the open on well-worn trails in one schoolyard and lost our first camera to theft. In response, we moved the cameras back to where they were more difficult to spot by people walking in the schoolyard. We also started using heavier cable to mount camera boxes to trees, and now bring cameras inside over the weekend. Following these changes, we have not had other problems. Depending on your schoolyard location; you may want to adopt strategies like these to minimize theft.
How to set up cameras?
When you install your camera, look for place where animals are likely to travel, such as trails in long grass, areas close to water and highly visible deer trails. Position the camera at a 45-degree angle to the trail, 2 meters from the intended photo area. Most trail cameras can detect motion out to 9 meters, but the flash often will not reach that far. Night pictures taken under 0.5 meters will white out the content
GREEN TEACHER 89
Dawn Tanner
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52