Hi, In the last year I have really got into videoing wildlife using remote camera traps. I have carried this out in a number of different places. Here's some of the footage from around the world. I hope you like it.
Thanks for sharing this brilliant footage, seems like a great idea. I'd say that the armadillo definitely looks like a giant, what are the other possibilities? How many camera traps do you tend to take with you on each trip?
Glad you like the videos. Yes I now definitely think it is a giant armadillo. At the time of making the video I wasn't sure though. At the moment I have two camera traps. My recent purchase was one of the HD Bushnells which I am trying out at a badger sett at the moment. So looking forward to seeing the results of that and will post them up here.
Why travel all over the world? You can just set them up in the UK countryside and get great footage of wild black panthers!
Great videos. I have often toyed with the idea of setting up one in my backyard, but I have seen too many horror movies to know that I'll probably get a shot of a ghost or a prowler.....
Ha ha, when I have it set up in the woods that's what I'm secretly looking for. The elusive big cat of Britain . I sometimes have it set up in the garden but tend to just get my dog prowling around triggering it all the time
Here's some footage from one of the bird feeders in my garden. As you can see compared to my last bird video the robin has learnt how to get at the fatballs instead of using the hummingbird technique. I also had this critter knocking off the bird feeder constantly!
Do the cameras come with their own infrared emitters, or do they need to be purchased separately? Hix
Hi Hix, Yes most cameras come with their own infra red emitters and they are getting better ever time. The old bushnell model would give off a red glow which some wildlife I believe could see whereas the newest model doesn't have a red glow at all. It means it much easier to hide in areas where you get a lot of public and it doesnt disturb the wildlife. Other cameras I have used also come with their own infra red emitters. Hope this helps. Are you thinking of purchasing one? Steefo
I certainly am - I've been toying withg the idea for a while - I think you might just have swayed me :O) I'm hoping to catch the elusive "Cheshire Beast" it's thought to be a terribly posh black panther that only eats food put out on silver service for it :O) seriously though - how do you keep them secure in public places - I'd be scared of getting pricey gear swiped :O(
And to add to that, what gear do you use? Brand, cost (if you don't mind sharing), etc. Any advice on an entry-level system? (I just received an in-car video camera that I bought off eBay for about $30. I'll give it a try later. I want to record those idiot drivers that I see on the roads all the time, as well as some spectacular drives, like the Great Ocean Road. I believe that this cheap camera also has a motion sensor, but I doubt that it has IR.)
I've always gotten giddy with seeing camera trap footage of critters I've kind of thought of doing it myself; I have two backyard ponds, I'm curious as to if critters visit them at nighttime.
I have had one for a couple of years. Mine is a home brew made by someone I know. I think he charges about $600 for one now. They give very good pictures though.
It would be perfect for catching such a beast . I must admit I hate leaving my cameras out. I try and leave them in areas where public aren't going to go and hide them a bit but there is always a risk. I now have a little lock that I can tie around trees but I'm sure if someone wanted it enough they could get it. You can buy security boxes for the bushnells but at £50 its alot of money still. I haven't had a problem yet (touch wood). At the moment I have two Bushnell trail cameras (119455C and the 119466C which is HD). In the UK they are around £230. I have always bought my from US and had it shippped over. Even with postage and customs it is still a lot cheaper. I think I payed £120 pounds for camera then maybe £40 postage and customs. I have also used the wild game inovations cameras which are a bit cheaper but I was quite surprised with the quality of their pictures. This is a hunting website that I have come across that reviews trail cameras which might be useful in helping you make a decision (Chasingame.com: Scouting Camera Reviews | Performance Reviews | Trail Camera Models compared | Sample Pictures and Movies). I can recommend them. It's surprising how many critters you find that you never knew roamed in your garden. I have always been interested in the homebrews. Are they easy to make yourself and is the equipment expensive?
You can buy the bits from a US web site, but have to get the right model cameras for the kit. Often these are old models and have to be sourced on ebay. The soldering has to be accurate, but I believe they supply good instructions. One slip with the soldering iron and the camera is stuffed though. The bloke I bought mine off has made heaps but has wrecked a couple of cameras along the way. I am not even going to attempt to do one myself and will continue to pay someone who knows what they are doing.
Yep. The local hardware store had some "Outdoors" Camera which was meant for wildlife, but I don't know the quality. I don't think it did infra-red though. Hix
At my dad's farm we normally catch white tail deer, black bear, raven, coyote, and an immature bald eagle. We are still waiting to get photos of the local wolf pack. All we know of them is we have seen their tracks and heard them howling at night.
I've toyed with the idea of getting some camera traps for when I'm roaming round Asia but its just one more thing to carry in my pack, and when it comes down to it I think it would just annoy me more than anything, knowing I missed seeing the animals with my own eyes!
Thanks for the info Steefo - you've talked me into it, I'm gonna do it. Just out of curiosity have you every heard of anyone capturing fottage of bats via these cameras? obviously they'd need to be mounted higher but are they fast enough?