Monitoring and surveys

Remote webcam

Remote webcams give unique insights into otherwise hidden aspects of wildlife’s annual cycles. For example, webcams in bird colonies can be used for monitoring breeding success without the need to disturb breeding birds. Recently, webcams have been used to follow the breeding success of birds, monitor bird flu as well as stream live images to the public.

We have developed a remote webcam that is able to operate for months on-end using solar energy and can be controlled using a smartphone app. Images are stored locally and the camera can be viewed live via a smartphone and even streamed online, allowing unique insights into the lives of birds to be shared with the wider public.

Monitoring

Many coastal species, such as gulls and terns, breed in large colonies, often in locations that can be challenging to access. Accessing these locations for monitoring can be difficult, time-consuming and may cause unwanted disturbance. A remote webcam provides the solution.

With our remote webcam system colonies can be viewed on your smartphone or laptop. The camera can be controlled to give a complete overview of the area and can also been zoomed in on individual nests to provide intimate images of breeding birds without disturbing them. The system uses a second infrared camera to provide images at night, providing valuable information on disturbances and predation that would otherwise go unseen.

Live stream

Live streams of webcam images can increase public engagement and help spread an appreciation of wildlife. Our webcam system provides high quality images that can be streamed on your website, attracting online visitors and highlighting the conservation value of your local area. In recent years our remote webcam systems have been deployed in various breeding colonies of Sandwich terns as well as on nesting pontoons for gulls and terns, but there are numerous other possibilities.
Remote webcam system set-up
Colonies can be viewed on your smartphone or laptop
Remote webcam system on location