I'm looking for new/modern motion detector systems for my research with orchid bees and hummingbirds. I basically want to record the pollinators' activity when they approach to the flowers so I expect the system will activate with motion and just record the visit events. Thus, I can't avoid recording several hours of video without activity. I've previously used a system with security cameras and mini portable video recorder with motion detector, but this system is old and it had failed a few times during my last field season. Do you have a recommendation of either cameras/camcorders that come with a motion detection option, or a modern mini portable video recorder with motion detector?
I've seen a few options in the market but it will be nice to hear what things have worked for other researchers. I'll appreciate your suggestions. Thank you very much.
Dear Rossana,
In the same object, Michał Filipiak suggested this article:
Diel activity, frequency and visit duration of pollinators in focal plants: In situ automatic camera monitoring and data processing
and the auther of suggested article, Ronney Steen from Norway can help more.
You can find him here:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ronny_Steen?_sg%5B0%5D=C0LQcJXF12scWIymvsaeebDnHOhvQWoo5BDUkdkj8km77y4A9L6nr-Yr233ee1qghfGO0uU.aZoE0xn1SreETV6ICJUakrNm58MLyEfPKnrukVFjLi7mJcIVmWrUVZh6yQPC1aBDknv3mCqfibu2DEsRlzlxxw&_sg%5B1%5D=0Dg8f__mGqNID8L83BSLRn0Kww62xx51iDG-fYsYJd0c99ON2HAAq8uF3ep0VlgFp_e3tJc-ABe4OU3W.5-kI20C0c4jloSP0r0BfcIrNkaoTNPbrsPpHB9xXtvvfA1khs9jrJFeYCrqofvT0Tw62EJQcY2xkFFg_6CPXTw
Article Diel activity, frequency and visit duration of pollinators i...
Not totally off topic for your question, because you could definitely contact any of the people that worked on this research, but your question just reminded me of this incredible video from my home state (Florida).
Please check it out! It's totally worth the watch!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ob80Cfo9T8
You will need a camera trap, also called wildlife or hunting cameras with a good macro. I think this article could help you: https://wildtech.mongabay.com/2015/12/animal-paparazzi-camera-traps-focus-on-small-critters/
Hi,
we use security cameras Vivoteku IB8367-T and Milesight MS-C3262-FPNA/7-22 . Cameras can work as independent units - Camera + battery + SD memory card. They are able record flowers for 24 hours (32 gb SD card and battery limits). Cameras have own software with motion detection but trigger of it could be too slow if your view is focused just on flower. Because we record insects, which is small and usually very fast, we prefer later analyse detail insect behavior (contacts with anthers…) and handling times with Motion Meerkat software.
http://benweinstein.weebly.com/motionmeerkat.html
I haven't found a system that works well for me yet. I'm still searching or trying to create one. I want to share a couple of articles that are relevant for this topic in case someone is interested. Thanks for all the answers (past and future).
Article Bring your own camera to the trap: An inexpensive, versatile...
Article Camera-trapping version 3.0: current constraints and future ...
Hi, when using video motion detection to monitor pollinators there is many variables that has to be accounted for. It has to be close up and it will only capture a small area. The video motion sensor will be very prone to false positives (e.g. triggered by the movement or even changes in light/shadow), this is because it is optimized to be triggered by relative small pollinators.
I would recommend 3 different systems, all depending on the study system and your needs:
1. Digital recorder with integrated video motion detection
Article Portable digital video surveillance system for monitoring fl...
Article New video registration of Autographa pulchrina (Haworth, 180...
Article Diel activity, frequency and visit duration of pollinators i...
Article Volatiles composition and timing of emissions in a moth-poll...
Note: you might look into Raspberry Pi, although it requires programming skills.
2. Continuous recording with a digital camcorder, GoPro or similar
a) Manual post-processing
b) Automatic post-processing (motion detection, e.g. http://benweinstein.weebly.com/motionmeerkat.html)
3. Interval footage (still images or video)
This has been used for decades, and recently many camera has this feature.
Note: wildlife cameras with PIR sensor will not work properly for monitoring insects due to the PIR sensor.
Gland to share. Insects are too small to trigger recording visually. But the bee buzz is strong enough to trigger recording if a sound trigger is adopted in a camera. I guess many type of motion camera has this function. You can record a related buzz and use it as command in their apps.
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