Hallo Darcy, we use ScoutGuard camera traps to photograph mammals inside and outside Kurger National Park (South Africa). We have 30+ out in the field. We have not seen the need to change brand type as we get good results from our cams. The image quality during daytime photos is great (8 megapixel cameras we actually set to 5 MP for storage purposes).

ScoutGuard (and most other brands) fall within your price range and are light to carry. There are many ScoutGuard varieties incl. ones that emit EITHER a slightly conspicuous red-coloured IR flash OR that are completely invisible. The thing with IR flashes is that they blur moving objects at night!

We put SanDisk 4 GB SD cards into ours (I think they come with the cams.) and 4x AA Energizer batteries (not incl.). These batts. can last more than one month taking hundreds of photos. If you want to check them even less often then add 8x AA batteries and the camera will remain on for more than 2 months (just check SD card size, maybe upsize to 8 GB?). An important point: the ALKALINE BATTERIES OUTLAST THE RECHARGEABLES. Another trick is to set the sensitivity of the motion sensor to "Low" as "tree triggers" (moving branches, leaves, grasses) become a problem but, still capture larger objects such as animals under this setting. We also order the protective casing that is made for these cams. Unfortunately, we had some cameras leaking with our last batch. The seals must have been faulty however, none actually stopped working: just a build-up of moisture inside battery and screen compartment. As a solution we open the rubber port hole at the bottom of the camera so moisture can drain.

Regards and I hope this finds you well,

Hi DaRCY

I have no knowledge but Robert Kityo uses hundreds at a time

best to you

have any owl pellets for me to ID?

julian

I have incidentally taken images of screech owls (Megascops asio) with cameras that emit conspicuous red glow during nighttime IR use (Reconyx RM30) while doing non-related field research here in Wisconsin, USA. The owls in question remained in place over the course of several minutes (e.g., preening or apparently hunting atop posts) without overtly reacting to these flashes. Still, I would go with the no-glow options (also mentioned previously by Rion Elias Lerm), just to take that concern off the table altogether.  The only other thing I can suggest is to use rechargeable AA batteries (in contrast to Rion). I have been using the same individual batteries since 2007--almost ten years now--in heavy use (continuous time lapse and motion trigger, day and night, several months/year). The ones I use (Ray-O-Vac "Hybrid" type) are said to be able to recharge ~300 times, and I have no reason to doubt that claim whatsoever. It is inconceivable that any simple alkaline battery would last that long.

Have you tried Reconyx? Very sturdy and practical. User friendly.

A lot of good information here already. I have no experience with owls but my assumption is they won't be hanging out in front of the cameras for very long  so I would consider the trigger speed and recovery time of the camera as well.

We use lithium batteries in all of our cameras, and they are still showing at full charge after over a year of use (over 10,000 photos). They are also lighter than alkaline batteries.

We use Reconyx Ultrafires, which are more than $250, but recently ordered some of the Bushnell Aggressor No-Glow because they came recommended from another researcher who has used them extensively. The Bushnell model is within your price range.

http://www.bushnell.com/wildlife/trail-cameras/trophy-cam/aggressor-no-glow

Lastly, in wet climates desiccant is your friend! Many cameras have space inside for small packets. I do not know if the Bushnell model linked above does as we haven't received ours yet, but the Reconyx does.

There is so much to consider when discussing camera trapping, but there are many cameras made that are within your price range and will work for your proposed purposes.

I hope my suggestions below are helpful.

For starters, I would access: trailcampro.com. The company not only sells the cameras from many manufacturers but also field tests, reviews and ranks each model. They could suggest a good camera for your application. Or, you could simple look at their reviews and ratings. Finding a camera by trial and error isn't the most efficient or economical way to go.

The most important items to consider are trigger speed and recovery time as well as battery life. Many cameras on the market are pretty small. Finding a small one shouldn't be a problem.

I would NOT recommend using rechargeable AA batteries. The reason for this is that rechargeables are 1.2 volts instead of the 1.5 volts of an Alkaline or Lithium AA. Using rechargeables automatically subtracts 20% from your battery life and power. Thus, the low battery threshold will be met at least 20% sooner with rechargeables.

Many of the available cameras will function on only 4 batteries but have room for 8. Use the maximum your camera will take! The longest time each camera can function and is available for picture taking is important. Always carry extra batteries. Always carry extra SD cards. Keep good batteries in your cameras. When the meter on the camera says the batteries are getting low change them.

Number your cameras. Keep a log of each camera, log when you change batteries, change SD cards, GPS locations and anything else you can think of that would be applicable.

Write and ID number your SD cards and log which card is in which camera each time you switch out cards. This is important. SD cards do go bad. A ID number on the cards recorded in your log will help quickly identify a bad card. If an SD card is questionable DISCARD it. Use a new card.

Also consider using invisible or Black IR. I haven't had any problems using regular IR with mammals but I've never attempted to photograph owls. I suspect they might react to a visible red IR.

I would suggest enclosing each camera in what is know as a bear-box. A bear-box is a metal box designed to fit the camera and protect it from animal damage (bears in my area). Your camera is a tool that is important to your work. It's an investment. If it doesn't work or is missing you've lost time and data. Also the bear-box will protect it from humans that may want to steal your camera. I would suggest boxes made by the company called Cam-lock. Their boxes are well made and can be locked securely with a small well made combination lock. I suggest Master 630D. You can set you own combinations for these locks.

Reconyx is a very good camera but most models are out of your price range.

With all that said I've used Moultrie cameras for many years. I've also use several other brands including Bushnell.

My favorite cameras were the now obsolete Moultrie M80. All of them are still functioning well.

Some Reconyx models have the lowest trigger time available (to my knowledge), if this is an important point for you! It is around  0,1 s.

Try with some IR flash using camera. But capturing owls in camera trap is not easy like capturing other Mammals. U need to fix it with wide sensor and fast trigger.

Scoutguards are best for me. we use SG550, but longer available in market. there are some new model but make sure they are not white flash ones. Bushnells are also very good to use. we buy them from http://www.trailcampro.com/ 

Not sure what is available at the moment. For the shy animals Infrared-no glow cameras would be suitable. good luck

Hi Darcy

several models can work, but right settings and strategic placement is what it takes to capture an image of landing or taking off owl: Reconnyx Hc500, HC600, PC800, PC900 should work, just as an example.

risky

Darcy,

We are using these guys for some specialized swan monitoring and photography.  They also work with our local PBS photographer who does a lot of specialized wildlife photography and maybe able help you out with some affordable options.

Their contact information is:

TRLcam

Jaff Dale

402.450.2909

[email protected]

www.trlcam.com

Good Luck

Heather Johnson

I would try Scoutgard - with infrared light. We used this small trail camera for eagle owl monitoring. In the night camera recorded a video of hunting owl - video length was cca. 1 minute and owl was not disturbed. Especially important is trigger speed, battery life, size, video and photo quality.

Check HC600 HyperFire H.O. Covert IR at www.reconyx.com or call them at 866-493-6064. We have use them with success and depending on the size of SD card you use you will collect thousands of photos.

Hi Darcy, I used Ltl Acorn cameras at Hooded Vulture nests last year with infra-red flash, these cameras are smaller than Bushnells, and the image quality wasn't great at short range, but with large birds like vultures and owls it's good enough to see what they're doing and classify behaviour. Like Rion said, IR flash showed blurred movement at night. With 12 rechargeable batteries, the Ltl Acorn cameras lasted 1 month, taking pictures continuously at 5 minute intervals. This season, I'm using brand-new Bushnell HD cameras,also with 12 rechargeable AA batteries set continuously taking pictures every 5 mins, and the image quality at close range is incredible, however we're having teething trouble with some cameras lasting 1 month, while a few take pictures for only 2 or 3 days before giving up, so we need to find out what's causing these new Bushnells to stop working after just a few days, the seller says it could be battery related. If you're setting your cameras to be motion-activated, then battery life is less of a problem, and in that case I would recommend the Bushnell HDs, purely because of the fantastic quality they produce at short ranges (mine are less than a metre from Hooded Vulture nests). I haven't tried video settings on either brand yet. Good luck!

Hi Darcy, where will you deploy the cameras? If it is at nests there is much more to consider compared to bait or perching sites.