Watch with MOTHER
Get closer to wildlife by installing a trail or nest cam in the garden. Adrian Thomas explains how to do it
So many of us have been entertained by our garden wildlife over the past year. We’ve enjoyed lockdown birdsong and we’ve been uplifted by the butterflies and bees in our outdoor spaces. But what does wildlife get up to when we’re not looking?
Wouldn’t it be good to see what’s going on inside nestboxes or observe the comings and goings of our nocturnal wildlife?
Well, that secret-cam footage we’re used to seeing on David Attenborough documentaries is now something we can all enjoy, thanks to innovative camera systems coming onto the amateur market – and coming down in price. But, unless you’re an electrical boffin, choosing the right one can seem daunting, using a foreign language of megapixels and acronyms. So, here’s a simple guide to help you. ➤
Nest cams and trail cams serve different functions, and there are vital differences in how they’re powered and set up.
● Nest cams are little cameras that mount into the top of a nestbox and peer down into the chamber below to beam live moving footage of the nest to your TV or computer.
● Trail cams, meanwhile, are positioned around the garden to capture short bursts of photos or moving images on memory cards, triggered when wildlife passes in front of the camera. If you install a nest cam, remember there’s no guarantee that the box will be occupied, so you could have a blank screen to stare at. Even if you’re lucky, activity will probably be condensed over a period of about two months in spring. But if the stars align and you get to see baby birds hatch and fledge, you’ll be suffused with parental pride and mesmerised by that screen! Remember that birds are only likely to breed in a nest cam box if your garden offers them all the food they need for their chicks, and that means having plenty of trees, bushes, flowers and lawns. With a trail cam, there’s a very good chance an interesting visitor will trip the beam, other than just the local moggies! I wouldn’t know that badgers visit my garden if it weren’t for my trail cam. But remember it may take a little wait to capture something out of the ordinary.
This secret surveillance could open your eyes to a brand new perspective of your garden. ✿
If you get to see baby birds hatch and fledge you’ll be mesmerised by that screen!