Author: Luanne Wilkes

Deciding which nest box camera to choose involves a complicated tiptoe through competing technologies and equipment. Before you start watching birds you have to decide what sort of system is best for you and, crucially, how much money to spend.

The first question you need to consider is whether to choose a wired or wireless system.

Wired systems have a cable running from the nest box back to your house or classroom, which carries both power and the television signal. This results in excellent image quality but may not be ideal if you have children or pets in your garden, or if a cable running to your bird box will interfere with the gardening. You will also need to feed the cable into your house, either by drilling a hole in the wall or by feeding it through an open window.

Wireless systems do not require a cable to run between the bird box and the television but instead transmit images to a small receiver situated inside the house. However, a power supply will still be required for the camera (i.e. from a shed or outbuilding) and the signal can be compromised by other wireless devices in the area or by trees and other structures between the nest box and the house.

Next you will need to consider whether you require a complete kit or just the camera.

If you are new to this particular aspect of watching and listening to birds, a complete kit, such as the Nest Box Camera Starter Kit is a good and economical choice. This starter kit includes a bird box with a camera mounted in the roof, which provides colour footage during the day and black ­and ­white at night. A 30 ­metre cable plugs into your television and supplies the camera with power. Another option is the Gardenature Nest Box Camera System, which includes a bespoke red cedar nest box made to RSPB and BTO guidelines. A small sliding drawer at the top of the box houses the Sony CCD camera, which adjusts automatically depending on light levels. A 30 ­metre cable connects the camera to your television.

For the handyman or woman who wants to put a system together themselves, either in a bespoke or existing nest box, the Nest Box Camera with Night Vision is a good choice. The tiny camera will focus from a few centimetres to roughly 30 metres, with high definition for excellent daytime and night ­time images. The camera comes with a 30 ­metre cable and extension cables are available to purchase separately. The Wireless Nest Box Camera Kit is a great option if you want to fit a wireless camera to your own bird box.

What about watching on your computer?

All of the cameras and kits that we sell come with either a cable or wireless receiver that will connect directly to your television. If you want to view or save your footage onto your computer then an additional USB capture device is required. These are available both for Windows and Mac operating systems and come with all the software you require to get started.

 

The type of hand net you require can depend on a number of factors – including the type of environment you will be sampling, whether you will be using it for professional surveys or for pleasure (or perhaps both!), the type of sampling you will be conducting (i.e. pond dipping vs. kick sampling) and also your budget. Take a look at the different types of hand nets we supply to decide which is right for you.

Professional and Student Hand Nets

Professional Hand Nets are the original nets used by consultants, researchers and river authorities worldwide. In the U.K. they are approved and used by the Environment Agency, the Riverfly Partnership, the London Natural History Museum and the Salmon and Trout Association. They are suitable for both kick sampling and pond dipping in all types of aquatic environment and can last for 10 years or more, even with regular use.

Professional Hand Nets have a 250mm wide head and are available with a wooden or aluminium handle. Two-part and three-part sectional wooden handles are also available which can be unscrewed for transport or extended with extra sections. Frames with an aluminium handle are lighter and cheaper but are less comfortable to use, particularly in cold weather. Net bags to fit the Professional Hand Net are available in 1mm and 2mm woven mesh or 0.5mm and 0.25mm precision mesh. All bags are manufactured to international standards and mesh is guaranteed to stay the same shape and size, even under stress.

The Professional Hand Net is also available in a smaller Student version which is 200mm in width. This is designed to the same high quality as the larger Professional net but is ideal for educational use.

Lightweight Eco-Nets

The Lightweight Eco-Net has a strong aluminium frame which will withstand regular use both for kick sampling or pond dipping. Net heads are 160mm in width and 1mm and 2mm mesh bags are available to fit this frame. Bags attach to the head using industrial velcro, making them easy to replace.

 

Telescopic Pond Nets

The Telescopic Pond Net is designed for pond dipping only. Its lighter-weight construction means that it is not suitable for kick sampling, dragging along the bottom of streams or for sampling in dense vegetation. However, its light weight also makes it very suitable for students and younger users. The telescopic handle extends from 66cm to 115cm providing excellent reach. The net bag fixes to the frame using strong velcro.

Economy Pond Nets

For children or those that are new to pond dipping (or rock pooling) the Economy range of pond nets feature a plastic handle and frame and are available in three sizes. The smallest has a net head of just 15 x 13cm and a 76cm handle – perfect for small children. These nets are lightweight and affordable.

 

 

Bioacoustic recording is a valuable method of surveying animal populations for research and conservation, as the sounds made by many animals are unique to the species or individual. The collection and preservation of such sounds have also become an art form for many amateur naturalists.

In comparison to music or voice recording, capturing the sounds of nature in the outdoors poses a number of challenges. These include dealing with the complications of wind and other ambient noises as well as subjects which can be extremely quiet and that may need to be recorded from a distance. Having suitable equipment and understanding the best ways to use it can go a long way to minimising these issues.

The key items of equipment required for wildlife sound recording are a microphone and a portable recorder. For recording a single animal, a shotgun microphone is ideal, and for animals recorded from a significant distance, a parabolic mic is recommended. For recording multiple animals, such as the dawn chorus, a single or matched pair of condenser microphones can be used.

A portable recorder will allow you to save your recordings onto an SD card, and many offer a range of on-board editing functions as well as a triggered recording option. In situations where the noise of the recorder is significant or when a microphone extension cable is being used, a preamplifier can improve the quality of your recordings.

For those involved in bioacoustic surveying, the addition of a software package can help you analyse your recording, and figure out the exact species that you have captured.

 

NHBS stocks a wide range of sound recording equipment, including recorders, microphones, hydrophones and preamplifiers, as well as headphones, tripods and all the cables you need to connect the equipment together. Take a look at the website or our catalogue to see what’s available.