Echo Meter Touch – Upgrading for iOS

Wildlife Acoustics recently announced that the Echo Meter Touch (Standard and Professional versions), can now be upgraded so that they can be used with Apple iOS devices. There are a few important steps to take when upgrading. 

Which Apple Devices can be used? 

Wildlife Acoustics have stated that only new Apple devices that have a native USB-C connector on them will work. This means that any lightning connector-based devices will not work with the upgraded EMT even if you have a lightning to USB-C cable. If you have an iPhone 15 (all versions) or later you can use the upgraded Echo Meter Touch. 

How to upgrade your Echo Meter Touch

Firstly, make sure you have the EMT with the USB-C connector. Micro-USB will not work with this upgrade specifically for Apple devices. Here are the steps you have to take: 

1. Check to make sure you have the latest Wildlife Acoustics app installed on your Android Device. When you update the app it should display an announcement telling you that Apple is supported.

2. Plug your EMT into the Android device.

3. Using the menu found in the top left corner of the screen (displayed as three horizontal bars). Select Settings.

4. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Settings menu, and select Advanced Settings. 

At this stage the app will tell you what version of firmware you have on your EMT. If it is version 2 or later, then you do not need to update to get iOS compatibility. However if there is a new firmware update, even if your device has version 2.0 or later, you should update the EMT to get the best possible experience from the EMT. 

5. If the EMT is shown as having version 1.3 the app will offer you a later version of firmware.

6. Select Update Module Firmware – DO NOT UNPLUG YOUR EMT Device

7. Let the app perform the upgrade and is will display the notice saying a firmware upgrade has been successful. 

8. Once, this appears, remove your EMT from the Android device, and re-insert it to double check the device is updated. 

Now that you have accomplished the firmware update you should insert the EMT into your Apple device. If you have downloaded the Wildlife Acoustics app to the Apple device it should function correctly. 

 

Spring Exploring: Equipment for Wildlife Watching

As spring emerges, naturalists across the UK are dusting off their kit to begin exploring the great outdoors. From bird watching to bug hunting, we have equipment to help you explore. Below, we have compiled a list of must-have equipment for wildlife watching this spring. 


Viking Cygnus Monocular 

Young boy looking through a monocular in the woods.
The Viking Cygnus Monocular in-field.

Excellent optics combined with a grippy, rubberised armour make this handy monocular the ideal companion this spring. At only 287g, The Viking Cygnus Monocular is a lightweight, showerproof monocular with a small form factor, designed for easy handling for any hand size. Created for quick access and target acquisition, this monocular features a smooth action barrel adjuster for precise focus adjustment and a larger objective lens for high colour imagery.  

For a smaller, even more lightweight alternative weighing only 140g, the 8×25 MK2 magnification monocular is ideal for quick and easy use, where a smaller objective diameter lens is counteracted by its handy size. 

Opticron Explorer Compact Binoculars 

Black binoculars.

The Explorer Compact Binoculars by Opticron would make an excellent addition to any naturalists kit this spring. A fully armoured, roof prism body provides comfort and extra grip for comfortable carrying infield. With a weatherproof, fold-down design, these are ideal for transport, and can be stored easily due to their size and weight (195g). The ribbed focus wheel and twist-type eye cups ensure a good field of view with easy focusing, and the use of multicoloured lens and high reflection coated prisms provide bright, crisp images. Available in 8 x 21 and 10 x 21.  

Nikon Sportstar EX DCF Compact Binoculars 

Black binoculars

Available in 8×25 and 10×25, these high-quality, pocket-sized binoculars are waterproof and fog free. Turn and slide rubber eye cups allow for easy positioning, and multilayer coated lenses deliver a high optical performance with great clarity and well-balanced colour. The field of view is ideal for observing large landscapes, and partnered with a good close focusing distance, these compact binoculars also work great with insects. Weighing only 300g, these ultra-lightweight binoculars are ideal for travelling or working infield.  

Crushable Pocket Butterfly Net

A hand holding a butterfly net

Designed with a spring steel frame, this Crushable Pocket Butterfly net can twist for an easy collapse and can be folded down to pocket-size. This foldable, yet robust design allows for easy transportation and storage whilst in-field. The net is supplied with a short, brass handle but can also be used with telescopic and push-fit net handles if you wish to extend its reach.  

Walkstool Basic 

A black and grey folding stool.

Designed and manufactured in Sweden, the Walkstool Basic is a simple, 3-point stool made for outdoorsmen of any kind. Suitable for home use and in-field work, this compact resting stool weighs only 725g, making it ideal for packing and transporting. Available in 24”, the Walkstool Basic is designed with comfort and sturdy support in mind. This highly portable stool has plastic foot ends and telescopic, extendable legs to account for uneven terrain. The sturdy aluminium frame and durable polyester seat make this stool a worthy addition to any explorers kit this spring.  

Pocket Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland 

A hand holding a small book with a bumblebee on the front.

This handy, pocket-sized guide to the naturally occurring bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland is a richly illustrated work accessible to beginners and more experienced naturalists alike. Each species has a dedicated double page spread, detailing its characteristics, habitat, distribution and sex differentiation, among others. This portable pocket guide provides an ‘at-a-glance’ guide to species. Ideal for exploring this spring, this handy book provides an informative peak into the world of bumblebee identification.  

Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland  

A hand holding a guide to butterflies with a background of grass

Another publication in the Bloomsbury Wildlife Guides collection, the Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland features over 600 detailed illustrations on each species and their life stages. Detailing species information, distribution and life history, this pocketbook provides an accessible, easytouse guide to butterflies in Britain.   

Field Studies Council Fold-out Guides  

Identification guide showing seaweed species

The Field Studies Council Fold-out Guides are ideal for days where full-size field guides are cumbersome. These handy species identification charts cover an eclectic range of themes, from mammal tracks and woodland plants to seashells and jellyfish. These weatherproof guides are a practical accompaniment to a spring stroll, find the full collection here 

NHBS Guide to Newt Survey Equipment

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) – CC Leonora (Ellie) Enking via Flickr

Great Crested Newts are the UK’s most strictly protected amphibian, requiring licensed ecological surveys if a development may affect them. As the first signs of spring emerge, ecologists are preparing for the start of this year’s newt survey season. Below, we have compiled a list of the most common newt survey methods and the equipment needed for each, so that you can ensure you have everything you need as the survey season approaches.

Netting
NHBS Traditional Amphibian Net

Netting for adult and larval newts can be a useful tool in both survey and relocation. Here at NHBS, we have designed an amphibian net specifically for the safe and efficient capture of newts. The net bag is attached by a wide velcro collar which prevents newts from becoming caught between the frame and the bag. The bag can also be removed from the frame to be disinfected between sites. The seams have been carefully placed so that they do not come into contact with the front edge of the net, and the material of the bag is a soft 2mm mesh. The net head is 300mm wide and comes with a sturdy, wooden 1.2m handle. We also sell a diamond-shaped amphibian net that comes in either standard depth or deep. Its shape is ideal for easy and safe capture for amphibians and is also available in a collapsible frame for easy transport between sites.

 

Bottle Trapping

Bottle trapping is a popular method of surveying for both detecting and assessing populations. It can, however, become quite labour intensive, especially if you are looking to cut bottles into traps yourself. To save yourself some valuable time, we sell pre-cut bottle traps with the head inverted and ready to deploy. These can be bought in packs of 40 or 120 and are cut from 2L PET bottles with a 28mm neck diameter. Alternatively, we sell the whole bottles if you would rather cut the traps yourself.

 

Torching

Torching is a less invasive and effective method of counting/observing newts without the need for capturing them. Torches are recommended to be between 500,000 and one million candlepower and need to ideally last several hours at a time. The Cluson CB2 range is very popular among ecologists and provides 1 million candlepower with long lasting battery life and an easy-to-use pistol type grip. 

 

 

Drift Fencing

Fencing can either be used to temporarily exclude or contain newts in mitigation projects. It can also be used to aid the capture of newts for relocation and is typically a short barrier with the base buried underground. Our Tristar Newt Fencing comes in rolls of 100m, is made of UV stabilised polythene sheeting and tinted green. It is designed to resist weather damage and has a life expectancy of 5 years, making it ideal for temporary mitigation projects during development works. It is easy and simple to put up and can be fixed into place with our soft wood stakes.

 

Pitfall Traps

Often, pitfall traps are used alongside drift fencing in order to trap and translocate newts in relocation projects. They consist of a container that is buried underground often flush with the edge of drift fencing. Both rectangular buckets and round buckets have been shown to be effective and we supply several options depending on your preferences.

 

Recommended Accessories

Light & Dry Micro First Aid Kit

Bamboo Canes

dialMax Vernier Dial Caliper

Snowbee Granite PVC Thigh Waders

Snowbee Lightweight Neoprene Gloves

Replacement Amphibian Net Bag

Broad Spectrum Disinfectant Tablets

Breaksafe Thermometer

A note on licensing

Please note that Great Crested Newts and its habitat are protected by law. Any Great Crested Newt survey work must be undertaken by a licensed ecologist. Different levels of license are required for different survey and mitigation methods. For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/great-crested-newt-licences#great-crested-newt-survey-and-research-licences

Phenology Series: Spring

Springtime is often synonymous with rebirth, renewal and regrowth. As the Earth’s axis tilts towards the sun, our days become warmer and the snow starts to melt. The rivers and streams swell, air and ground temperatures rise, and we start to see new plant growth.

There are no fixed calendar dates for the beginning of spring. Ecologically, the start of this season relates to biological indicators, such as the start of certain animal activities and the blossoming of particular plant species. Phenology is the study of the timing of natural events from year to year, like the budburst of trees, the arrival of summer migrant species, the breeding bird season and the emergence of hibernating wildlife. You can find out more about the study of phenology in our previous blog post.

This is the first in our four part seasonal phenology series where you can explore a collection of ID blogs, books, equipment and events to make the most of the spring season.


Identification guides

Over the years, we’ve made a number of identification guides for UK species, many of which are active during spring. Here’s a selection that we think are particularly useful for this season:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What you might see:

  • You will likely start to notice the first flowering of many plant species, including Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis), Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis), Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) and Wood Anemone (Anemondoides nemorosa).
  • The budburst of trees, including Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and Sycamore (Acerpseudoplatanus), with many also having their first leaves appear in March or early April.
  • Trees such as Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), Hazel (Corylus avellana) and Field Maple (Acer campestre) begin to produce blossoms and catkins. Spring blossom can start as early as February and last through to early summer.

  • The emergence of several insect species, such as Seven-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), Orange Tip butterflies (Anthocharis cardamines), Green Tiger Beetles (Cicindela campestris) and Dark-edged Bee-flies (Bombylius major).
  • The beginning of the nesting season for most European bird species, including Great Tits (Parus major), Tawny Owls (Strix aluco), Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) and Wrens (Troglodytes troglodytes). Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) start their courtship rituals in early spring, with their elaborate dances, synchronised swimming, preening and ‘mewing’.
  • Many migratory birds also begin to arrive during spring, such as Chiffchaffs (Phylloscopus collybita), Swallows (Hirundo rustica) and Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe).

  • Reptiles and amphibians become more active during spring and into summer, coming out of hibernation and venturing to find food and breeding sites. Frogspawn, toadspawn and tadpoles also begin to appear during early spring and onwards.
  • A number of mammal species give birth during this time so that their young are born when resources are most plentiful. Badger cubs (Meles meles), which are mainly born in February, will begin to gradually emerge from their setts during spring.


Activities:


Upcoming events:

Earth Day – 22nd April
International Dawn Chorus Day – 5th May
Hedgehog Awareness Week – 5th to 11th May
World Bee Day – 20th May
International Day for Biological Diversity – 22nd May
World Environment Day – 5th June
World Ocean Day – 8th June
Insect Week – 24th to 30th June


Essential equipment and books:

An Identification Guide to Garden Insects of Britain and North-West Europe

 

 

 

 

Wild Flower Flowcharts: Species ID the Easy Way

 

 

 

Great British Marine Animals

 

 

 

 

 

Opticron Hand Lens: 15x 23mm

Check out our guide to hand lenses and our full range.

 

Educational Rock Pooling Kit

 

 

 

Wireless Nest Box Camera.

Wireless Nest Box Camera

 

 

 

 

 

Browse our full collection for more spring books and equipment highlights.

NHBS manufacturing – a year in review

2023 proved to be a pivotal year for the NHBS manufacturing team, one in which we enjoyed new and continued partnerships with key organisations, overhauled the NHBS Harp Trap with the aid of leading UK ecologists, and continued to refine our existing products. 

A glimpse into the manufacturing workshop at the NHBS offices in Totnes, Devon.

Fine tuning the NHBS Moth Trap 

Since its introduction in late 2019, the NHBS Moth Trap has been a consistent favourite with hobbyists and professionals alike. However, a manufacturing team consistently motivated to improve our products and with an ear to the ground for customer feedback resulted in an evolution of the trap in 2023. The new design is more robust, lighter and more cost-effective.  

By changing the design of the lamp support, our manufacturing team were able to reduce the amount of steel used, saving on both weight and cost. We also upgraded the material used for the moth trap panels to a more rigid and environmentally friendly material, constructed from 70% recycled plastic. Finally, our team developed a system that allows the NHBS Moth Trap to run off a 12V battery using an inverter kit. A full night’s trapping is now possible using a single battery. 

The NHBS Moth Trap was designed in consultation with Butterfly Conservation. NHBS is proud to support the excellent work they carry out with each sale of the trap. 

A Professional Hand Net frame in progress.

Nets for every occasion 

There is a sense of pride in the development of the iconic orange banded nets that NHBS produce. Without knowing it, you may have seen them in action on prime-time television shows including Springwatch and the BBC flagship series Earth that featured Chris Packham using an NHBS plankton net in the first episode.  

Our bestselling Professional Hand Net also forms a key part of the Riverfly Partnership approved survey kit. Our relationship with the Riverfly Partnership dates back to when NHBS originally acquired EFE & GB Nets in 2016, and we are pleased to further support the Partnership by making a donation to them with each sale of the kit. You can find out more about the great work the Riverfly Partnership are doing in our previous blog and on their website. 

Conservation research and monitoring 

At NHBS we are experienced in working with our customers to either develop or improve equipment for use in monitoring wildlife. Where necessary we seek out experts who can examine the design of the product and give feedback on improvements; not only to meet project requirements, but also to ensure the design is sympathetic to the wildlife that are subject to the equipment’s use.  

Early in 2023, we wanted to overhaul our Three Bank Harp Trap and so reached out to respected and experienced ecologist Neil Middleton of Batability. Neil and his team gave crucial feedback on the trap’s existing design and highlighted areas where improvements could be made. This allowed our manufacturing team to refine the design so that it maximised the safety of the bats that were caught, as well as making it easier for ecologists to use. By listening to the experts and users and making their recommended changes to the design, we now have a product that we are exceptionally proud of. 

A visiting team from LIST collaborate with NHBS engineers on the exciting NEWTCAM project.

NHBS manufacturing in 2024 

This year promises to be full of exciting developments, including the NEWTCAM project that NHBS is working on in collaboration with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).  As well as providing a novel approach to monitoring amphibians, NEWTCAM represents a very different type of technology for our manufacturing team, giving them a chance to learn valuable skills which can be utilised in future products. The first units are currently in production and will be made available to early users for field testing from spring 2024. 

At NHBS we are committed to finding the best materials and are constantly working to improve the sustainability of the production methods we use. If you have a project or product you think we could help with, please do not hesitate to get in touch using our contact form. 

Made in Britain Logo

We are also pleased to announce that we have been awarded the use of the Made in Britain logo for all product manufactured in our NHBS workshop in Devon.

Made in Britain logo showing the Union Jack flag and grey text saying 'Made in Britain'.

 

Meet the new Song Meter 2 ultrasonic and acoustic recorders

Wildlife Acoustics are renowned for their attention to customer feedback which they use to refine their products and ensure they are of the highest quality.  It also means their products are some of the easiest and most flexible to use which makes them favourites with researchers around the world.

The latest additions to their range are the second-generation Song Meter Mini 2, Mini Bat 2 and Micro 2. In this blog you’ll find out exactly what’s new in these improved models and which of the original excellent features have been retained.

What’s new?

Increased battery life

• The Mini 2 with AA batteries will now record for up to 625 hours (when using 8 x AA batteries). This is more than twice the amount of the original Song Meter Mini.

• The Mini 2 with Lithium-ion batteries offers up to an incredible 1,565 hours of recording time, making it ideal for use in difficult to access locations.

• The Micro 2 will now record for up to 240 hours with just 4 x AA batteries – a huge 33% increase over the original Micro.

 

Improved weatherproofing

All Song Meter units are now tested to IP67 standards. This means that, not only are they protected against typical weather conditions, they can also be dropped into water up to a meter deep for 30 minutes without any water ingress. Perfect for the toughest conditions in the field.

New hinged enclosure

The casing has been completely redesigned so that the lid is hinged to the body and opens using a simple latched mechanism. With purposely designed holes to fit cable locks and/or padlocks, you can leave your equipment unattended, safe in the knowledge that your recorder is secure and cannot be accessed by anyone else.

New tripod mount

Further flexibility in siting has been achieved by the addition of a standard tripod mount. The Mini 2 and Micro 2 can now be quickly and easily attached to any item that has a standard tripod connector.

What has stayed the same?

All the Song Meter second-generation recorders still include a low-noise microphone that produces high-quality sound files. The same companion app, available for iOS and Android, is used to programme the recorders, ensuring that you can quickly and easily update them with your existing recording schedules. Finally, all recorders come with the same 2-year warranty, offering you peace of mind when you buy.

Head to nhbs.com to see the full range of Song Meter 2 recorders and associated accessories, or contact our customer services team for advice on choosing the product that’s right for you.

Free Webinar: Cold Weather Soundscapes; from Arctic Coasts to Alpine Valleys

Cold-Weather-Webinar_800x300_2024-01-10-151956_zlmv

Researchers are using bioacoustics to study how animals in cold-weather environments hear and process sound, why they vocalise, and whether acoustic tools can help mitigate conflicts. Meanwhile, artists are documenting the impact of climate change, recording the sound of melting glacial ice to curate immersive exhibits.

How are their efforts drawing attention to fragile ecosystems? Find out at the Wildlife Acoustics FREE webinar at 3pm (GMT) on 8th February!

Click here to register your place.

Wildlife Acoustics Logo


FEATURING

The Cry Wolf Project: Bioacoustics & Carnivores in Yellowstone National Park

Come and learn about how bioacoustics are being used to study wolf vocalisations in the remote and often wintery locations of Yellowstone National Park. We’ll cover the use of wildlife recorders for studying the function of wolf vocalisations, generating population estimates, and mediating wildlife-livestock conflicts. We’ll also demonstrate how Kaleidoscope Pro classifiers were used to find wolf vocalisations in large recording datasets. Most importantly, we’ll have fun listening to never-before-heard wild wolf sounds, recorded non-invasively in 2023.

Un Suono in Estinzione (A Sound in Extinction) – Adamello Glacier, Italian Alps

Hear the results of an experimental research project aimed at monitoring the implications of climate change on Alpine glaciers through the analysis of sound expressed in educational, artistic, and scientific activities. Un Suono in Estinzione (A Sound in Extinction) began in 2020 with researcher and sound artist Sergio Maggioni, around whom a team of professionals from different fields was created in a short time. Learn about the results of this fascinating bioacoustics project and its inspiration.

Acoustic Sensory Ecology of Diving Alcid Seabirds & Potential Noise Impacts

Alcid seabirds like the Atlantic Puffin are important components of holarctic coastal ecosystems and may derive important acoustic cues from the surrounding natural soundscape. As people increasingly utilise Arctic coastal areas, it is essential to characterise these soundscapes as a baseline for understanding seabird acoustic biology so that we can quantify the effects of human activity on their acoustic ecology over time. Learn how passive acoustic monitoring was used to document and describe the aerial soundscape dynamics of puffins and other Alcids seabirds such as Common Murres and Marbled Murrelets, and explore how these soundscapes may be related to their acoustic sensory biology.

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PRESENTERS

Jeff Reed, PhD
CEO | Grizzly Systems
Montana, United States

Jeff Reed, Wolf Researcher

Jeff Reed was born and raised in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in southwest Montana, United States, and owns Reedfly Farm in Paradise Valley, Montana. After obtaining a PhD in computational linguistics and history, Jeff spent 30 years in the technology industry, working on linguistics and artificial intelligence solutions, and now builds visual and audio tech solutions for wildlife managers. He is an executive committee member of the Upper Yellowstone Watershed Group and Wild Livelihoods, promoting the coexistence of people and wildlife (though he considers people wildlife, too!).

Sergio Maggioni (NEUNAU)
Lead Artist | Un Suono in Estinzione
Adamello-Presanella Alps | Lombardy, Italy

Sergio Maggioni (aka NEUNAU), Researcher and Artist

Sergio Maggioni is the mastermind behind NEUNAU, an artistic sound research project born in Val Camonica, Italy, in 2015. The artist’s namesake is engraved on a rock in Loa, a place of worship from the Iron Age. NEUNAU’s investigations begin with the details a sound source expresses, first capturing and then exploring the sound to compose audio tracks, documentary films, specific performances, and installations that tell the story of the sound’s origins. In 2020, Sergio became the lead artist of Un Suono in Estinzione (A Sound in Extinction), an experimental research project that monitors the implications of climate change on Alpine glaciers through sound analysis in collaboration with universities, institutions, and partners.

Adam Smith, PhD
Postdoctoral Investigator | Dept of Biology Marine Bioacoustics
University of Southern Denmark | Syddanmark, Denmark

Adam Smith, Alcid Researcher

Adam Smith, PhD, grew up in a small town in South Dakota, United States, but became fascinated with the ocean and marine biology through National Geographic magazine articles and Discovery Channel documentaries. As an undergrad, he volunteered to help with research projects on acoustic communication in frogs. This experience hooked him on studying bioacoustics, a field that naturally combines his two great interests: music and nature. In 2011, Adam received his PhD in Zoology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he studied hearing and echolocation in marine mammals. He then spent the following year on a Fulbright Fellowship studying the acoustic sensory ecology of Atlantic Puffins in Iceland. Adam is currently a postdoctoral investigator at the University of Southern Denmark, where he continues to research seabird acoustics and studies the auditory dynamics of biosonar in toothed whales.

Supplier interview with Fran Tattersall from Wildlife Acoustics

Wildlife Acoustics creates world leading wildlife acoustic monitoring tools, specially designed to help scientists make impactful discoveries that expand our understanding of this biologically diverse planet.

A passionate and innovative group of technologists, operational experts, wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists, they have a zeal for helping their customers succeed in their research —understanding their needs and creating wildlife audio recording and analysis tools specially designed to help them conduct research across the globe.

We recently chatted with Fran Tattersall about the history of the company, their latest products, and the incredible ways that they are enabling researchers to collect vital data.

Fran works as the European Business Development Consultant for Wildlife Acoustics and is passionate about the environment and conservation. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the company and their products, and we were grateful to her for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions.


Could you tell us about the history of Wildlife Acoustics? What inspired its creation?

Wildlife Acoustics was founded by Ian Agranat, an engineer, technologist, and nature enthusiast who is still the company’s CEO.

On a family hike in the early 2000s, Ian’s brother-in-law wondered aloud about creating a device for recording and identifying birds by their songs. Wildlife Acoustics’ first product, Song Sleuth, was launched shortly thereafter. Long before we were familiar with such tools, Song Sleuth used AI to identify North American bird species by their calls!

The US Geological Service was intrigued by the possibilities and asked Ian to develop a reliable, programmable recorder and software to help identify bird calls. This led to the invention of the Song Meter SM1, the first commercially available, built-for-purpose acoustic wildlife recorder, and the Song Scope software. Biologists now had a fully integrated, cost-effective, weatherproof solution for monitoring and analyzing the vocalizations of birds, amphibians, and terrestrial animals. (The first SM1 is still in the field today!)

Can you tell us more about the people that use Wildlife Acoustics’ products and what they use them for?

We have products for anyone who wants to record vocal wildlife, bats, or soundscapes!

Our recorders and sound analysis software are used for research projects at universities and NGOs around the world. For example, Bat Conservation International used a Song Meter SM4BAT-FS to re-discover the Hills Horseshoe bat in Rwanda—an endemic species once thought to be extirpated.

Song Meter recorders are also used by ecological consultancies working on everything from large infrastructure projects, such as HS2 and wind farms, to individual householders replacing their roofs.

Our Echo Meter Touch 2 bat detector, which allows people to use their Android devices to hear bats echolocating in real time, has been particularly popular with the general public and is a great engagement tool on bat walks. More recently, our Song Meter Micro has gained popularity with birders who want to record nocturnal migration flyovers.

What are some of the most interesting ways you have seen Wildlife Acoustics’ products being used?

In February, we will be hosting a webinar on the use of our recorders in cold places, and one of the speakers is monitoring glaciers with a Song Meter SM4. I’m looking forward to learning more about that!

More usually our recorders are listening to wildlife. Mammals are my personal favourite species group. We have people recording Maned Wolves, Manatees, elephants, Okapi, moose, Rock Hyrax, and many more.

Interestingly, it’s not just bats that use ultrasound to communicate. Our “bat” recorders have been instrumental in finding and monitoring the invasive White-toothed Shrew in northeast England and discovering that Indonesian Slow Loris use ultrasound to avoid predators. We even have a customer who records lab rats “laughing” when tickled.

Our customers are always finding fascinating new ways to use our equipment!

The new Song Meter Mini 2 and Song Meter Micro 2 are due to be launched soon. How do the new versions compare to their predecessors?

We’ve listened to customer feedback and improved the enclosure, extended battery life even further, created separate AA and Li-ion versions (18650 batteries) for the Mini 2 and the Mini Bat 2, and added a quarter-inch, 20-thread-per-inch tripod mount.

The ergonomics of the closure mechanism have been improved, using a hinged lid that can be secured with a simple cable lock. No more having to keep track of a separate lid. And the whole thing is now IP67-rated and built to withstand even the most rugged terrestrial deployments.

AA battery life has been significantly improved thanks to a larger battery tray that doubles the capacity from four to eight batteries. So for a Mini Bat 2, that means up to fifty 10-hour nights of recording, and for a Mini 2, it’s 420 hours of acoustic recording! (And best of all, the price of the AA versions remains the same.)

On the Micro 2, in addition to housing improvements, we improved the design by making room for an additional AA battery, which extends recording time by 33 percent.

Which of the new products is your favourite and why?

I enjoy exploring the new science of acoustic indices and soundscape analysis and am looking forward to using the Song Meter Micro 2, which has a flatter frequency response than its predecessor, making it eminently suitable for this type of work.

It’s also a great little device to take on wildlife holidays because it is so small—perfect for recording dawn choruses, nocturnal soundscapes, and finding that elusive bird. It’s always exciting to look at the contents of your SD card in the morning and hear what’s been around!

What can you tell us about plans for new features or products in the future?

Only that we’re not resting on our laurels. Our engineers are working on new ideas all the time, and NHBS will be the first to know when we’re ready to make announcements!


All of Wildlife Acoustics’ products are available at nhbs.com. For more information or advice tailored to your specific requirements, please contact us and speak with one of our technical advisors.

Author Q&A with Kayleigh Fawcett Williams: Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications

Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications offers readers an invaluable and practical guide to this exciting technology. Covering a wealth of basics, including the history of thermal imaging and its advantages and challenges, the book also provides readers with all the information they need to begin choosing and using the right equipment. A chapter on wildlife applications covers all of the main animal groups for which the technology is of use, and a final chapter discusses the future possibilities of thermal imaging.

Kayleigh Fawcett Williams is a Wildlife Technology Trainer and Consultant and has been using technology for wildlife applications for the past sixteen years. As the founder of Wildlifetek and KFW Scientific & Creative she helps wildlife students, professionals and enthusiasts use technology to improve their wildlife work via her online training and support services. Kayleigh is also the author of the Thermal Imaging Bat Survey Guidelines which were published in 2019 in association with the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT).


During your PhD, you spent some time training to be a thermographer. What did this training involve, and how valuable do you consider this type of ‘formal’ training to be for anyone wanting to use thermal imaging equipment for their work or studies?

My thermography journey really began when I took my Level 1 Thermography Certification. This was an in-depth technical training with the Infrared Training Centre (ITC) at FLIR’s UK Headquarters in West Malling. It was a fantastic grounding in thermal science and kick-started my use of this technology. I always recommend this training to students and researchers who need to know how to carry out temperature measurement. This is usually only for very specialist research applications where the body temperature of the animal that they are working with is needed.

However, it’s definitely not for everyone. In fact, very few wildlife applications require temperature measurement, but all of them require an understanding of how the technology works, its limitations and, of course, its benefits. That’s why I have since developed wildlife-specific training for those that want to use this technology effectively but don’t need temperature measurements.

Thermal imaging equipment has been around in one form or another since the 1960s/70s. Why do you think it has taken so long for it to become more widely adopted?

It’s a long story, which I cover in much more detail in the book, but I think there are two key elements that have affected our adoption of this technology for wildlife.

Firstly, a key factor is the nature of the equipment itself. Early thermal imaging devices were expensive and cumbersome, making them largely inaccessible and impractical for most wildlife professionals. Over the decades, we have seen huge improvements in both the affordability and practicality of models available on the market. This has accelerated in recent years, where we’ve seen a massive shift towards the use of thermal imaging by both professional wildlife ecologists and amateur recorders alike.

Secondly, another major influence is the expertise of those using the equipment. Without an appropriate understanding of the technology, many have failed in their attempts to use it effectively. Unfortunately, in some cases this has led to misuse and the spread of misinformation about the technology. This has undoubtedly slowed our adoption of this technology for wildlife purposes.

Among the 300+ documents I reviewed as part of the research for the book, I noticed time and time again that these factors, equipment and expertise, determine the success or failure of thermal imaging for a wide range of wildlife species.

What do you consider to be the main challenges in working with this type of equipment?

Again, it is usually those same two factors we just discussed: equipment and expertise.

The number one question I am asked by ecologists, researchers and amateur recorders is: “What thermal imaging equipment should I buy?”. With an ever increasing list of thermal imaging devices available for us to buy, we can experience a paradox of choice where we can become confused by the array of different options on offer. So choosing the appropriate equipment for a specific wildlife application can be challenging, yet it is absolutely vital to get this bit right.

Once we have chosen our kit, the next challenge is being able to use it effectively. This requires an appropriate level of knowledge and experience, but acquiring this kind of expertise can be difficult, as I found out when I first began my work in this area thirteen years ago. Back then there were very few training opportunities and hardly anyone was using the technique outside of academia. Thankfully, things have changed a lot since then and wildlife-specific training is now available, making it much less of a challenge to access the knowledge and develop the skills that are needed.

The recently published 4th edition of Bat Surveys for Professional Ecologists includes, for the first time, new content on night-vision aids. How much of an impact do you think these recommendations will have on routine bat surveys and their results?

I think the widespread use of night-vision aids for bat surveys will be transformative for the ecology sector. Personally, I have been using thermal imaging technology for this kind of survey for many years so I am well aware of what we can achieve using night-vision aids compared to traditional methods. As a trainer, I am lucky that I also get to see lots of my students experience this for themselves. Many ecologists have told me what a game-changer it has been for them and what a difference it can make to their survey results.

So what have they been missing? Well, in the past, without using night-vision aids, surveyors often battled with the painful but common uncertainty that can lead to writing the words “possible bat emergence” on a survey form. The knock-on effects of these three words can spiral out of control, leading to a raft of unnecessary effort and costs associated with a bat that may or may not have emerged from a tree, building or other man-made structure. On the other hand, we can also easily miss bats using traditional methods. This can of course be costly financially but, more importantly, can lead to harm to the bats themselves.

So it is undoubtedly going to have some massive benefits, but it is also important to consider that, to achieve them, many ecologists out there are now having to get to grips with some new technologies. Some have found this easy and have embraced this change with enthusiasm, while others have a steep learning curve to contend with. Either way, I think it is going to be worth it.

When considering the use of thermal imaging equipment, a lot of attention is given to choosing the right product and designing a suitable survey protocol. However, do you think that the post-processing stage is equally important? And are there widely available software packages that can help with data processing and analysis?

Post-processing and analysis can be just as important, depending on the target species. When used for bat surveys, for example, post-processing and analysis using specialist software packages can make a big difference to the level of accuracy we can achieve using thermal imaging technology. To get those levels of accuracy, however, requires another level of cost in terms of effort, time and investment in software packages. Some software packages for these tasks can be quite expensive, but there are open source options as well. Thankfully, advances in automation procedures are also paving the way to streamlining this process in the future.

Finally, what’s keeping you busy this winter? Do you have plans to write further books?

I do have plans for another book, but right now I am taking a break from writing to focus on something a little bit different. I am currently filming some exciting footage for an upcoming video series called “Wildlife Detectives” on my new YouTube Channel. As part of this I will be using some really cool technologies, including thermal imaging, to find some fascinating wildlife species out in the field. Keep an eye out for it in the New Year!


Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications by Kayleigh Fawcett Williams was published in October 2023 by Pelagic Publishing and is available from nhbs.com.

NHBS staff picks 2023

Every year at NHBS we see a huge range of books and equipment travel through our offices and warehouse, via desks and bookshelves, finally leaving us in packages on their way to our valued customers. Invariably, we end up purchasing a number of these for ourselves, and others become gifts for our friends and families. This year, for our staff picks roundup, we have chosen the books and equipment items that we’re hoping to gift to our loved ones this Christmas.


Blue Machine: How the Ocean Shapes Our World 

An engrossing odyssey into oceanography that reveals a fascinating planetary engine. Equal parts physical oceanography, marine biology, and science history, topped off with human-interest stories, Czerski has written a captivating book that oozes lyricism in places.
Leon Vlieger, Catalogue Editor

 

NHBS Kent Bat Box

New for 2023, the NHBS Kent Bat box is based on the proven and popular design from the Kent Bat Group. Made from untreated rough-sawn Douglas Fir, the box is self-cleaning, easy to install and reasonably priced, making it an ideal gift for the bat enthusiast in your life.
Johnny Mitchell, Senior Wildlife Equipment Specialist

 

The Book of Wilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding Big and Small 

An attractive, practical and inspiring guide that not only illuminates the greater need for wilding in the larger landscape, but also some really thoughtful ways people can engage on smaller scales. It’s hopeful too, which makes a good gift I always think!
Oli Haines, Graphic Designer

 

Echo Meter Touch 2

A fantastic gift for someone with an interest in bats. To set it up, simply plug it into your phone and start recording. It converts the ultrasonic sounds from the bats into audible noises and auto-identifies the species you are listening to.
Samuel Brook, Technical Advisor

 

Antarctica: A Birds-eye View

A beautiful coffee table book which I would like for myself or my photographer friends. A book that gives you an insight into a threatened world from a view you wouldn’t normally see. Both beautiful and barren, the images create a feeling of being there with the nature and environment that is threatened and disappearing fast.
Simon Palmer, Technical Advisor

Dinosaur Monopoly

I bought this for my son as a present last year as he is obsessed with Monopoly and dinosaurs. It was such a hit, my youngest son asked for it this year. It is a great alternative to traditional Monopoly and we loved the dinosaur pieces .
Mark Fisher, Product and Purchasing Manager

 

The Observant Walker: Wild Food, Nature and Hidden Treasures on the Pathways of Britain

It is always a pleasure to gift someone a book that you have previously delighted in reading yourself. The Observant Walker for me is one such book. Written in John Wright’s wonderfully conversational style, the book is both informative and witty; the perfect choice for anyone who loves nature and discovering its edible bounties.
Luanne Wilkes, Senior Editor

 

 

Image of the Digi-Scope Smart Phone Adapter being used with a binocular scope attached taking a photo of a black and white bird in grass.Digi-Scope Smartphone Adapter

Really useful for anyone who wants to try taking pictures while they’re out exploring nature with their binoculars and want to quickly be able to take pictures of what they’re seeing through the binoculars. I use mine regularly and it’s helped me get some great images. It’s also really easy to use and a great addition to any hiking kit!
Adam Hampton, Technical Advisor

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds (The Illustrated Edition)

This book includes an absolutely stunning collection of photographs that show the incredible detail, vibrant colours and sometimes strange features of many different types of fungi. I really love how the photographs zoom in on this often overlooked lifeform that is so difficult to appreciate fully with the naked eye.
Jo Graeser, Marketing Assistant

 

 

Browning Recon Force Elite HP5

I installed the Browning Recon Force Elite HP5 wildlife camera on a tree in our orchard AND WE LOVE IT! It shoots both stills and video, but my absolute favourite setting is the moving image function, especially paired with the no-glow night vision LED light during the night.
Sabine Lang, Customer Services Advisor