Review – Page 6 – Hoopoe

Book Review: Silent Earth by Dave Goulson

On the 27th of September, 1962, marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson saw her book, Silent Spring, published. A powerful examination of the effect that humans have on the natural world, with a particular emphasis on the use of pesticides, Silent Spring met with rapid success and soon became a landmark text on the subject. Despite fearsome opposition it became a rallying point for the environmental movement, fuelling discussions that would result in the widespread re-evaluation of the damage that pesticides can cause and the banning of some of the most damaging chemicals, such as DDT.

Dave Goulson’s new book, Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse, is at once a tribute to Carson’s masterpiece and an innovative new work in its own right. Building upon Carson’s inspirational text, Silent Earth provides an up-to-date analysis of our impact upon the natural world over the last sixty years and beyond. The message is simple: despite the advances we’ve made, the warnings of Silent Spring have gone terrifyingly unheeded and without action we might soon find ourselves in a situation that we cannot reverse.

Goulson is a biology lecturer and leading expert in insect ecology, particularly bumblebees, as well as a highly respected scientific writer with several books and hundreds of published papers in his portfolio – it comes as no surprise that Silent Earth is both supremely well researched and beautifully written. It is written in five parts. The first, “Why Insects Matter”, is a fascinating delve into the significance of insects both to the natural world and to human society. With an expert eye, Goulson skillfully guides the reader through different aspects of their importance, from the multi-million pound service that dung beetles provide the farming industry each year in the UK alone to the vital role that pollinators play in underpinning ecosystems across the planet, and the value that insects have in their own right as beautiful, vibrant denizens of our planet. The author’s passion is infectious; it is difficult to read this section without becoming invested in the wondrous ranks of the planet’s invertebrates, making the threat of their decline feel all the more personal.

In the next two parts, “Insect Declines” and “Causes of Insect Declines”, Goulson introduces the sources of evidence that can be drawn on to track insect declines and explores some of the reasons why society seems oblivious to our dwindling invertebrate fauna. He then moves on to explore in detail the various pressures upon their populations, examining and evidencing each before moving on to the next. Goulson writes with respect for the reader, never over-simplifying his prose while providing ample detail to engage any reader, be they a newcomer to the field, amateur enthusiast, ecology professional or academic. Particularly notable is the way in which Goulson details his own work, which has at times proved controversial among some parties. He consistently highlights the arguments of his critics, treating them with respect and validation. At some points he provides his rebuttal while at others he admits to the shortcomings of the relevant research, explaining why a different approach was impossible at the time. This is indicative of an attitude that permeates the book – the issues that he writes about are bigger than minor gripes with experimental methodologies, bigger than business margins or political leanings. He presents with a neutral eye the irrefutable reality that insects are vanishing at a terrifying rate, and unless action is taken the world is heading towards a very real disaster within generations. Though frequently distressing and at times heartbreaking, Goulson writes with a voice compelling and just witty enough to prevent the reader from becoming despondent. This book is not intended to drive us to despair, but to action.

Part Four – “Where Are We Headed?” – is a brief but poignant exploration of the author’s vision of the future. From another writer, this might seem like a flight of fancy, but from Goulson it comes across as a warning every bit as earnest and necessary as the hard science of the preceding chapters. It acts as a kind of crescendo, a snapshot of the future that the author is trying to warn us about, as well as a perfect segway into the final part. Perhaps most importantly after the relentlessly grim picture painted in “Causes of Insect Declines”, it ends with a ray of hope.

The fifth and final part of the book is simply titled “What Can We Do?”. It lists from the point of view of the author – a researcher, educator, and father – the actions that should be undertaken by everyone in society, from members of the public to researchers, farmers and politicians, among others, to begin to turn the tide. Various key actions are explored in detail – the importance of instilling an environmental ethos in young people, of encouraging native plants in our towns and cities and overhauling the way in which we view farming. Finally, there is an extensive list of actions, large and small, that people can take, listed by occupation. This section is what the book has been building to, and it is worth reading for this alone. As usual, respect is paid to all viewpoints and all members of society. It doesn’t matter whether the reader is in a position where a free-range organic, locally sourced diet is financially viable or not – there will be other actions that they can take regardless of financial matters. Nor does it matter if they have beliefs, political or economic, that might conflict with the author’s. It is a call for society to overlook such matters which are, in the face of such a crisis, trivial.

Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of popular science writing. It is a feat to present such dire information in a way that is not only readable, but also engaging and compelling – Goulson’s prose manages never to lose the reader for a moment. It is a stark, hard-hitting warning, but one that must be heard by as many people as will listen. Moreover, it goes far beyond the reactionary doomsayings sometimes written on the subject to provide an inspiring manifesto for change. It equips the reader with the knowledge that they need to understand the problem, and the actions they can take to enact this change. It leaves you with the impression that, if the message can get through to enough readers across the world, we might just be able to turn the tide and preserve the buzzing of bees, the chirping of crickets and the droning of cicadas to prevent the silence falling for good.

Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse
By: Dave Goulson

Book Review: A Trillion Trees by Fred Pearce

A Trillion Trees is an optimistic take on the future of the world’s forests, with Fred Pearce believing that the damage humanity has inflicted can be undone, so long as nature is allowed space to recover. The book opens with an introduction to the myth and magic of forests. Through describing a botanical explorer’s conservation of orchids in the rainforests of Ecuador, recounting one of the author’s most memorable forest experiences (getting lost in a wood on the North Downs as a child), and presenting the varied reactions of early European explorers to the rainforests of the tropics, Pearce laments the loss of ‘primaeval wildness’ and the untouched forests of those times.

Since 1992, Pearce has been writing for New Scientist magazine on the importance of trees, as well as their ownership, uses, protection, and destruction. He has spent his career contributing to multiple well-known publications, writing a range of books, and speaking on environmental issues such as carbon emissions, invasive species, and climate change. Despite forty years of continued reporting on global environmental issues, he maintains optimism for the future and for forest regrowth.

Pearce’s enthusiasm and respect for trees is clear throughout. This book celebrates trees, exploring their importance and the impact they have on the climate, the history of how our relationship with forests has changed, the recovery that is already taking place, and the future role of trees in an emerging community-centred approach to the land. Pearce intersperses topics on the politicisation of forest and climate research, the impacts of deforestation, and the damage of acid rain. He also includes some of his personal adventures, such as his visit to the ATTO, a 325m tall tower in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, and the exploits of others, such as a bush pilot’s flight along the ‘flying river’ above the Amazon.

A Trillion Trees champions the role of trees in more than just the fight against climate change, but also in the daily lives of everyday people. The tales of forest regeneration tell of the economic value of trees, through tourism, increased resources, and even ‘inspiration for artists’. Pearce presents the debate of rewilding versus replanting forests, asking who should be responsible for the regeneration of our forests and whether we should be taking an active role at all. The ‘great forest restoration’, as Pearce puts it, is occurring less due to the many government plans and promises of replanting, and more through the process of rewilding. Where farmers and landowners have stepped back, Pearce notes that nature seems to move in, allowing much of the fields and pastures to revert to shrubland and then to woodland. The return of wildlife soon follows.

In a world scrambling for solutions to combat climate change, the notion of stepping back and taking a passive role in regeneration may be a daunting one. However, it is not the only solution Pearce suggests. In the final section, Forest Commons, the author advocates for the rights of indigenous people to own and manage the land and forests within their traditional/ancestral territories. The rate of deforestation is far less in areas owned and managed by indigenous people than in other areas, even nature reserves, with communities seeming more resilient against threats such as illegal logging than government-owned parks.

This book closes by paying homage to the wild spaces near the author’s home in London, their ability to filter out noise and pollution, and the calming, cooling effects trees can have in otherwise overheated cities. After a book full of adventure and debate, the postscript acts almost like the ‘forest bathing’ it discusses, ending the book in a calmer tone that calls for more woods full of darkness and gnarled, twisted yew trees and forests that harken back to the lost primaeval wilderness.

NHBS In the Field – The Anabat Scout product review

Here we review the Anabat Scout from Titley Scientific. The Scout is an easy to use active bat detector that offers excellent quality live audio and recording, plus many handy surveying features and durability that sets it apart from other detectors. It uses heterodyne, auto-heterodyne and frequency division audio that can be recorded in either full spectrum or zero crossing files.

Designed with professional surveyors as well as the more serious bat enthusiast in mind, the Scout is an ideal detector to take on bat emergence and transect surveys. This is thanks to great features such as a bat counter and GPS tracking transect mode.

How we tested

In early July 2021, we tested the Scout outside an old barn in South Devon to monitor the dusk emergence of several bat species. The building was known to host many common pipistrelles, brown long-eared, lesser horseshoes and some myotis species. We wanted to see how easy the detector was to use in the setting of a busy emergence and get a feel for its recording quality and its special features. The audio was set to auto-heterodyne to see how good this feature would be with multiple bats close by. Under the trigger settings is the option to adjust the sensitivity, which we set to high as there was unlikely to be too much undesired noise in this setting.

What we found

Firstly, it is worth noting just how lightweight (at 160 grams without batteries) and easy to hold the Scout is with its handy wrist lanyard and comfortable fit within your hand. These features are particularly important when undertaking long surveys and holding other equipment such as a clipboard for instance.

The OLED display screen is small, but bright, so key information such as peak frequency and time is easy to note in the dark. With just key information visible, the screen does not become too “busy” unlike some detectors, which in some circumstances is a real advantage as it avoids too much distraction. The buttons all glow in the dark, which we found very useful once it had become completely dark, as it kept navigation simple, without having to use a torch.

One of the Scout’s most handy features are the in/out bat counter buttons which enable you to easily tally the number of bats recorded coming out and back into a roost, without the need to look away to make notes and perhaps miss bats. The counter also time and date stamps and geotags each count (CSV file output), so saves you having to manually note this data.

The Scout has a transect mode which notes a GPS coordinate every second so maps out your route as you walk it. It also logs another GPS coordinate for every bat recording made which produces detailed transect maps.

We found that the adjustable volume control was very good and loud enough when needing to compensate for background noises such as a passing lorry.

Also noteworthy was the Scout’s ability to record voice notes. Once it has become fully dark or if you are surveying and need to keep your eyes fixed on bat watching, then the ease of just speaking into the device to add survey notes or further information is very helpful.

The Scout was very productive at picking up all the bats we encountered during the evening (although sometimes a brown long-eared emerged without calling and was missed). The auto-heterodyne tuning to the peak frequency was superb and saved much time. On a few occasions, we switched to manual heterodyne which enables you to adjust the frequency by moving the up and down arrows. This setting would be useful when first teaching beginners. The Scout’s range is also excellent, which was demonstrated when a high flying noctule was picked up probably over 30 – 40 meters away.

Two recordings taken on the Anabat Scout and visualised through the Anabat Insight Software.

The recordings were always clear through the built-in speaker, although there is also the option to attach a 3.5mm headphone jack. All recordings come with GPX track files attached. This gives accurate GPS data, that when viewed on the free software: Anabat Insight, a .KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file can be generated using Google Earth which will show your route with location tags for each bat recording.

All recordings were stored on an SD Card (recommended min: 32GB and max 512GB) and then output via WAV (Full spectrum) and Anabat sequence files (Zero Crossing).

Battery life lasted roughly 10 hours on 2 x AA (NiMh, Alkaline or Lithium) batteries with the remaining memory space and battery life displayed on screen, so we could keep a check during the evening.

Our Opinion

The Anabat Scout is certainly one of the easier to use, professional bat detectors available. It is highly accurate with its triggers and by being so lightweight and practical it makes for an ideal choice for both ecological surveyors and keen naturalists alike. The Scout has been designed with the needs of surveyors in mind and even those new to bat detecting, will find it simple to use and highly rewarding.

The main limitation found was that the Scout does not display full spectrograms like the Anabat Walkabout, therefore beginners particularly, may not find this detector so helpful for learning the differences in calls and identification in the field.

Overall, we feel the Scout offers very good value as an active detector that will fulfill the needs of most ecological surveyors. Its advantage of being incredibly easy to use and get to know, makes it fantastic for beginners, subcontractors and educational purposes also.

The Anabat Scout can be found here. Our full range of active bat detectors can be found here.

If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

British Wildlife book reviews

British Wildlife has featured book reviews since the very first magazine back in 1989. These reviews provide in-depth critiques of the most important new titles in natural history publishing, from nature-writing bestsellers to technical identification handbooks. They are all authored by experts in relevant subjects, which ensures an honest and insightful appraisal of each book featured.

It can be helpful to read a review before deciding to buy a new book, and so since 2018 every review included in the magazine is available to read on the British Wildlife website. Here is a selection of books that have featured so far in the current volume of British Wildlife, all with links to take you directly to the full review.

1. Woodland Flowers by Keith Kirby

“In Woodland Flowers Keith Kirby invites us to look at the ‘wood beneath the trees’ and to consider what its flora can tell us. The focus of this, the eighth volume of Bloomsbury’s British Wildlife Collection (which I have contributed to myself), is on the vascular plants of the woodland floor; to this end Kirby embraces ferns as honorary flowers, but for the most part he steps aside from considering other elements of woodland ecosystems (including the ‘lower’ plants, fungi and fauna).”

Reviewed by Clive Chatters in the October 2020 issue (BW 32.1) – read the review here

2. Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

“This is Sheldrake’s first book, and, while his expertise means that the readers should feel that they are in safe hands from the off, in truth the experience is more like being whisked down a burrow by a white rabbit, or on a tour of Willy Wonka’s research facility: a trippy, astonishing, and completely exhilarating ride.”

Reviewed by Amy-Jane Beer in the November 2020 issue (BW 32.2) – read the review here

3. His Imperial Majesty: A Natural History of the Purple Emperor by Matthew Oates

“Part autecology, part monograph and part impassioned love poem to a species that has captured the author’s heart, the pages offer an enjoyable blend of the Purple Emperor’s recorded history, biology, ecology and conservation.”

Reviewed by Simon Breeze in the December 2020 issue (BW 32.3) – read the review here

4. Britain’s Habitats: A Field Guide to the Wildlife Habitats of Great Britain and Ireland (second edition) by Sophie Lake, Durwyn Liley, Robert Still and Andy Swash

“But do we really need a field guide to habitats? Possibly not. I certainly will not be taking my copy into the field. Yet this perhaps misses the point. What this book does is remind the users of other field guides that their organisms of interest do not live in isolation – they are nothing without their habitats. So, make this book an essential companion to your species guides.”

Reviewed by Anthony Robinson in the February 2021 issue (BW 32.4) – read the review here

5. Beetles of Britain and Ireland. Volume 3: Geotrupidae to Scraptiidae by Andrew G. Duff

“Anyone interested in identifying and studying beetles simply cannot afford to be without [these books] and any quibbles can only be minor. Andrew cannot be too highly commended for his diligence and hard work to make so much information available to all.”

Reviewed by Richard Wright in the April 2021 issue (BW 32.5) – read the review here

6. The Bumblebee Book: A Guide to Britain & Ireland’s Bumblebees by Nick Owen

“This is the latest book to enter the now relatively crowded marketplace of bumblebee guides, which may leave one wondering what it can offer to the more seasoned hymenopterist – read on! The author’s intention is to provide a book at the ‘entry level’ of bee study, Owens stating from the outset that he ‘aims to provide an easily accessible introduction for those with little or no previous knowledge of bumblebees’.”

Reviewed by Adrian Knowles in the April 2021 issue (BW 32.5) – read the review here

7. Bringing Back the Beaver: The Story of One Man’s Quest to Rewild Britain’s Waterways by Derek Gow

“There is no better place from which to view the tragi-comic events which unfold, and no better person to describe it than Derek Gow, a man of action as well as a powerful Beaver advocate. This account is unexpected, oddball, and, despite its serious side, enormously entertaining.”

Reviewed by James Robertson in the May 2021 issue (BW 32.6) – read the review here

8. Heathland by Clive Chatters

“He has written an ecological masterpiece, generous in its sympathies, awe-inspiring in its breadth of knowledge, and genuinely enticing in its journey around heathland Britain. This is a book that ought to influence policy.”

Reviewed by Peter Marren in the May 2021 issue (BW 32.6) – read the review here

Since its launch in 1989, British Wildlife has established its position as the leading natural history magazine in the UK, providing essential reading for both enthusiasts and professional naturalists and wildlife conservationists. Individual back issues of the magazine are available to buy through the NHBS website, while annual subscriptions start from just £35 – sign up online here.

NHBS In the Field – H2a Hydrophone

The H2a hydrophone from Aquarian Audio is a mid-range hydrophone, allowing high quality recordings for professionals, whilst remaining affordable for marine naturalists.

Like most hydrophones, the H2a is powered via a compatible recording device. Available with either a TRS 3.5mm jack (plug-in power required), or XLR connector (phantom power required) and a variety of cable lengths, you are sure to find an option suitable for your requirements.

How We Tested

We tested the H2a hydrophone across two days in varying weather conditions in early June 2021.

Our kit was made up of the 3.5mm jack H2a hydrophone, in conjunction with an old DR-05 Tascam recorder and a pair of earphones. The DR-05 is actually a discontinued model, however we do sell it’s successor, the updated DR-05X. The H2a will work well with any recorder with a 3.5mm port that can provide plug-in power. Many recorders offer this ability, but if you are unsure please do check your manual.

Setting up the hydrophone system was very straightforward. Once plug-in power was switched on via the recorder’s menu settings, we simply plugged in the H2a to the mic-in socket and were ready to begin.

Tests were performed in a number of environments including rockpools, off a small boat in deeper water and a controlled environment (container of water). Between these locations, we did find adjusting the gain accordingly was necessary, however this was straightforward, using the Tascam recorder’s input level controls.

In shallower, more disturbed water we tried attaching the cable to a makeshift ‘boom pole’ aiming to gain greater control over the movement of the hydrophone while reducing handling noise.

It is built to be durable, with a stainless steel core and rubber covering, but we still handled it with care and rinsed and dried it after each use. Aquarian themselves say the H2a can survive accidental drops, however we chose not to test this!

Recordings were made on the Tascam device, to a micro-SD card and then transferred to a computer. The open-source audio program Audacity was used to view the waveform, including adjusting levels, and also allowed us to plot the frequency spectrum.

What we found

Our initial impression was that the H2a was surprisingly lightweight and compact, measuring just 25mm x 46mm (without the cable) and weighing little over a hundred grams. This made for easy packing in a small rucksack.

The hydrophone comes in neat cardboard packaging which is not particularly suitable for use on location. Despite the hardiness of the hydrophone itself, it would certainly provide peace of mind to purchase or use some form of carry case. We would not, however, recommend a waterproof case as it may trap moisture and salts that could eventually lead to corrosion.

The hydrophone is highly sensitive and so was vulnerable to signal overload if knocked accidentally or handled roughly. During recording, our main obstacle was noise from cable handling, which was noticeable during playback. This is to be expected with any hydrophone and certainly was not the worst I have experienced, but was still slightly frustrating. We quickly learned to ensure the cable was lowered ‘hand over hand’ into deep water to minimise noise.

Even with only a 3 metre cable, slight tangling did occur, which over time could lead to damage. For future uses with longer cables we would consider investing in or making a cable spool/reel. A spool would likely also reduce the experienced cable handling noise.

In shallower water, especially along the tide line, the makeshift pole attachment was very successful and made a significant difference to cable noise level. It also allowed us to position the hydrophone with precision and avoid damage that could have occured from the stronger waves dragging it towards nearby rocks.

When working from the boat in deeper water, we simply released the cable by hand as the current was slow. We found the shape and weighting (high specific gravity) to be a clever design that kept the hydrophone more-or-less vertical even in currents. Although it is worth noting that we only tested this ourselves in relatively slow moving water.

Below is a sequence of recordings taken in varying locations. The first exhibits the sound produced by the paddling of the small boat. The hydrophone performed very well while being dragged behind the boat, catching the bubbling as the paddles broke the surface.

Of particular interest to us in the field was the man-made noise pollution from the nearby (0.5 miles away) docks. Despite being rather un-noticeable by air, loud hammering was clear through the hydrophone.

The final recording in the audio above was taken at a rising tide, with gentle waves shifting the sand and sediment below the hydrophone.

While we had heard reports that some people have found sensitivity dropping off at higher frequencies with this unit and other hydrophones, our field tests produced recorded sounds up to 10kHz easily.

Our Opinion

Clear audio with limited unwanted noise was easily produced with the H2a hydrophone. It provides a fantastic way for ocean lovers and scientists alike to explore life underwater.

A few practical accessories such as a pole and spool would be worth considering as they can really improve audio quality while also making work in the field just that little bit simpler.

With further experimentation and potentially a bit of luck with interesting sound sources, I am confident that the H2a will continue to yield high quality recordings at a very fair price point.

The H2a hydrophone is available from the NHBS website on its own or as part of a kit including the Tascam DR-05X recorder.

Note: When deciding upon a model it is recommended to choose based first and foremost on compatibility with your recorder’s connector type. XLR is however, often the preferred choice for professionals due in part to reduced electromagnetic interference.

Visit nhbs.com to view our full range of hydrophones. If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you, then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

NHBS In the Field – Motic SMZ-140

There is something wonderful about microscopy – the examination of tiny insects and fungal spores feels like peering into another world that we seldom have the privilege to observe. For some naturalists, a stereo microscope might seem like an unnecessary extravagance but for many who work with tiny subjects like invertebrates, lichenous fruiting bodies or bryophyte spores they can shed a light on fascinating diagnostic features that a hand lens simply doesn’t have the power to show.

We have recently added the Motic SMZ-140 and -161 series to NHBS’s range of stereo microscopes. Known for their good quality, robust entry-level optics as well as their laboratory standard equipment, Motic Europe has an excellent reputation among industry professionals and hobbyists alike. As such, we were excited to have a look at their mid-range LED model, the SMZ-140-LED. Designed to be as flexible as possible, this series has the advantage of a very wide 10x-40x magnification range, rather than the 20x-40x that most stereomicroscopes offer in this price range, as well as reflected and transmitted LED illumination and fully modular design for further customisation.

How We Tested

The SMZ-140 was tested thoroughly with a variety of different subjects. Specimens used originated from an invertebrate monitoring program close to our South Devon office, along with a variety of botanical subjects selected to test the microscope’s use in different disciplines. The image clarity and brightness across its zoom range were noted, as well as our impressions of the mechanical systems such as zoom, movement focus. The different accessories such as stage plates and options like lighting methods were also used to get as complete a picture of the systems’ utility across as complete a range of applications as possible.

What We Found

First Impressions

The first thing that is apparent about the SMZ-140 is the compact design and packaging. The box that it is supplied in manages to be easily a quarter the size of other models of a similar price and specification, and noticeably lighter too, without sacrificing any protection. This is because the microscope itself is remarkably compact, the base built to centre the weight on a smaller footprint than any other I have seen. This makes a real difference when workspace is limited, or if there is a chance that the microscope might need to be moved to different venues. It is supplied with the head detached from the body but setting it up is a simple and intuitive process that takes no more than a few minutes. Comprehensive instructions are also supplied.

The look of the SMZ-140 is simple but professional. The positioning of the zoom and focusing wheels is intuitive, and both move smoothly without resistance or kick back. The supplied stage plates, one reversible black/white plate for use with the reflected illumination system and one translucent plate to complement the transmitted illumination option, are also robust and resistant to scratching. One slight drawback is the lack of any lens caps, but good-quality dust cover is supplied to protect the workings from any ingress.

The working distance, that is the distance between the head and the staging platform, is 80mm, which allows for easy manipulation of the subject, including dissection where appropriate. The pinions should be sufficient to hold most subjects in place and have an impressive range of movement for use with larger samples.

Eyepieces and Illumination

The eyepieces are comfortable to use, padded with rubber and with an adjustable interpupillary distance. Each one has a +/- 5 diopter adjustment, allowing for easy adjustment to the user’s eyes. The whole head piece can be moved from side to side at the user’s convenience. The zoom wheel moves easily and is mounted on the head, while the larger focusing wheel is placed on the pillar to minimize confusion between the two while the user is looking through the eyepieces.

The standard 10x eyepieces that come supplied with this model can be swapped out for 15x, 20x, or 30x options, and the 1-4x objective lens can be removed and replaced with lower magnification options such as 0.5 times as desired.

The illumination is bright and can be adjusted at will, allowing for the user to adjust it if they find themselves dazzled or if working with a reflective subject such as a beetle that risks being washed out by a powerful light source. The transmitted and reflected options are activated via separate switches, meaning that both could be used simultaneously if so desired.

The LED bulbs on this model are of use to many researchers as they provide heat-free illumination and will therefore not damage live specimens or dry out those that are at risk of desiccation, such as insects or lichen.

Magnification and Image Quality

In contrast to the standard 20x-40x zoom of most stereomicroscopes in this price range, the SMZ-140 has a range of 10x-40x. As previously stated, this can be increased up to 120x with 30x eyepieces, but for the vast majority of applications the standard range should be perfectly adequate.

The low minimum zoom makes the microscope very useful for larger specimens or jobs that require a wider field of view such as mounting medium sized insects. Motic’s lenses provide a clear, crisp, and bright image even up to the maximum magnification of 40x. The user might struggle with the diagnostic features of very tiny subjects, i.e. those below 1mm, but for the price range the image of the SMZ-140 is among the best I have seen. The keystone effect is noticeable with this model, as it is in most Greenough system stereo microscopes, but is barely perceptible next to the natural variation in focus of three-dimensional samples.

The 20x and 30x click stop feature of the zoom wheel is very useful when working at higher zoom levels, as it allows the user to standardize the magnification at which specimens are examined and makes accurate record keeping easy. The magnification is also indicated on the wheel for visual reference.

Our Opinion

With the SMZ-140-LED, Motic establish themselves as manufacturers of excellent, affordably priced stereo microscopes ideal for almost any use that a naturalist could desire. Among a crowded market of models with very similar specifications, it distinguishes itself through its compact, lightweight design, robust build, and wide zoom range. It is easy to use and provides consistently excellent results, and the modularity of its design along with a good range of accessories allows for simple adaptation to a wide array of jobs.

While some microscopists might prefer to look at more expensive models with wider lens apertures for an even brighter image (such as the SMZ-160 series), or even high-end models that utilize the advanced common mains objective optical system, among models in its price range the 140 certainly stands out. It’s clear that it is designed with flexibility in mind, and as such it is an ideal choice for anyone looking to dive a little deeper into the wonderful world of the tiny.

The SMZ-140-LED can be found here. Our full range of stereo microscopes can be found here. For further information why not check out Insect Microscopy by Andrew Chick.

If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

NHBS In the Field – Song Meter Micro

The Song Meter Micro is the latest in Wildlife Acoustics’ passive recorder range. Building on the success of the Song Meter Mini, Wildlife Acoustics have gone one step further and managed to again reduce the size and cost of their fantastic acoustic recorder. These handy pocket sized recorders are now even more accessible to anybody looking to record wildlife.

The Micro is certainly a technical achievement. It boasts many of the same excellent features available in the Song Meter Mini while coming in at around half the width, 100g lighter and just over half the price. It utilises the same Bluetooth configuration and, with a complement of three AA Alkaline or NiMH batteries, it can continuously record for up to 150 hours. A full comparison of the differences is available from the manufacturer’s website; however, beyond its much smaller dimensions there are a few key ones to note. Chiefly among these is that it has a single built-in microphone and is unable to take an additional microphone, meaning recordings will always be in mono. Another few considerations are that it utilises microSD cards to store recordings and it is recommended when deploying the detector to always include a small amount of fresh desiccant for humidity control within the casing.

We took a Song Meter Micro and deployed it for several nights in early April to gather some recordings and gauge its overall ease of use.

Setting Up

The Song Meter Micro utilises the exact same configuration system as the Song Meter Mini via the free “Mini Configurator” companion app. This app allows you to easily configure the detector’s recording settings before deployment as well as check the status of the detector while it’s in the field, as long as you’re within range.

When powered on, the Micro emits a constant Bluetooth beacon, and when you are within range of this beacon the Configurator app will automatically detect the recorder and display it in the recorders screen of the app. You can then press the status icon on the app and view the current status of the detector, including SD card capacity, battery life, recording mode and number of recordings taken.

For our tests, we decided to choose a preset recording schedule to capture the dawn chorus. This calculates the sunrise and sunset times using your phone’s location data and sets a schedule accordingly. For more information about setting up your Song Meter Micro, watch our set up video below.

What we found

The Micro was quick and simple to set up within the app and the included quickstart guide and tutorial videos on Wildlife Acoustics’ website were useful if we were unsure of anything. The unit itself doesn’t come with a strap, but has various slots and holes that a cable lock, trail camera strap, rope or screw could fit through. Once mounted, and with batteries/SD card inserted, we could check through the configuration on the app, read off the LEDs to check everything was armed and ready for recording, then snap the lid on and walk away.

Upon collecting the unit, very little battery had drained. Once back in the office, we removed the microSD card and loaded the recordings into Kaleidoscope to view the sonograms and listen to the recording quality.

Examples of our recordings can be heard or sonograms viewed below.

Geese flying overhead and calling over songbirds

Our opinion

The Song Meter Micro is an impressive single channel acoustic recorder for its size and price. It was easy to carry into the field in a rucksack – or even a pocket! The set up was simple using the configurator app and we found the array of scheduling options to be thorough. We especially liked the preset recording schedules which offer several commonly required options that are available at the tap of a button. It was useful to be able to see the status of the recorder using the LED lights within the unit itself, especially when we wanted to check the recorder was armed and ready to record still while our phone was out of charge.

The sound quality was impressive considering the tiny size of the in-built microphone. Bird calls were loud and clear and even the sound of the morning trains could be heard from the train line through the woodland over half a kilometre away. The sonograms above demonstrate the low noise of the recordings and the quality is good enough for both sound and visual analysis.

The Song Meter Micro is an excellent addition to the Song Meter range and is ideal for those looking to start recording or audio monitoring. It is particularly useful for researchers looking for a convenient unit that is suitable for wide-scale deployments in remote locations where size and weight are important factors to consider.

We really enjoyed recording the dawn chorus and hearing our local bird song, which is especially spectacular this time of year. With International Dawn Chorus Day (Sunday 2nd May) fast approaching, we would encourage everyone to set up a recorder or get out early to hear their local dawn chorus for themselves.

The Song Meter Micro is available on the NHBS website.
To view the full range of sound recorders, along with other survey equipment, visit nhbs.com. If you have any questions or would like some advice on choosing the right product then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

NHBS In the Field – Telescopic Wi-Fi Video Endoscope

The Telescopic Wi-Fi Video Endoscope is the latest addition to our range of video endoscopes and is manufactured by the company behind the ever-popular Explorer Premium Endoscope. An endoscope is a fantastic piece of kit for any practicing ecologist, allowing you to inspect hard to reach or inaccessible locations. Typical examples of where endoscopes are used include checking burrows, bird nests and bat roosts, where direct visual access may be limited.

This model features quite a few changes in comparison to its predecessors. Although the camera is labelled as an endoscope, it is really a hybrid between a pole mounted camera and a traditional endoscope. All electrical and optical components of the camera are neatly contained in a cylindrical module measuring just 8cm x 2cm (excluding fixing points) which is quickly and easily mounted onto the included telescopic handle. The camera also comes with a 14cm long flexible arm, which can be connected between the camera and the handle to help when manoeuvring in awkward spaces. As the name suggests, the camera transmits footage over Wi-Fi and allows the operator to view a live feed wirelessly on a smartphone or tablet.

We tested this camera in several locations, including a few typical bat and bird boxes to gauge its overall suitability for different applications.

How we tested

In March 2021 we took a Telescopic Wi-Fi Video Endoscope out into the woods surrounding NHBS and simply attempted manoeuvring the camera into a few awkward and hard to reach locations; such as high up in ivy covered ash trees and over the edges of some of the more unstable riverbanks. Our aim was to try and gauge its effectiveness in extending a surveyor’s reach. We also tried using the camera to inspect several empty bird/bat boxes to see how it would measure up against a traditional endoscope in these situations. Additionally, we captured several images using the camera’s free to use ‘Smartcam Wi-Fi’ app.

It is important to note that it is an offence to disturb nesting Schedule 1 bird species and any bat roost without an appropriate license, hence we only inspected boxes we knew to be empty.

The fully assembled camera is incredibly lightweight, weighing little over a few hundred grams, and it comes with a semi-rigid compact carry case that we were able to fit easily into a rucksack.

The camera is powered by a built-in Lithium-ion battery. We charged the camera, using the included USB-C to USB-A cable, for approximately 70 minutes as indicated by the manual supplied with the camera. On a full charge the camera can operate for a total of 90 minutes which was more than sufficient for our needs.

What we found

Connecting the camera to a phone was quite simple. Once we had downloaded the Smartcam-Wi-Fi app, all we had to do was turn on the camera module and connect to its Wi-Fi signal on our phone. It is helpfully called ‘SmartCam-XXXX’ so it is easy to identify. The app has several controls for the camera, including LED brightness, freeze (holds the image displayed until turned off), capture image and start/stop recording. The adjustable LEDs were a very handy feature and allowed us to maintain the optimum light settings when using it outdoors or inside a nest box. One frustration we had with the app was that it lacks an option to rotate the video feed, meaning that it is often necessary to rotate your phone to maintain the correct orientation. Because of this it would be worth investigating whether there are alternative apps more suitable for using with the camera.

Despite the limitations with the app, we were very pleased with the picture quality of the camera. Certainly, the 720p resolution is noticeably better when compared to an older style Explorer Pro endoscope, which has a slightly lower video resolution of 420p. When fully extended you do have to be careful in holding the camera steady as the image clarity can suffer a bit from camera shake. A nice feature of the camera is that it is waterproof to an IP67 standard, meaning we were able to submerge it briefly to inspect areas of the local river. One thing to note here is that while it was fine operating underwater, the Wi-Fi signal was severely reduced, and it was not able to maintain a stable connection for very long.

Image taken using the Smartcam Wi-Fi app while submerged in the River Dart

Other than when using the camera underwater, the Wi-Fi signal from the camera was very reliable. When testing the camera indoors we were able to maintain a high-quality live feed at a distance of around 15m with a clear line of sight. Certainly, in the field this was somewhat reduced by obstructions, but we found that the signal was still sufficiently strong with a distance of at least 10m between the camera and our smartphone.

The extended reach of 1m was useful, however we felt in most cases a surveyor would benefit from a greater total extendable length. The supplied handle does feature a thread at its base, meaning it would be possible to attach an additional handle to increase the overall reach. We found the flexi arm provided with the camera was sufficiently strong and allowed us to quickly adjust the camera angle or manoeuvre the camera into an awkward area when using it out in the field.

Investigating thick ivy with the endoscope at full extension

When attempting to use the camera with our nest boxes, we found that for boxes designed to suit larger birds (Barn Owls, Tawny Owls, Kestrels etc) the camera was easy to use and the benefits to workers looking to inspect these boxes were clear. However, its usefulness in inspecting bat boxes and garden bird boxes was more limited. The narrow crevice entrances of most bat boxes are simply too small for the camera to access, and a traditional endoscope style camera tube would be more appropriate in these instances. The 20cm diameter camera body could fit through the entrance holes of most bird boxes; however, it was not always possible to angle the camera as required and still fit it through the entrance hole of the box, meaning that the base of the box was not always visible.

Our opinion

Overall we found that, while the Telescopic Wi-Fi Video Endoscope is not always as effective as a more traditional style endoscope and the associated app is limited by certain design flaws, its affordable price, ease of use and versatility make it a great piece of kit for more general ecological surveying.

The Telescopic Wi-Fi Video Endoscope is available on the NHBS website.
To view the full range of endoscopes, along with other survey equipment, visit nhbs.com. If you have any questions or would like some advice on choosing the right product then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

NHBS In the Field – Bushnell Prime Trail Camera

Bushnell is a renowned brand amongst trail cameras having been used and trusted by specialists and naturalists for decades. The Bushnell Prime is a new camera at the lower price end of the Bushnell range, however boasts good specifications and is great value for money.

How we tested

We placed the camera attached to a wooden post that was facing a known deer track on some scrubby land facing into hedgerows, using the included buckle strap. If you were worried about security, a cable lock such as a Python Mini Lock is compatible and can be threaded through the specific lock hole.

For the first set up we tested the Bushnell Prime trail camera by taking photographs with the following settings:

Mode: Camera
Interval: 5s
Additional set: on
Image Size: 24Mp
Capture Number: 1 photo
Video Size: 1280×720 at 30fps
Video Lengths: 10s
Sensor level: Normal
Field Scan: Off
Flash Mode: Auto
Video Sound: On
Time Stamp: On
Camera Mode: 24hrs

Upon checking the camera footage we realised we had angled the camera too high given the sloping ground. However, we were still surprised at the lack of photographs despite the poor angle. We decided to increase the sensitivity of the sensor from Normal to High and placed the camera lower down on the post (the Prime user manual recommends placing the camera at a height of 1-1.5m but take into consideration your surroundings and target species).

We also decided to put some cut up apples out in front of the camera, that way we would know if there had been any animals feeding that had been missed by the trigger. This new position proved successful so we kept the camera in that position for subsequent tests. For each test session the camera was left for at least 2 days and nights.

After successfully capturing some photos, we changed the settings to record video (Mode: Video) with the above settings but keeping the sensor on High.

What we found

The weather was not good when the camera was set to take photos, and when raining and foggy the photos did look a little hazy as seen in the below images but are still certainly clear enough to identify fauna. It is worth noting that where the camera was situated does often get engulfed in clouds.

However, when there was no cloud bank, even on a dull day the photos were bright and crisp as you can see in the below photos. We were particularly impressed by the close focus as many trail cameras are not designed with close focus in mind and the Bushnell Prime trail camera’s manual recommends that your target monitoring area be no closer than 3m to the camera. Although the bait was put further than 3m away, the animals certainly ventured closer to the camera.

That being said, my preferred photos from the Bushnell Prime trail camera come from dusk and dawn, when the camera is still using the IR flash but there is some natural light illuminating the subject, as seen below.

For our video testing we had slightly better weather though it was still not bright. We again found that the dawn lighting gave the best footage. We were impressed with the quick trigger speed for footage of a rabbit running across the field of view, not having made it halfway before the video started recording. It was clear from the video footage that the deer did notice the glow from the IR flash on the camera but this did not seem to stop them (or any other animals) from frequenting the area. The audio captured was also good, and bird song was picked up in many videos even with howling wind at times. You can see a few of the many video clips we caught in the compilation below.

For all the footage captured, we were pleased that we did not have any false triggers despite having the camera on the highest sensitivity level, meaning we did not have to trawl through lots of empty scenery photos but we did get lots of positive captures. During our testing sessions the majority of the fauna seen were large deer that you would expect the trigger to pick up but rabbits, foxes and birds were also captured low in the grass showing that the smaller fauna would also trigger the camera sensor.

Our opinion

The manual is well laid out and easy to follow, explaining each of the setting options. However, this camera is designed to show 3 basic menu settings (Set Clock/Mode/Interval) so that if you do not want to change any of the more complex settings they are not visible to confuse you. If you would like to fine tune the settings further (as we did) you simply choose to put on the “Additional Set” options which makes the full range of settings visible. This is a great feature for those who don’t need or want to get too technical. You can even simply change the mode (camera or video) by pressing the up arrow without even having to enter into the main menu.

The menu on the camera is easy to work through. It is noteworthy that the manual does mention not to switch between On and Aim (set up mode) modes on the power switch but to always go from On straight to Off (bypassing Aim) as going from On to Aim can cause the camera to freeze. If this does occur it is easily remedied by turning the camera Off then back to Aim mode.

We did miss not having an aiming screen when setting up the camera. However, as we were just using the camera for casual viewing it did not cause any significant issues, especially as the trail camera has an aim and motion test where a red light will flash to let you know that the sensor is being triggered (note this red light does not light up when the camera is in On mode) so we felt confident that we would catch any passing animals even if we could not see what the image area would be.

The bracket on the rear of the camera means that, when strapped to a tree or post, it grips the surface well, making it more stable. It also has a ¼-20 tripod mounting connection.

The bottom loading battery tray makes replacing the batteries in the field easier than old Bushnell models. It has a click mechanism that stops the tray falling out when ejected. This is a great feature to prevent dropping batteries but can be a little stiff to release the battery tray completely.

A potential downside is the lack of a hybrid mode meaning the Bushnell Prime trail camera can take either video or still images, but not both at the same time. However, for naturalists this shouldn’t pose much of a problem. The Bushnell Prime trail camera has other useful settings such as two programmable fieldscans (time lapse) modes.

In general we found that the video captures seemed of better quality than the images, though both were good quality, especially taking in consideration the price point. We started the testing with 6 new lithium batteries and after 2 weeks of constant use in the field, and during cold weather, there was no sign of significant battery depletion.

The Bushnell Prime trail camera provides a great starter trail camera for naturalist or general fieldwork, covering all the basics (and more if wanted), with the price point (currently under £140) lending well to having multiple cameras deployed at once.

The Bushnell Prime is available on the NHBS website and is also available as a starter bundle which includes 8 x Lithium AA batteries and a 32GB SD card.
To view the full range of Bushnell cameras, along with other ranges of trail cameras, visit www.nhbs.com. If you have any questions on camera trapping or would like some advice on the best camera for you then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.

NHBS In the Field – Echo Meter Touch 2

First released in 2017, the Echo Meter Touch 2 (EMT2) and Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro (EMT2 Pro) from Wildlife Acoustics are highly popular bat detectors for naturalists and professionals alike. By plugging the units directly into your phone or tablet, your device is transformed into a fully functional, full spectrum bat detector. The free Echo Meter app (available on the App Store and Google Play Store) allows the user to watch live, real-time sonograms as bats pass above.

The EMT2 Pro and the EMT2 require an IOS or Android device with a USB-C port. We highly recommended checking the list of compatible devices on the Wildlife Acoustics website before purchasing your EMT2 (see compatibility of phones and tablets here for Android). This list is not exhaustive and is continually updated as further models are tested.

The EMT2 Pro is very similar to its counterpart, however additional features and a higher quality microphone make this option more suitable for professional ecological surveys and acoustic analysis. Adjustable gain (Low -12dB, Medium or High +12dB) is one particularly helpful addition. For a full break down of the differences between the EMT2 and the EMT2 Pro please see Wildlife Acoustics’ comparison page.

On this occasion we only tested the EMT2 – but the set up and use is fundamentally similar for both models.

How we tested

During August 2020 we took several EMT2 units to a nearby woodland to survey for the presence of bats. The Android units were used in conjunction with a Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 (requiring the micro-USB to USB-C adapter) and the iOS units used with an iPhone SE 2020.
(2025 update: The EMT2 and EMT2 Pro are now unified into single models, each compatible with both Android and iOS devices via USB-C. Please check the list of compatible devices on EMT2 Device Compatibility | Wildlife Acoustics.)

The EMT2 is incredibly lightweight and small, weighing just 20g and measuring 48 x 35mm. Supplied in a small pouch, the detector is perfectly pocket-sized.

Set-up was incredibly easy; we simply downloaded the free application, plugged in the device and immediately began recording. It is worth noting that, when plugging the EMT2 into the phones without an adapter, the phone cases had to be removed to allow proper connection.

We made sure that the Trigger Minimum Frequency was set to 12kHz, the level recommended by Wildlife Acoustics to stop noise recordings while not missing any species of bat. On the ‘Auto ID Selection’ tab we chose the correct region and country, allowing the impressive auto-ID feature for UK bat species to be enabled (see video below on how to change these settings).

The EMT2 then automatically recorded any bat activity detected above 12kHz and applied a suggested species identification based on the waveform and frequency. The app offers several ways to share these recordings, but we chose to directly plug our phones/tablets into a computer to transfer the files directly.

What we found

The Echo Meter is incredibly intuitive and easy to use, so certainly suitable for beginners and professionals alike. Any questions or issues can easily be resolved via the User Manual, found under the Information tab on the app and offered in English, French and German. Personally, we preferred this digital option rather than having to flick through a paper copy during a dark evening survey. However, copies of the user manuals can be found here, for those who would prefer to print a hard copy.

The on-screen live sonograms were particularly impressive and allow surveyors to get an idea of the potential species present while still in the field. While waiting for the bats to emerge, we enjoyed watching the calls of birds and crickets (see our blog post here on monitoring Orthoptera using bat detectors) – an unexpected advantage of the EMT2. It is certainly understandable why the EMT2 is so often used for community engagement at bat walks and BioBlitzs around the country.

We found that, for the species common in our area, such as Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and the Noctule (Nyctalus noctule), the auto-ID feature appeared mostly accurate. Although, on one occasion before dusk we found that a bird call triggered a Common Pipistrelle identification. It is important to note that no Auto-ID feature can be 100% accurate, and Wildlife Acoustics make it clear that users should always manually verify the identification.

The automatic triggered recording worked very smoothly and did not appear to miss any bat activity. Despite this, it was reassuring to know if we noticed something we wanted to record, we also had the option to manually trigger recording – another feature that would be useful if wanting to listen to non-bat species. Each recording was GPS tagged, a neat feature that tracked our transect throughout the evening. When sorting through recordings, the option to sort by species was helpful to move noise and ‘No ID’ audio clips.

The only limitation we found with the EMT2 is how quickly our batteries drained. This is of course not a fault with the EMT2 itself and is to be expected with continual recording, but it is worth considering your phone or tablet’s battery life may impact your use of this detector.

Overall, the Echo Meter Touch 2 is a fantastic detector that is very affordably priced for the number of features it offers. The free app is continuously updated, and newly developed species classifiers added.

Common Pipistrelle (left) and Soprano Pipistrelle (right) recorded and identified on the Echo Meter app.

The Echo Meter Touch 2 and Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro are available from the NHBS website.

Visit nhbs.com to view our full range of bat detectors. If you have any questions about our range or would like some advice on the right product for you, then please contact us via email at customer.services@nhbs.com or phone on 01803 865913.