Camera Deployment Guide

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Arline Houston
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1 Camera Deployment Guide Page 1 of 8

2 Overview of Camera Deployment Procedure You will be deploying your cameras in sets of 3: o On trail one camera that captures picture of traffic on a hiking trail o Near trail ideally within hearing distance but not sight of the trail o Far from Trail outside of sight and sound from the trail To Deploy the Camera: o Find the proposed location with your GPS o Find the nearest usable spot (within 20m) o Setup the camera Record the actual location, date, and the rest of the Field Information on the datasheet o Do the Walk Test o ARM the camera and do the Pole Test o Make sure the camera is locked, you have taken the key out of the lock, and that you have recorded all data on the datasheet. o Leave the cameras out for 3 weeks and then re-deploy all 3 cameras to the next set of locations Re-deploying Cameras: o Take extra SD cards for each camera and extra charged batteries o Check the battery level: if above 60% leave the batteries and if below 60% change the batteries o Take the SD card from the last deployment and put in the other, empty, SD card that is linked to that camera o Go to the new point and put out the camera again o Take the SD card home and use emammal Desktop to ID the photos Questions? Contact us at emammal@si.edu Page 2 of 8

3 Deploying your Reconyx Hyperfire Camera 1. Find the Proposed Location a. Use your GPS unit or smartphone with GPS to navigate to the Proposed Location coordinates 2. Search for the nearest usable spot to set your camera a. What makes a usable camera site? i. A straight live tree that is at least 8-10 inches in diameter ii. A clear view in one direction (some small vegetation can be removed) iii. A place that is parallel with the slope (if the camera is on a hill) iv. Within 20 meters of the original Proposed Location GPS point. If the first usable spot to deploy camera is more than 20 meters away that is not preferred but ok. 3. Guidelines for the 3 specific types of cameras: a. On Trail Camera: Close enough to the trail to detect animals on the trail, pointed at an angle up or down the trail, not straight across the trail. Securely locked. Camouflaged from people if possible b. Near the Trail Camera: Go the proposed location 50m from the trail, and then find a usable spot no farther than 50m. Don t farther from the trail than 50m and do your best to make sure the trail is not visible from your selected camera deployment. Seeing the trail may be unavoidable if there is no underbrush at all, but do your best. Securely locked. c. Far from the Trail Camera: Put the camera within a reasonable distance from the proposed point (20 meters). Securely locked. Specific Guidelines for a good camera set and things to avoid are on the next pages Page 3 of 8

DO: 1. Put the camera about knee high (and right side up!) 2. Make sure the camera is parallel to the ground.

You may need to shim with a small stick between the camera and the tree to angle the camera appropriately. 3.

Bring a set of garden clipper or loppers to clear stuff (but no machetes or chainsaws). 1. Correct Deployment Height 4.

However, don t hike far to find a large clear area, just find the most open area with a good tree within a reasonable distance (20 meters). 2. Sideways to Hill if Possible 5.

4 DO: 1. Put the camera about knee high (and right side up!) 2. Make sure the camera is parallel to the ground. If you re on a hill try to point it on contour, not up or down the hill. You may need to shim with a small stick between the camera and the tree to angle the camera appropriately. 3. Clear vegetation within approximately 6 feet of the camera that will get in the way of the lens or the flash. Bring a set of garden clipper or loppers to clear stuff (but no machetes or chainsaws). 1. Correct Deployment Height 4. In thick areas off-trail, find the largest opening and set the camera on the edge of the opening pointing into the opening. However, don t hike far to find a large clear area, just find the most open area with a good tree within a reasonable distance (20 meters). 2. Sideways to Hill if Possible 5. Make sure the cable on the Python lock is tight so the camera will not move or shift. 6. Don t search for game trails but don't avoid trails, the idea is to get a good random sample of the landscape. 3. Clear Vegetation 7. If the camera is far from the trail and you are worried about finding it again place flagging on a tree near the camera, but NOT on the camera deployment. We don t want to alert animals or thieves to the location of the camera. Do not place flags along hiking trails as these can disrupt the nature experience of other park users. 4. Largest Opening Page 4 of 8

Things to AVOID when setting your camera: 1. DON T set the camera too high. If you are used to setting the camera for deer and bear you may be setting the camera too high. Keep it knee high. 2.

Watch for logs that might create a hidden space. 3. DON T set it on a slope without shimming (placing a stick at the top or bottom of the camera) to keep the camera parallel to the ground.

Camera set too high 2. Camera set too low 4. DON T point the camera into another tree, vegetation, large logs, or boulders that will block the movement sensor.

DON T put the camera on a small tree (smaller than 6 inches in diameter). Small trees will blow in the wind and the movement of the tree will trigger the camera.

5 Things to AVOID when setting your camera: 1. DON T set the camera too high. If you are used to setting the camera for deer and bear you may be setting the camera too high. Keep it knee high. 2. DON T set the camera too low. If it is too close to the ground herbs, grass, and logs will obscure the view. The camera needs to see over the ground cover and small terrain. Watch for logs that might create a hidden space. 3. DON T set it on a slope without shimming (placing a stick at the top or bottom of the camera) to keep the camera parallel to the ground. An improperly set camera on a slope will be point into canopy or the ground. If your camera is not set correctly you will find out during the walk test. Be short during the walk test. 1. Camera set too high 2. Camera set too low 4. DON T point the camera into another tree, vegetation, large logs, or boulders that will block the movement sensor. Even rocks or logs only 2-3 feet high and within 2 feet of the sensor will block a lot of ground level activity from triggering the motion detector. 5. DON T put the camera on a small tree (smaller than 6 inches in diameter). Small trees will blow in the wind and the movement of the tree will trigger the camera. Small trees can also be cut down to steal the camera. 6. DON T set the camera on a stump as it can be easily stolen. 7. DON T set the camera on a dead tree since the tree can fall. 8. DON T set the camera on a crooked tree since the pictures will be crooked. 3. Don t point camera downhill. If absolutely necessary shim as above. 9. DON T leave a trail of flagging from the trail to the camera Page 5 of 8 5. Tree is too small

Lock the Camera and Walk Test Lock and Walk Once you have found a usable camera deployment spot: 4. Attach your camera to the tree using the Python cable lock (make sure it is tight!) 5.

6 Lock the Camera and Walk Test Lock and Walk Once you have found a usable camera deployment spot: 4. Attach your camera to the tree using the Python cable lock (make sure it is tight!) 5. Perform the Walk Test (Following method is for Reconyx cameras only) a. Set the camera to the Walk Test setting (see Camera Guide) b. Walk in front of the camera. When the camera is triggered in this mode a red light comes on briefly to the right of the lens (if you are looking at the camera). c. Walk out in a zig-zag pattern in front of the camera as far as you can to find the furthest point where the light is still flashing. Keep in mind you have to cross a detection zone to be detected. Reconyx Camera Detection Zones d. Mark the farthest distance you can be detected (scuff the ground or use a stick) and use your measuring tape to measure the straight-line distance from the camera to the farthest trigger point. e. Leave the measuring tape on the ground as a guide for the pole test f. Record the Detection Distance on the data sheet g. Record the Actual GPS Location for the camera on the data sheet h. Record all remaining data on data sheet (date, camera ID, etc.). i. Save the camera location on your GPS unit as a waypoint Page 6 of 8

7 The Pole Test The purpose of the pole test is to get a series of pictures with the calibration pole touching the ground, at different distances from the camera. Exact location is not critical. These pictures will be used by computer software to measure the distance animals travel in front of the camera. a. Arm the camera (see Camera Guide). If the camera is armed the red light to the right of the lens will flash for a 10 second count down. b. Start by standing 3 meters in front of the camera (use your measuring tape as a reference) holding the black and white pole. c. Hold the pole straight up and down with the bottom touching the ground (where an animal s foot would land). d. Walk away from the camera in a zig-zag pattern at ~45 o angles stopping for 1-2 seconds to get pictures with the pole on the ground at the end and center of each leg (see figure below for the pattern). Make sure the pole is always visible to the camera. Once you have zig-zagged away to the farthest detection point (measured in the walk test) do the same thing back toward the camera. You should produce ~7 points going away and ~6 coming back. e. You do not have to record anything but make sure the camera is taking photos. 6. Once you get back to your starting point and collect the measuring tape you are done! a. Make sure the Python cable is locked and you have the keys. 7. Go to the next camera and enjoy the rest of your time outside. The ideal Pole Test walking pattern m Measuring Tape Page 7 of 8

8 Re-Deploying Cameras After the cameras have been in the field for 3 weeks you will collect all 3 cameras and move them to the next set of deployment points with empty memory cards, and bring back the memory cards from the previous deployment to ID and upload the photos. 1. BEFORE going in the field make sure that you have: a. The actual locations of all 3 cameras you will retrieve in your GPS b. The proposed locations for all 3 cameras in the next deployment c. An extra SD card for each of your cameras in their plastic cases d. A set of extra charged batteries for each camera (12 AA batteries for each camera) 2. Make sure the camera takes a photo of you as you pick it up. This will be a confirmation of the date and time the camera was picked up and will let us know if the camera was operating. 3. Check the batteries in the camera (see Camera Guide). If the battery level is below 60% change the batteries before re-deploying the camera. Note low power on your datasheet. 4. If the camera was not operating when you arrive and changing the card and batteries does not make it operational do not set it out at the next location. 5. Deploy the camera in its next location using the same procedure as the first deployment a. Find the proposed camera location b. Find the nearest usable location c. Set the camera on the tree d. Do the walk test e. Record the actual GPS point, mark it as a waypoint on your GPS, and record the detection distance and other information on the data sheet f. ARM the camera and do the pole test g. Make sure the camera is locked and you have taken the key out of the lock If you have any questions on camera programming consult the Camera Quick guide or the Hyperfire Manual (in your training packet and available at the website under How-To Documents). For further help contact us at emammal@si.edu Page 8 of 8

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