Reflections from Crumbly Acres: camera trapping guide

I posted my Trailcam problem to my Facebook group. Janet Pesaturo wrote the Camera Trapping Guide. Her husband, Bob Zak, had some answers for me! Hooray for people who share their knowledge.

I had 31 folders of photos: 1000 x 30 + 140 = 31,140 photos on the trailcam. It was hilarious. Some were quite pink. If you look at the temperature reading, it was 42 ℃. There are a number of causes. If it is an IR filter problem you can whack it, and it might reconnect the wire. I don't think that's what it was, but I tried it.

The photos I scavenged Tuesday didn't have any of that. And it didn't do that run on triggering, which results in untriggered photos. We shall see what happens tomorrow. I didn't get too many bug bites fetching the memory card. I am happy with that.

We've moths in the dark.

This Imperial Moth landed on the fence, likely before dawn, many years ago.

My Hops vine has been decimated by a caterpillar infestation. iPhoto thinks Armyworm, but who knows.

This butterfly was looking for a place to lay eggs. She was sitting on the railing.

I won't interfere with nature. The Eastern Question Mark butterfly likes this plant. The Gray Tree frogs like this plant, as well. I've found lots of other critters in it.

A hummingbird on the flowers.

My lilies are thriving, thanks to the deer fence!

Do you remember my red-eyed vireo nest? This was July 1st. I tried to avoid the nest so as not to give momma bird a heart attack.

July 2015

I checked July 9th, all gone! I hope they do well, lovely little bug eaters.

I sure miss these little critters in winter!

I follow a Facebook trailcam camera and video group. The author of the book, Janet Pesaturo, is one of the administrators. She posted information about her book, and I bought it for myself for my birthday, Dec. 26th. (That's how we roll here!)

There are a lot of books out about critters. It is often difficult to choose which is best for you. I have general guide books about eastern birds, moths, insects, and mammals. I've interesting books, like my latest on animal scat! Scat Finder I've books specific to deer, owls, and bears.

Janet explains that when she began setting out camera traps, she would go out with her mammal field guide, a tracking guide, and a summary of the critter's behaviour. She took the initiative to write this book to help us understand how, when, and where to place cameras, and she provides good information on 35 mammals, 5 birds, and alligators. Now, I don't need to know about alligators, but it was fun to read.

Amazon provides a preview, and the table of contents lists the critters. Each chapter is devoted to one animal, and follows a consistent format: physical characteristics, tracks and trails, diet, scat and urine, habitat, breeding, then rounding it off with specific camera trapping tips.

Chapter two
Eastern Cottontail

If I have any constructive criticism, it is that the durn maps end at the Canada/US border. I've been researching woodland voles (meadow voles, as Janet calls them), for example, and learned a lot about them. I still don't know why they are going into the mouse hole in the house, and that remains a mystery.

It helps to understand a species to know where to place a camera. It pays to track them, and understanding paths that they follow. My frogpond trailcam, for example, is a heavily trodden path between the wetland and the pond. Many critters prefer to stay on dry land whilst making their way through their habitat. What I notice is that in winter, when the frog pond is frozen, they avoid the camera. Little twerps!

Janet wrote a blog called, One Acre Farm, all about homesteading. She has a new blog, Winterberry Wildlife. There is so much information on them.

I do recommend the book. It is full a lot of excellent information not found elsewhere.

BTW I learned how to refine my camera trapping skills from my photographer internet buddy (we've never met!) who has a video from last year with the buck losing its antler on film. He camera traps in a large forest and writes about wildlife photography.

For me, camera trapping has been hit and miss. I've learned a lot by my mistakes.

Today, we begin with - 30 C. temperatures. There won't be much on the cameras today.