Andrew,
A year unattended in the wild is a long time for an electronic device.
I guess that a sound recorder would be less vulnerable than video, but with
an adequate solar power source, video-transmission, even via satellite, for
hundreds of kms or more would enable remote monitoring of the video's
function.
I just wouldn't like to be whoever has to look at a year's continuous
video of an outback dam! Movement sensors are set off by wind and rain as
well as non-target animals. Presumably screening for movement at dusk and
dawn would pick up Night Parrots, although there is a record from the
Christmas Creek, (WA) area of NParrots coming in during the night. Also,
crepuscular spp. come out in moonlight. As anyone who has camped under the
stars in the Central Deserts will know, the atmosphere is so clear that you
also can see well by starlight unless there has been recent rain.
Video with image intensifier might be a better option than infrared for
night recording video, I had a mini Sony a few years ago which produced
clear images at light levels in which I couldn't see with the naked eye.
If such a system could be perfected, there are scores of likely
dams/waterholes where monitoring could be set up. Expense is the obvious
problem.
Cheers
Michael
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