Bat House Forum

[tmangia]

Has anyone had any success mounting a wireless night vision camera to their bat house? If so, please tell me where I can find one. I would also love if I could somehow view it over the Internet. I will mount the house close enough to my WIFI connection in my home so that maybe I can use that connection.

Thanks,
Tony

[marius]

Hi Tony, I don't have any answers for you but have been wanting a camera myself and YOU gave more ideas about what I want. Thanks!

I asked about cameras on here a while back and haven't had any specific replies but ... there is a state nature center (Interpretive Center) not too far from where I live and I'm going to ask them. They have day cameras in bird nesting boxes and I know they get catalogs specific to their work that might offer what you and I are both looking for. If/when I find anything out, I'll post here.

Marius

[tmangia]

Thanks, Marius. Let me know what you find out. If I find something myself, I'll let you know. Take care...

Tony

[Joe Spencer]

Below is a start IR = Infrared. I'm not sure of closeup camera locations. Some are waterproof others are not. Some people buy the non-waterproof cameras and make a custom shroud for protection. Also it says that the Panasonic and Canon IP wifi cameras are better but more expensive. Check to see how they're powered, ie batteries or cable. If you're handy you could get constant or semi-constant power to it with your own DC power rig. Aditionally, to get the best signal get a small piece of aluminum flashing about 6" wide and 1-2" taller than the height of the antenna on the webcam using it as a 180 degree reflector an inch away from antenna angling toward the router in your house. This has worked very well increasing my signal strength in my USB wireless adapters and may improve the FPS and or the quality viewing of the camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gJxnQdv ... re=related

http://www.amazon.com/Loftek-Nexus-543- ... B004Y9OPC2

http://www.sunvalleyus.com/ip-camera/46159.html

BATCam: http://wdfw.wa.gov/wildwatch/batcam/bbb_video.html

[aelroy]

I am thinking along the same lines, except I think the power issue would remain a challenge.

You would either have to build your own solar cell powered battery supply, or resign to the fact that a wired connection was needed. Wiring may introduce some more work or effect the aesthetics, but if you go that way, you would open up to more options in terms of hardware. For example, you could use an wired IP camera and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector to power it at a lesser cost and higher reliability*.

Also, if you choose to go with a wired camera you could also opt for an analog camera with RCA connectors. Both of the wired options would be cheaper on average than the wireless one.

I do have some other questions, which I will post in a separate post.

*reliability of WiFi devices is not the greatest, and I have not seen a single device that does not need an occasional reset by reconnecting the power. If your cameras power source is not in an accessible location, this may be a problem.

[aelroy]

A question more relating to bats than technology:

If I did not need to use an IR camera, and could introduce some light into the scene, I could use a non IR surveillance cam, save money, and receive color feed.

The question I have is whether a low level of light in the bat housing would drive them away?

Thanks for your replies in advance!

[Terry Lobdell]

If it is a well established box with a lot of use my guess is they would be fine with it.........but that is just my guess.......

[aelroy]

It would be a brand new box, though. :(

[Joe Spencer]

24/7 lighting might not be to their liking but maybe you could switch it on lighting intervals. One guy had his bat house next to his flood light but the light shone down not up into the bat house. Maybe a low lighting wired color camera would work and as Terry said they may get used to it. You'll know soon enough if they leave abruptly.

[aelroy]

I am thinking probably the best bet (or bat ;) is to start off with IR and than after the house is established and well liked by the patrons, switch to low lighting. Most of the cameras now a days can work in both modes, and switch to IR automatically when light level dips too low.

I am looking at the following cam:
http://www.grandstream.com/index.php/products/ip-video-surveillance/live-surveillance-demo

Any thoughts?

[William Bagwell]

I am looking at the following cam:
http://www.grandstream.com/index.php/products/ip-video-surveillance/live-surveillance-demo

Any thoughts?

Ball parkish price range? That way I can either "Cool, I want one too!" or "Awe, too rich for me..."

But yes, a critter cam is on my wish list as well.

William