Camera Trapping Workshop : schedule (draft)

Here's a draft schedule of topics and activities for enrollees and prospective takers of my camera trapping workshop at SF State University's Sierra Nevada Field Campus.


Sunday, July 20:
PM:
arrival and check-in.
After dinner:
introductions, goals, program for the week.

Monday, July 21:
AM:
Activity: camera trapping plan (what are we after and where do we look?); reconnaissance and deployment of cams.

Topics covered:
camera trap sets (ground versus arboreal)
camera attachment (trees versus posts, telescoping poles, bungies, cables, special attachments)
camera security (people and bears)
PIR sensors (strengths and weaknesses, compensations)
GPSing locations

PM:
Discussion:
of today's activities and topics
demonstration of GPS and topographic map downloading (aids to finding your cameras)

Tuesday, July 22:
AM:
Activity:
(1) collect early morning cams; re-bait or re-set
(2) mobbing experiment (use of a raptor model to compare camera traps with hand-held cameras)
(3) predator caller demonstration

Topics covered:
(1) what camera traps can and can't do
(2) use of scent and sound lures
(3) anticipating behavior at the set and pre-visualizing pictures

PM:
Activity:
(1) Collect pre-set cam B (hike); return and download photos
(2) owl calling (after discussion when it's dark)

Discussion:
(1) keeping records (to do it or not to do it?);
(2) camera trapping databases (inventory of set locations, spreadsheet of camera trapping results); photo index files;
(3) digital photo processing
(4) continued discussion of today's topics

Wednesday, July 23:
AM:
Activity:
(1) collect early morning cams; re-bait or re-set;

Topics covered:
(1) camera trapping kits
(2) survival and safety in the wilderness

PM:
Activity:
(2) collect pre-set cam C (hike); return and download photos

Discussion:
(1) batteries (alkalines vs. rechargeables)
(2) ecology and camera trapping (home range size and trophic relations; habitats and species).

Thursday, July 24:

AM:
Activity:
(1) collect cams.

Topics covered:
(1) night-time photography (flash versus IR; supplemental external flash); fill flash

PM:
Activity:
Collect pre-set cam D (hike); return and download photos.

Discussion:
(1) Topics of choice
(2) (activity) copy photos to CDs for participants

Friday, July 25:
AM:
Activity:
(1) collect cams and pack
(2) evaluation