2013 Workshop Schedule

A black bear photo resulting from the 2011 workshop. 

Here is the schedule for 2013.

I am working up a few additional short lectures on new topics, so minor changes are likely.

Check the Species List tab to see what mammals are waiting to be camera trapped in Sierra County.

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CAMERA TRAPPING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 

SIERRA NEVADA FIELD CAMPUS, SIERRA COUNTY, CA 

July 14-19, 2013 

Sunday, July 14

• Arrive: noon through late afternoon.

• Dinner: 6:00 PM.
• Evening: Class introductions, workshop goals and work plan, participants voice special interests.
• Power Point presentation: Camera Trap Discoveries

Monday, July 15

• Breakfast: 7:00AM (make your own bag lunch)
• 8:30 AM: Power Point presentation: Camera trap structure and function and Camera Trap "Set Theory". 
• Other Topics covered: Camera attachments and mounts (low to high tech solutions).
• Activity (mid-morning): Hands-on instruction in pre-visualizing images and anticipating animal behavior. Subjects = golden-mantled ground squirrels, shadow chipmunks, chickarees, mountain beavers, pikas, bushy-tailed wood rats): Sets = hollow logs, burrow entrances, and natural feeding stations--e.g., seed and cone middens
• Lunch: in field or in camp
• Afternoon: Collect pre-set cams in the field (car pool to site, and a short hike in) or stay in camp with your own cameras. Return to field campus, download photos, compare results from morning sets.
• Dinner: 6:00 PM
• Power Point presentation/discussion: Use of Attractants (windfalls, water, scent/visual/sound lures and baits; legal restrictions); Introduction to "Snagology" (looking for hollow trees, logs, and other animal dens).

Tuesday, July 16

• Breakfast: 7:00AM (make your own bag lunch)
• 8:30 AM, Powerpoint Presentation: Animal Psych for Camera Trappers (species differences in behavior and sensory perception).
• Activity: Set cams in field (car pool to site in Sierra Valley).
• Lunch: in field
• Afternoon: Return to field campus, check cams near camp, download photos, compare results.
• Dinner: 6:00 PM
• Power Point presentation/discussion: Old timey Camera Trap Luminaries
• Additional activity: Home-made portable endoscope (burrow and cavity video cam)

Wednesday, July 17

• Breakfast: 7:00AM (make your own bag lunch)
• 8:30 AM: Topic: camera trapping databases (inventory of sets, spreadsheet of camera trapping results); image database software; digital darkroom software, GPS mapping software.
• Activity (mid morning): Hike to Deadman Lake and scree (optional, but a chance to see pikas).
• Lunch: in field (or in camp).
• Afternoon: Return to field campus, download photos, compare results from morning camp sets.
• Dinner: 6:00 PM
• Power Point presentation/discussion: How to be in the right place at the right time.  
• After sunset: Flying squirrels: observations and photography (tentative, it depends on a good neighbor).

Thursday, July 18

• Breakfast: 7:00AM (make your own bag lunch)
• 8:30 AM: Topic: Making your own: General guidelines and links for hacking cameras, i.e., “homebrew” trail cameras (still and video). 
• Activity (mid morning): Collect cams from outlying sites (talus slope, ravine springs, mountain beaver burrows).
• Lunch: in field
• Afternoon: Return to field campus, download photos, compare results.
• Dinner: 6:00 PM
• Power Point presentation/discussion: Wildlife Surveys using Camera Traps (scientific applications)
• General discussion: Topics of class choice; hand out evaluation forms (questionnaires); copy and share photos taken during course.

Friday, July 19

• Breakfast: 7:00AM (make your own bag lunch)
• Activity: (1) collect cams and pack, (2) return evaluations (3) class photo
• Farewell and Departure

For registration materials contact: sfsu.snfc@gmail.com