A portable Raspberry Pi-based camera setup to record behaviours of frogs
and other small animals under artificial or natural shelters in remote
locations
Abstract
Here, we describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable,
robust, and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that
this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall
and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark
places and can continuously record for 21 days. We also describe how to
make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the
great strengths of this shelter/camera setup is that the animals choose
to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no
disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras
could be used to film a range of behaviours in many small cryptic
amphibian species, but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates
globally.