Infrared trigger cameras are mainly used for wildlife monitoring in the field of nature conservation and field research technology.
Infrared trigger cameras are divided into active and passive types according to their working principles.
Active infrared trigger cameras are composed of separate infrared transmitters, receivers and cameras. The transmitter emits a beam of infrared light that is invisible to the human eye, facing the corresponding receiving window on the receiver. When a moving object passes between the transmitter and the receiver, the infrared beam is blocked, triggering the camera to take a photo.
Passive infrared trigger cameras are divided into five parts: infrared sensor, control circuit board, camera, power supply system and shell. Passive infrared sensors can detect sudden changes in heat and infrared energy in the front fan-shaped area. Its basic working principle is: when a warm-blooded animal passes in front of the device, the temperature difference caused by the animal's body temperature and the ambient temperature causes a change in the heat around the camera. This temperature (heat) change is received by the infrared sensor and generates a pulse signal, thereby triggering the camera to shoot.
Based on the same principle, the infrared trigger camera can be modified to become an infrared trigger camera by adding a camera. Digital technology is widely used in infrared trigger cameras, which enables the same product to have the function of obtaining photos and video clips at the same time, increasing the amount of information collected.
In the field ecology research of wild animals, infrared trigger camera survey technology belongs to a category of unmanned automatic shooting technology. According to different working principles, unmanned automatic shooting is divided into two categories: fixed time interval shooting and target animal triggered shooting. The former is mostly used in the case of frequent appearance of research objects, especially for behavioral research on specific animal individuals or families, such as bird nesting behavior and brooding behavior; the latter is more suitable for situations where the frequency of target animals is very low and unpredictable, such as the determination of bird nest predators and the recording of large mammals. The unmanned automatic shooting device triggered by the target animal is also called a "camera trap", and the method of using this device to record and investigate wild animals is also called the "camera trap survey method".
Wild animal populations and population dynamics data must be obtained through a monitoring system. The infrared trigger camera method of monitoring wild animals is a new survey method, especially suitable for recording large, medium-sized, rare mammals and birds with hidden activities.
Specifically, the main functions of infrared trigger cameras in wildlife research, monitoring, and protection are: 1. Confirming the existence of a species; 2. Predicting population density; 3. Individual identification; 4. Marking-restocking; 5. Calculating relative abundance of species; 6. Studying animal activity patterns; 7. Monitoring poaching behavior.
Infrared trigger cameras have the following features: accurate species identification, little impact from different habitats/environmental types, 24-hour continuous operation, suitable for monitoring animals with secretive activities, relatively little interference to animals, and relatively low requirements for field workers. However, infrared trigger cameras are powerless against some small wild animals and often have problems in humid or high temperature environments.
Infrared trigger cameras are developing continuously with the continuous advancement of science and technology, especially the application of digital camera technology, wireless data transmission technology, GPS technology, and new material technology in infrared trigger cameras. The ability, quantity, and speed of collecting field data have been greatly improved, which has promoted the further development of wildlife research.
