Citizen Science: Backyard Wildlife Cameras

2:00 am – 3:00 am

Admission Fees: none

Registration Links:
Register for this event

Wildlife cameras have been widely used by ecology researchers, students, landowners, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts over the past 30 years. Come learn about the different wildlife camera models and how to decide which model is right for you. You will learn how to set-up a wildlife camera in your back yard and how to identify wildlife in camera trap photos. Our goal is to get you excited to discover the wildlife in your back yard. Keep reading for helpful videos and documents, and watch recorded event here: Citizen Science: Backyard Wildlife Cameras May 16, 2020

Watch Camera trap set-up video here: Backyard Camera Set-up

Leaders

Benjamin Bravo is the preserve resources manager for the Center for Environmental Inquiry (CEI), the department at Sonoma State University that oversees the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve and SSU’s two other preserves. Through his work at Stanford University, he has gained skills and knowledge of camera traps. For questions about backyard wildlife camera set-up, please contact Benjamin Bravo at bravobe@sonoma.edu 

Andy Balestracci is CEI’s Galbreath logistics manager. He has maintained two or more wildlife cameras on the preserve for the past three years and will lead us through some thinking on placement and analysis.

Find out more about these experts and SSU’s Center for Environmental Inquiry at https://www.sonoma.edu/cei/galbreath/

Details

Monitoring what happens on your property can take many forms and be done for several reasons. Perhaps you want to do it for security, monitoring entrances to your property and around your house. Or perhaps you are collecting data, either for your personal records or as part of a citizen-science project. Maybe you have seen scat filled with grape seeds and want to learn who is stealing your wine grapes. Join us and learn how to use wildlife cameras effectively for each of these scenario and others. The following handouts and videos serve as supplements to this event:

Access wildlife identification guide here: Wildlife Identification Guide

Access a 1-pager on basic set-up here: Basic Set-up 1-pager

Watch Galbreath wildlife video here: Galbreath Wildlife

You will see footage of mountain lions moving from one camera location to another, videos of bears lounging around a pond, and wild pigs enjoying a good back scratch – all taken on the Osborn and Galbreath Preserves. Using these as examples, our experts will demonstrate different types of cameras and ways to deploy them and where, discussing, locations and general placement, reviewing your objectives and answering your questions. 

Logistics

While this event is geared toward adults who are interested in setting up a wildlife camera at their home, everyone is welcome to attend. No previous experience or knowledge is required.

Zoom meeting details will be sent to you upon registration. If you have not used Zoom before, please allow time to download and install the application before the event. Please log-in a few minutes early, as it may take more than one attempt if servers are busy.

How to Sign Up

Register at the link below. Each participant should register separately. Registration is free.

About the Center

Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.