A portable Raspberry Pi‐based camera set‐up to record behaviours of frogs and other small animals under artificial or natural shelters in remote locations

Abstract

Abstract 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 up to 21 days (504 h). We also describe how to make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the great strengths of this shelter/camera set‐up 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 not only many small cryptic amphibian species but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates globally.

Keywords

• amphibians
• animal behaviour
• camera
• invertebrates
• long‐term monitoring
• non‐invasive