Lessons from the Experts

International Bird Rescue is a wildlife rehabilitation and oil spill response organization based in California.

They set up their live cam system to provide the public with a look into some of the species they care for and encourage the public to donate.

About the Live Pelican Cam:

• Camera Used: Axis Q1765-LE HD camera

• Web hosting: HDontap (This site hosts many other live cams as well)

• Special Considerations: Placement - the camera needed to be mounted up high and with a good angle to see the full length of the pelican aviary with a good focus on the nearby perch. It would also need to be weatherproof. An additional portable camera option was also purchased so that the feed could be switched to other enclosures during events like the 2021 Elegant Tern rescue efforts.

• Challenges: The initial investment was a little daunting, and handling the setup and wiring for the camera system was very complicated. The rescue opted to work with a professional on the installation. The feed can also go down sometimes for unknown reasons, so it is good to have someone available to troubleshoot if needed.

• Benefits: Adding the live bird cams to the Bird Rescue website has led to greater exposure for the organization's work and provided a reputation boost. The cams also lead a lot of people to the website and are one of the most-visited pages on their site. The popularity of the cams has also opened up some sponsorship opportunities and brought in some useful funding for their work.

• Learn more about the International Bird Rescue on their website.

The Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project is dedicated to raptor conservation in the Eagle Mountain, Utah area.

This cam was set up to boost community engagement and use that community support to pressure the city for conservation purposes. Plus a little bit of science!

About the Kestrel Box Cam:

• Camera Used: Reolink Security Cameras

• Web hosting: The cameras are wired to a nearby house where the owner has given permission to use their network. The streaming link is routed through a website based in Europe that can allow up to 1000 viewers without taxing bandwidth

• Special Considerations: The cameras would be outdoors and needed to withstand weather & snow. The Kestrel box had to be custom built to fit the cam inside in a way that would not disturb the birds. The camera needs annual maintenance after the nesting season to clean it and keep it in working order.

• Challenges: Sometimes there are comments from the public about the birds well-being with the cams, and about the footage being "gross" because of the parents feeding prey items to the young. These challenges are easily overcome with some simple education

• Benefits: They've been able to do some research into the diets of the kestrels. The second camera feed from the outside of the box usually gives a clear view of the prey the parents are bringing in. The biggest benefit has been building up community awareness and support for the conservation of the kestrels and their habitat. This has helped attract the attention of local lawmakers and get conservation measures on the ballot.

• Learn more about the Eagle Mountain Kestrel Project on their Facebook Page