An Application of Digital Video Recording and Off-grid Technology to Burrowing Owl Conservation Research

• Main Author: Williams, Jennifer M.
• Other Authors: Acevedo, Miguel F.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: University of North Texas 2014
• Subjects: digital video recording; off-grid video system; applied technology; western burrowing owls; Burrowing owls > Monitoring > Texas > El Paso.; Wildlife monitoring > Texas > El Paso.; Wildlife monitoring > Technological innovations.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc699953/

Through this research, engineering students and conservation biologists constructed an off-grid video system for observing western burrowing owls in El Paso, Texas. The burrowing owl has a declining population and their range decreasing, driving scientists' interest to see inside the den for observing critical nesting behavior. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists wanted videos from inside the dark, isolated hillside owl burrows. This research yielded a replicable multi-camera prototype, empowering others to explore applications of engineering and wildlife monitoring. The remote station used an off-the-shelf video recording system, solar panels, charge controller, and lead acid batteries. Four local K-12 science educators participated in system testing at Lake Ray Roberts State Park through the Research Experiences for Teachers (RET, NSF #1132585) program, as well as four undergraduate engineering students as senior design research.