One of my favourite projects has been the development of my Mammal box. Over the years, it has grown and changed and this current design is one I have used for several years now. The box is lit 24 hrs a day and there is a Hikvision minidome camera inside. The small mammals enter via two entrances that are made from 19mm wardrobe fittings as these allow mice, voles and shrews in, but not rats.
What makes this set-up special is the fact that is has a removeable ‘set’. The inside section can be removed and ‘dressed’ to change the environment that the mammals interact with. At present, it is dressed like a natural set.
I had moved the box and it as taken a few months for the mammals to rediscover it and, with winter on the way, it has started to get busy again. For that reason, I have started live streaming it again, so you can log on and watch. There is a lot more activity from early evening and through the night, rather than during the day, although I do get some visitors in daylight hours. #gallery-21414-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-21414-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-21414-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-21414-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
These are a selection of clips, showing some of the visitors I have had over the last month or so. You can watch this camera live at www.wildlifekate.co.uk /livecameras
This clip is really amazing as this mouse is hiding the food inside the mini pumpkin, by using the materials inside the box…
Then, this mouse had to hunt under all the debris on top, so it could find the food!
Keep checking in, as some more imaginative sets will be appearing very soon!