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This blog is predominately about camera trapping in California. We camera trap to save our souls and to teach primary school students about biology and conservation. We will also touch on other camera trapping news and musings, sets from afar, mediocre herpetology, sucky birding, and other natural history discussions.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Guest Post: March of the Marten

This is a guest post by our friend Sean P.  who joins us on many an adventure, from camera trapping the Sierras to herping and BBQing our way through the Mojave Desert. Please feel free to leave comments here and he will be sure to see them.

This is my second year being fortunate enough to work with Chris Wemmer, aka the "Camera Trap Codger." This year I was able to help set traps for his annual camera trap workshop held at the incredible SFSU Sierra Nevada Field Campus. My prime objective, the American marten (Martes americana).

I used a home-brew camera trap with a Sony Cybershot s-600 and a 'Yeti' kit. Unfortunately, when setting up, I did not think to replace the battery powering the mother board/control. Set for night shots only, I started on 7/24/2011... the battery died on 7/31/2011. Four weeks later, I retrieved the camera and realized the error.

Seven shots in eight days. Three weeks of nothing.

Disappointed but, upon return home, I discovered my luck.

First shot a blank- bummer!

Then... shots two and three- my prime objective!




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These amazing creatures were followed with four shots of a lovely fawn.



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Not bad for what could have turned out to be the camera trap blues! (Although I wish I had the other three weeks of photos...)

4 comments:

  1. A pair of 'em, no less!

    Beautiful shots....

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  2. Glad you guys got these up. Can't believe your set lasted only a week and caught 2 martens, and my set 30 feet away lasted 4 weeks and only photographed deer mice and a fox nose. Looking forward to trapping that area again with y'all this year.

    And that fawn looks delicious. Err... very cute. ;)

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