Thermal imaging in ornithology

The use of thermal imaging devices to monitor birds began in the 1960s.[1] It underwent significant development from the end of the 20th century onwards.[2][3][4] This was, at least in part, due to improvements in the quality and portability of thermal-imaging devices, and reductions in their cost.[4]

Thermal image of a Jack snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus), taken by the West Midlands Ringing Group

Although primarily a nocturnal activity, thermal imaging can also be used in daylight, for example monitoring Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in dense vegetation.[4]

Thermal image of a European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) in flight, on Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, England

One bird ringing organisation, the West Midlands Ringing Group (formerly Brewood Ringers), caught and rung 424 adult skylarks (Alauda arvensis) in 2019, using thermal imaging to locate them; this was 81.4% of the total caught Britain & Ireland that year.[4] The group subsequently received the 2021 Marsh Award for Innovative Ornithology for their innovative use of thermal imaging technology in monitoring farmland birds.[5][6] The group uses Pulsar Helion thermal imaging cameras and have determined that this not only helps them to find more birds, but reduces the disturbance caused to the birds, due to needing to spend less time in the field.[7][8]

Other taxa

Thermal imaging has also been used to monitor mammal species including bats,[4] mice,[4] and ungulates,[9] and even the health of trees.[10]

References
  1. Dominic J. McCafferty (6 December 2012). "Applications of thermal imaging in avian science". Ibis. 155 (1): 4–15. doi:10.1111/IBI.12010. ISSN 1474-919X. Wikidata Q114456885.
  2. D.J. McCafferty; J.B. Moncrieff; I.R. Taylor; G.F. Boddie (October 1998). "The use of IR thermography to measure the radiative temperature and heat loss of a barn owl (Tyto alba)". Journal of Thermal Biology. 23 (5): 311–318. doi:10.1016/S0306-4565(98)00022-9. ISSN 0306-4565. Wikidata Q114456886.
  3. Matthew D. Stephenson; Lisa A. Schulte; Robert W. Klaver (30 April 2019). "Quantifying thermal‐imager effectiveness for detecting bird nests on farms". Wildlife Society Bulletin. 43 (2): 302–307. doi:10.1002/WSB.962. ISSN 0091-7648. Wikidata Q114456887.
  4. Morgan Hughes; Paul Hopwood; Matilda Dolan; Ben Dolan (4 October 2022). "Applications of thermal imaging for bird surveys: examples from the field". Ringing and Migration: 1–4. doi:10.1080/03078698.2022.2123026. ISSN 0307-8698. Wikidata Q114456608.
  5. "Medallists". British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  6. "West Midlands Ringing Group receives BTO award". BirdGuides. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  7. Dolan, Ben; et al. (Spring 2017). "Thermal Birding" (PDF). Life Cycle: 16.
  8. Getting the Most From Your Thermal Camera (PDF). West Midlands Ringing Group.
  9. Julia Witczuk; Stanisław Pagacz; Anna Zmarz; Maciej Cypel (19 October 2017). "Exploring the feasibility of unmanned aerial vehicles and thermal imaging for ungulate surveys in forests - preliminary results". International Journal of Remote Sensing. 39 (15–16): 5504–5521. doi:10.1080/01431161.2017.1390621. ISSN 0143-1161. Wikidata Q114456889.
  10. Daniele Vidal; Rui Pitarma (15 July 2019). "Infrared Thermography Applied to Tree Health Assessment: A Review". Agriculture. 9 (7): 156. doi:10.3390/AGRICULTURE9070156. ISSN 2077-0472. Wikidata Q114456888.
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