Here's an interesting one for you #cameratrap folks. We used downward-facing camera traps to monitor rakali - all animals same distance from camera means we can at least tell size diff, and any marking such as white tip on tail more prominent. #wildoz

Here you can see it in action - there's at least 2 individual rakali on this camera (plus golden bandicoots, euro, perentie etc)

An advantage of the downward-facing camera is that there are hardly any "false" triggers from moving branches, shadows. as a consequence, the batteries last for MONTHS. Here is a fortnight's worth of triggers- all animals.

"But" I hear you say, "what kind of camera lure would last for months out in the sun?"

That's where it get's interesting...

Birds of prey (osprey, braminy kites, sea eagles) really enjoyed these new fish gutting posts installed for them.

They sat on the camera posts and dropped delicious bits of fish on the ground

sometimes this process was captured in gruesome detail

All those delicious fish morsels on the ground was excellent for attracting scavengers... like the mammals I was targeting!

...as well as the odd gull....

So i have this fluffy-panted osprey to thank for creating a self-perpetuating #cameratrap lure, simply because we put a convenient post near the shore for him. #wildoz