Spying on seabirds: a review of time-lapse photography capabilities and limitations

Abstract

Remote monitoring of wildlife has a long history in ecological research but recent advances in technology have extended the possibilities of remote sensing methods, making camera systems more easily accessible, of higher resolution, and more relevant to a greater range of research interests. Time-lapse photography is most applicable to study animals frequently present at a photographed location or to study frequently repeated behaviours. Therefore, time-lapse photography methods are particularly relevant to study colonial animals at fixed locations. Here, I review literature using time-lapse photography methods in the context of their application to seabirds, focusing on distinct research aims. Cameras can be used to observe seabird behaviour in places or during times when human observation would be nearly impossible, including in remote locations, at night using infrared, and during harsh weather conditions. However, cameras are prone to mechanical failures and programming errors and need regular maintenance, depending on the frequency of photographs. Although many studies have used time-lapse photography techniques to understand seabird ecology, researchers can expand their study aims by examining how research on other taxa has used camera traps. In addition, as efficiency increases, demands for camera systems also increase; therefore, it is necessary to standardise data collection across sites and species to improve comparability across studies. Overall, for the study of colonial wildlife, time-lapse photography proves to be a cost-effective, relatively non-invasive method, which can help researchers save time during fieldwork when this is often limited.