Dear Marmamers, Does anybody have experience in using remote surveillance video cameras to monitor the presence of cetaceans? Motion-activated 'TrailCams' are being increasingly used in the terrestrial environment to record the presence of mammals, operating both during the daytime and at night. They are motion-activated enabling them to be efficient on battery usage and time-saving in terms of reviewing the footage. Whilst I appreciate that waves are likely to trigger such equipment even when cetaceans are not present, I wondered whether anybody had been successful in using such cameras from coastal viewpoints to record passing cetaceans such as Gray Whales for example? If possible, I would like to test this equipment at seal haul-out sites which may be frequented by hunting killer whales, Orcinus orca. As any killer whales present are likely to be very close to shore, it may be possible to use video cameras without extensive zoom lenses to record their presence? I would be very happy to post a summary of replies on this subject in order to assist others who might take advantage of this technology. I would also be interested to hear from anybody who has successfully used live webcams in salt-spray filled coastal or boat-based environments. Regards, *Dylan* ________________________ *Dylan Walker * co-founder Planet Whale & WhaleFest www.planetwhale.com www.whale-fest.com mob/cell: +44 (0)7900 471490 <%2B44%20%280%297775%20871953> office: +44 (0)1273 355011 skype: planet.whale * <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RiZoWDGJUrs>*