Ecological Experience

Protected species; Eco-watch routinely work with most of the more common protected bird and mammal species found in the UK including; bats, barn owls, birds of prey (e.g. harriers and peregrines), dormice, red squirrels, otters, water voles and badgers. Some of these projects have been part of monitoring and mitigation programmes associated with industry and civil engineering work, often using specialist mobile recording units. Others have been focussed on a visitor experience with a remit to engage audiences that visit attractions or centres that are in close proximity to nesting or sheltering protected wildlife. Whatever the wildlife the Eco-watch team work under appropriate licences and closely with your team to reach your objective.

Captive environments; wildlife parks and zoos keep breeding stock of many endangered wildlife species from around the world. Often these captive animals represent a safety net for the species. They give humankind the opportunity sometime in the future to re-introduce them once their natural habitat has been secured. Eco-watch work extensively with these organisations and their expert ecologists; they provide the information our team needs to design, install and implement camera and monitoring equipment safely, without disturbing sensitive wildlife.

Whole habitats; we are used to working on a large scale, on holistic projects covering large areas, simultaneously recording numerous species of wildlife. From miniature and discrete cameras and probes for recording nesting birds and mammals, to remote controlled and ruggedised equipment for monitoring caves, chambers, rivers, lakes and marine environments. We may not have experience of every wildlife species, but we do have ecological experience that can be applied to the majority of wildlife.

We specialise in monitoring the interaction between and within wildlife species using a combination of video, audio and data. We design systems that enable you to use footage and environmental data to build profiles of activity within urban, rural and industrial habitats. Our aim, to give you the opportunity to create a broad record or story of what has been happening within any habitat or area, and use this to best fulfil your project's objectives. Be it to comply with legislation, actively engage an audience or provide information for your research.

Individuals and colonies; Eco-watch specialises in bespoke installations designed to provide the best images, sounds and environmental data from individual wildlife species or colonies. Our team has worked extensively with birds of prey, hole and ledge nesting birds, aquatic, estuarine and marine animals, large and small land mammals and large sea bird colonies.

Although much of this wildlife may not be rare or endangered, it can still be just as engaging as the more exotic species. Using the right technology and sound ecological knowledge the Eco-watch team puts in place systems that enable you to follow the behaviour and activity of wildlife in the context of the environment in which it lives.

Mitigation and biodiversity; most new civil engineering, urban and industrial developments need to integrate biodiversity and mitigation into their strategy. Ecological and environmental consultation at the earliest stage is vital. It may be that monitoring using technology (video, audio and data monitoring) provides a great opportunity to better market and engage stakeholders, the public and local communities, adding value to your project above and beyond protecting wildlife. Eco-watch has advised on mitigation projects where community support is key and avoidance of potential conflict paramount.