thermal imaging

Hi All

You may remember a while ago I was speculating about whether TI cameras which use heat rather than light could be used to locate our cryptic reptiles in the field.  Although reptiles are not homeothermic (constantly 'warm-blooded') they can warm up to temperatures above the background temperature by using behavioural mechanisms such as basking or flattening their bodies, to absorb heat by radiation, conduction or both.

I managed to get my hands on a TI camera and took it into the field yesterday.  Sure enough, it picked out a common lizard on a branch, as well as an adder on some short turf next to a hedge.  However I doubt it will substitute for footslogging, fieldcraft and the human eye, for the following reasons: first, they can't see a reptile on an equally hot background - eg a warm tree stump (a lizard became invisible, for example, in spite of holding the camera within a few cm of it); also, although the heat signature of the animal was partly visible if it was hiding in dense vegetation, there was often too much 'noise' from hot twigs, leaves etc to allow the reptile's heat signature to be distinguished from the other hot items in the field of view.  Oh, and they cost a few grand, too..  Nevertheless, it was interesting to see how common lizards and adders were achieving a body temp at least 10 degrees above ambient, on a mainly cloudy day.  Thermograph of lizard plus equivalent photograph of same lizard below, along with an adder.

Cheers

Will

HI WILL HOW MUCH DO THESE DEVICES COST/ KEITH

Will if I order a couple is there a discount keith

unusual and rivetting post will!
thanks for sharing your thoughts, findings and pix

bit outa my price range!

ben

Great idea to use it Will and interesting to see that you can get a (crude?) temperature reading also. Saves sticking a temperature probe up their arses.  I know some of the bat boys use TI to 'see' bats roosting hidden behind the roofing membrane in the tile/batten void.

Edited by Scale - 21 Apr 2011 at 2:33pm