Improving technology aids biologists during wildlife surveys. Cameras are already used widely in wildlife biology in camera traps, drone/aerial footage, and thermal-imaging. Here, we explain how the use of cameras with telephoto lenses can contribute to more accurate characterizations of the local wildlife community, and can serve as evidence of detections. Throughout California, we completed 56 reconnaissance surveys averaging 2.3 hours at sites averaging 19 acres, where we used binoculars and full-frame DSLR cameras fitted with 400mm and 500mm lenses to help detect vertebrate species. Our photography of animals during surveys aided in identifying 7% of the total species detected in a survey (mean = 2 species per survey) by confirmation (3.4%), new identifications (3.5%), and corrections (<1%), species of which could have been missed using binoculars alone. The use of photography reduced mis-identified species and helped detect additional species post-survey, hence reducing the classification errors of species detections in the field. We found photography to be especially useful for taxa we are least familiar with, distant animals, birds in flight, and species that are challenging to identify. Here, we also make recommendations for camera gear and accessories, camera settings, and tips for photographing wildlife during surveys.

Noriko is a Southern California based wildlife ecologist focused on urban ecology, avian ecology, and habitat conservation. She works in affiliation with Dr. K. Shawn Smallwood, wildlife ecologist. Noriko received her master’s degree in Environmental Science from Cal State Los Angeles where she studied the benefits of native plant landscaping to avifauna. Noriko has multiple years of experience conducting habitat assessments, special status species surveys, general biological surveys, construction monitoring, and conducting research related to wildlife conservation. She is also a photographer and values integrating wildlife photography into her work.