HD Sound Lure Interaction - Possum Sounds

Over the weekend we have begun the important phase of testing the sound lure, but operating with an HD camera to record the interaction between the Brush Tailed possum and the sound lure.  It was previously suggested that the sound lure could potentially be acting as a deterrent to pest animals and instead of attracting them as intended could be causing them to avoid the area.

In the last week we used a unit which had a generic sound profile - this evidence suggested that the animals were non-plussed by the unit activating when they were in the area, particularly if they were feeding, as shown in various videos posted on this blog.

We are using for testing purposes a unit that has been deployed constantly now for two years (that is two years out exposed to the environment).   The unit has the standard five track set up, in that it is playing one of five random tracks at a one minute interval.   The unit is solar powered and is controlled via the same computer chip and MP3 player from two years ago.   The sounds that are being used have come from youtube, that is they were sourced from random brush tailed possum sounds that are freely available (and were prepared by students during the project last year).   

For the purpose of testing we placed the sound lure next to the existing stoat box.   We placed the sound lure inside a rat box which we then adjusted by blocking out the back, so that it was not visible for a possum to check directly inside the box.    There were some additional food that was placed next to the trap, carrots, as the key issue that was to be identified here was not to catch possums but to see what interaction would occur between possums and the lure.

Finally I would like to personally acknowledge the work on the project from Andrew Hornblow in Opunake who is responsible for the electronics for the project.  It has been and continues to be immense.   I would also like to make it clear that this project officially ending very soon - I am not personally, nor have I ever been a full time researcher on this project and it has been conducted in my spare time.  It would not have happened with the support of the Curious Minds Project from Venture Taranaki.   When that project concludes shortly the funding for the project will not continue (for instance we have a single tracking camera remaining from our outlay of five and are having to bring it in if there is a hint of rain in the area is case that it damaged by moisture).

A final reminder - this is a single nights activity we going to continue to monitor the effectiveness of the units and the sound interactions moving forward in a limited capacity.

The key question was - was the sound lure causing animals to avoid the area where it was operating.   

The answer, and I believe that we have the starting to compile evidence to back that up, is no.   

For the during of the evening at the location we have six specific possum visits starting at 9:30pm and concluding at 1:40am.   There were visits at 9:30pm (possum and baby) which appeared to return at 10:15pm.     There was a male present at the site at 10:06pm and a seperate male (which was clearly darker in colour) which appeared at 12:35am and returned repeatedly to the site between 12:35am and 1:40am.   There was a lone appearance on the tree with the camera on it which took place at 12:01am and it was impossible to see the possum other than its whiskers and fur.

There were thirty nine activations in total representing a twenty second video and while some are in sequence others are not with a break in between.  We saw what we would consider typical possum behaviour including the wrecking of the site and the sound lure box (which was dragged down the bank when it was operating) possums spending considerable time at the site when we know that the lure was operating (including a large male present from 1:20am until 1:40am which did not leave). 

We have a mountain of footage to work through, including interaction with the lure which we will process and post shortly.  Given the mountain of the footage that is being generated we will look at using specific highlights rather than posting the entire footage.