How are the photographs from park wildlife cameras analyzed?
The process for reviewing photographs depends on the type of camera used. Early cameras produced video and required reviewing the images through the camera. Newer cameras produce digital images which can be reviewed on a computer. Cameras at the Drakes Estero monitoring sites are directed at sand bars where the seals are most likely to haul out and can be programmed to take pictures from one per minute to one per day. Higher frequency photography is useful for detecting subtle or sudden changes in seal presence and abundance, for example those caused by tides or disturbance. Cameras programmed in this way can produce thousands of images, all requiring subsequent review. Field personnel periodically collect data, concurrent with camera deployment, to verify that the cameras are accurate.
