Luke Quarles
- @lukequar
- | he/him
Background: I am hoping to get some advice on mounting AudioMoth recorders (in waterproof cases). I am trying to collect acoustic data from slow lorises (both sonic and ultrasonic calls) because I am interested in building a vocal repertoire for my study species. I am planning to mount AudioMoths in a National Park in Thailand and some of them will be easiest to mount on metal viewing towers where the project already has temperature loggers. To my knowledge the towers to do not make a lot of noise on their own.
Query: Does anyone have experience attaching AudioMoths to metal structures? I worry it would amplify both abiotic and biotic sounds and potentially mask vocalizations. It is my thought that I would have to pad the metal with something like foam to reduce this possibility.
Any and all information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much!
17 June 2024 4:36pm
I've usually only attached them to trees or wooden stakes... is it an open area without trees and that's why you need to use the towers?
18 June 2024 6:34pm
With any kind of structure or mooring, I'd generally think you'd want to run a test run and place a sound barrier between the structure and the device. I've used recycled carpet bedding or rubber pieces (1/4" or 3/8" should be fine, you can find rubber workout mats to cut up for pretty cheap) because of surface vibrations of resonance frequencies/static/echo's off the solid.
14 July 2024 4:59am
Hi Luke,
As Matthew has suggested, the best way is always to run a test run whenever you are doing something new. Put your recorders out for one or two days and see how they perform.
My only concern about metal structures is that they can make some noises on windy days. I think Matthew's suggestion of using a sound barrier can help, but you may still notice the sound in the recording. However, this may not be a big concern for your project, as I assume the noise from the tower will be in much lower frequency than the lorises.
Carly Batist