Bearded Vulture nest monitoring, Alps. 2020
Real-time remote video monitoring station at a bearded vulture nest in Val Martello – Stelvio National Park, Italy
In late summer 2020, we were commissioned with a new task: to video monitor a well-known bearded vulture nest in Val Martello – Martelltal, Italy.
Back in 2008, the nest was already located in a challenging and hostile environment, on the northern slope of the mountain at about 2000 meters above sea level. The question then, as now, was:
“Is it possible to install a system in high mountains, in a shaded area facing north, with harsh winters and heavy snowfall (over 5 meters of snow fell during the winter of 2020–2021)?”
Planning
Since the site was described as:
- REMOTE: we decided to use a digital Hyperlan connection, with one or two “signal bounces” to overcome obstacles and cover the distance.
- COVERED BY TREES: we used an oceanographic cable, together with two Ethernet extenders, to carry the signal out of the wooded area to a point more favorable for transmission.
- SNOWY: we are in high mountains, so of course there is snow. We installed a photovoltaic system with a tilt greater than optimal, to help snow slide off the panels.
- COLD: we chose electronic components certified to operate down to -35°C, to ensure functionality even during the harshest winters.
- NORTH-FACING: sigh… really? The north-facing exposure, which drastically limits photovoltaic efficiency, turned out to be the most important technical constraint of the whole installation.
