Researchers from CREAF, CEAB-CSIC, and IBE (CSIC-UPF) have developed an innovative system that enables continuous and autonomous study of the behavior and ecology of wild animals in places without access to electricity. The low-cost device uses several synchronized Raspberry Pi microcomputers powered by solar energy, each equipped with a camera and other affordable sensors. The methodology has been validated over three breeding seasons of the western jackdaw in Lleida, a species that is threatened in this region. Thanks to its open and modular design, the system can be applied to several areas of ecology that require synchronizing multiple observation points.
Studying the behavior of wildlife in remote areas is a complex task, particularly due to the lack of access to electricity and the logistical challenges that prevent continuous monitoring. Installing cameras, changing their memory cards and batteries, and manually processing large amounts of images is expensive and very slow. Now, a research team from the Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF), the Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE: CSIC-UPF) has developed an innovative system that transforms the way wildlife is studied in the field.
This is a modular, low-cost device powered by solar energy, which uses multiple synchronized Raspberry Pi microcomputers, each equipped with low-consumption cameras and sensors. This technology makes it possible to monitor animal behavior autonomously and simultaneously across multiple observation points, recording data continuously and reliably throughout the day and for extended periods. In addition, the system allows control of multiple accessories, such as cameras, temperature sensors, infrared LED lights, and others.
“This new system allows us to quantify the behavior of several animals at the same time with a temporal resolution that, until now, was impossible to achieve,” explains Marçal Pou-Rossell, CREAF researcher and lead author of the study.
Validation during western jackdaw monitoring
The methodology is described in a recent study published in the journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution and has been validated as part of a long-term project on the evolutionary ecology of the western jackdaw (Corvus monedula) in the Plana de Lleida. For four consecutive months, the microcomputers recorded video footage inside 14 nest boxes, from sunrise to sunset without interruption.
The thousands of generated images were processed using artificial intelligence algorithms, which enabled automated extraction of key information on parental care behaviors of this species during the entire breeding season. These behaviors include nest-building effort, incubation, and chick feeding, as well as the coordination of these activities between mates and other pairs in the same colony.
Low-cost and accessible technology for research
With a total cost slightly above €2,000—including solar panels, batteries, and all electronic components—the system represents a much more affordable alternative compared to current commercial solutions. Moreover, its open and modular design offers great flexibility to adapt to the specific needs of each study and to incorporate a wide variety of sensors, motors, controllers, and other accessories.
This versatility allows the system to be used for studying a wide range of ecological questions, from those related to animal behavior to those concerning environmental factors across multiple observation points. “It is a powerful example of how open-source electronics and new technologies can transform research in biology and ecology. Even with limited budgets, it is possible to develop robust, field-ready tools to address big questions about species ecology,” says Jolle W. Jolles, CEAB-CSIC researcher and co-author of the study.
Beyond behavior: conservation and evolution
The research is part of the COGPOP project, which aims to understand how the decisions made by animals influence their demography and evolution. The project seeks to integrate animal behavior into life-history theory, providing a more comprehensive view of how organisms adapt to changing environments.
With the new monitoring system, this advancement adds to a broader effort to conserve the western jackdaw in the Plana de Lleida, a species that, although common in other parts of Europe, is in local decline. Since 2015, the monitoring program has generated valuable data on how these birds make decisions in changing environmental contexts.
“We still do not fully understand how animal decision-making affects their ability to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes to the next generation,” explains Daniel Sol, CSIC researcher at CREAF and project leader. However, he points out that “We suspect that some decisions, such as the level of parental involvement in chick care, can have a profound impact on population demography and even shape its evolutionary trajectory as environmental conditions change.”
