I started with bioacoustics in 2014 as a new method for monitoring and researching owls and other hidden creatures. My aim was to study tawny owls (Strix aluco) and their distribution of territories and the relationship to forest structure. Bioacoustics or acoustic monitoring (a name used in Czechia and Slovakia) gained increasing popularity among ornithologists at this time. However, the main limitation was that only a few audio recorders were appropriate for this kind of use. Some of them had good quality recordings, but they cost a lot for a massive application in field research. Almost all of them did not offer automatic recording (with a timer). This was the main obstacle to serious study. Companies such as Wildlife Acoustics or Anabat had quality devices, but their price was much higher than small recorders from companies such as Olympus or Sony. And then came Audiomoth. Audiomoth is a small, fully automatic audio recorder capable of recording not only birds but also bats and other creatures using acoustic signals. I used it in many projects for research on owls, bats and the acoustic diversity of various habitat types. Although it is a valuable tool, it is not perfect. Here I would like to summarise some weaknesses and techniques how to avoid them or minimize them.
-
Both (red and green) LEDs are lit
Try to remove the card and clean it with a dry piece of soft fabric. Check the recording with the default mode. If the problem persists, repeat cleaning. -
The recorder recorded only noise without calls of animals
This issue represents a damaged microphone. You can try to substitute it or to buy a new device. -
Some LEDs are not lit
Sometimes, LEDs are not functional, but the device can record the sound. You have to try recording before installation in the field. -
The recorder has rust on contacts
Sometimes, during placement in a wet environment, rust can be visible on contacts with batteries. Try to remove the rust manually and/or with a special preparation.
These are common issues that I am familiar with. Audiomoth is a very nice piece of electronics, but I lost due to weather or technical issues +- 5-10% of all recorders each season. It is not a robust recorder. Thus, it is important to test the devices before conducting research or field monitoring. ```
:------. .-::::::-::-::--::::--==--#
:--=---...:-=------==========+=========-=+=*=.=:.-.-=.=. =:-.
.-==+===....+===+===+====++++=:+++=+==+==..:=+.=-:=-==.=-.=:-.
.====++=-:-:=+++++++++++++++++.++++++++*==+++=+-+-++=-==++==-.
:+++++*++=*+++++++++++++++++++++*+++++++++++++=++-++++++++=++.
:++++++++++=+.....*++++++++:....+++++++++=....:++++*++++:%.=*.
-+++++++++++:.....+++******....-***++**=++...::++++**+++*++++.
-++++++++++......**********.....******-+*:.:::++**+***++++*++.
-++++*..........**********....:+*=+**#***.:.:.****#+*********.
+++***........***********=.::..#*****#**+.::::**+*#**********:
******.....++************:.:..*#*****#**.::::**=+*==*********-
***********************=...:.**#*****#*::::::****************-
#*************+*******.....:+**#*****#+.:::.*************%=%#-
#*******************:......******+***#:::::***************@%#=
#*****************.....::=**********=.::::*=*****************-
#*******+==+=++..:.:....+**+*****#*::.::.**##*++#=.++++-:@#:.*
#******=-:...........=***********%.:::::**#******#************
******..........:.:#**#*******##=::.:..****#*****#********#***
******........:**#*#**#****##**:..:::=*****+*****#************
******####*****#*#****#*#*##=.:::::.##**##*****##=:****=-*#.:#
-+##+#*.****##***#****#*##.::::::.##*#*#*#**#***#*+*****+*#**#
*==:%###-##**###*#*#*#%:...::::.##***##*-:.:=:.=--+=%#**=****#
*####*#*.*#########::::::::-:-####**###*##=+=========+*#*****#
:+*#=########:.:::::::::::.###########%#.::::::::::::::*******
#=+*##::::::::::::::-:.+###+=-##=*###=*#:::::::::::::::+******
######.::::::::::.=######-###==##-:-##*#::::::::+::::::+******
#%####....:+###########=*###=###-##%##%#.::::::::::::::+*-**#*
#=#=##################%#################%.::::.::..:.-=%--%*#*
+###################+ .-+++==--===---===+++++*+=-
``