I was down on my hands and knees positioning the house which was a bit awkward, as I'd put doorstops as feet at each corner for when it sat on the paving slab under the azaleas. I'd only two bricks so only one foot would fit on each. I had to position it so rain would run off the roof away from the sleeping area. It looks a bit precarious, but it's quite secure. "Whilst I was down there," I cleared the whole bed of dying bluebells.
It looks quite smart now. That little beast doesn’t know how good he’s got it. My bluebell nightmare will begin in about a week. Then it will be time for the Allium ursinum.
The second hedgehog house had a visitor last night. An unwelcome one! It tried to get its fat head in the entrance. At the moment the house is still vacant. So I used the "porch" I made for the hedgehog feeder which is presently not in use. Where 'arry was all, "Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner!" Hetti turned her nose up at cat food even when I put the dish outside her door. The bit of stirling board screwed to the top will also keep any rain off the entrance. The other house has an oversize roof so that's OK. Hetti didn't wander far from her house last night and had an early night after clearing the pellets provided. She started earlier, just after 9.00pm. The definition of the videos is very good. She did quite a bit of scratching, but I couldn't see any ticks on her.
There were only four photos/videos on both cameras. The one near the back fence showed a hedgehog visiting the new house. Both lots of images were from around 10.00pm. There would have been a lot more activity that was unrecorded. So there's a problem with both cameras, both are indicating "low battery" but both have six volt adapters plugged into them. So why did they stop working? Both have 5mtr leads to a 6v power supply, so maybe the resistance of the cables are dropping the voltage enough to make the cameras select the batteries? Anyway, I bought some Duracell batteries today eighteen quid for the sixteen needed. They are in now, as well as the adapter leads, I'd previously cleaned their connectors with fine wire wool. The indicators show the batteries as full charge. I've checked all the settings again and formatted the SD cards, so we should be good to go. I've -mailed "Apeman" service department and explained the situation. I want to know if I'm wasting my time with these six volt adapters.
Well, the new batteries did the trick, there were 80 photos and videos of Hetti around her house from 9.30 pm until she went indoors for the last time at 4.45am. She did go in and out a few times, never going far from the camera, as if she felt the need to keep checking on her home. She did go through the gap in the wire fence to presumably get a drink of water from the bowl that's on a small slab of stone just outside the fence. I keep it there, as if it were on the ground in front of her house she'd tip it over, like she does her food bowl every night, she's that clumsy. She doesn't seem interested in patrolling the rest of the garden. She must find enough food between that in the bowl and the bird feeder to the left of the house, out of range of the camera. Keeping an eye out here at 2.30am. She is looking quite "porky." The other camera picked up 8 images and videos between half ten and 3.45am. Must be a different hedgehog as a couple of photos were within three seconds of those on the other camera. I think it's still at the "inspection stage" for this one as the last image is of it wandering off. I've received a rapid response from the support dept. of the trail cameras, asking some questions and offering advice. She said the cameras should work with a low battery strength, if they've adapters plugged in, but didn't seem to understand that the length of cables might cause a slight drop in voltage causing them not to work. I've asked her to try to get more information.
I like your commentary along with the pics. It makes the thread more interesting. I do wonder what the real story is on the camera and lines though. You know, I once had a trail cam from Aldi. It worked like a charm for one year then it began to be seriously affected by cold and moisture. It held a large number of batteries, things became expensive so I stopped. The warranty had expired and I was left with cooked pears, as we say. Recently we have again begun discussions about getting another cam. It is one reason that I watch your cam thread, I also want to hear about your practical experiences. Pac also uses a certain type of cam which is available here to my surprise. Anyway, keep up the hedgehog chronicle. I am really enjoying it.
I have an adapter that powers a bit of kit connected to an iPod that plays selections on my jukebox wall boxes through my hi-fi. It doesn't matter if the iPod batteries are dead the adapter supplies the necessary voltage. So I find it hard to understand why it doesn't work with the trail cams, unless there is a voltage drop with the length of cable. I'm waiting for more information from the supplier. As cameras, they work particularly well. The lens does mist up a bit on damp cold nights, but then clears, but for most of the time they work faultlessly. The seals keep water out extremely well.
It was a golf and shopping day today, so no gardening. Checked the cameras. Hetti had gone about her business, but between appearances on the camera, the pesky cat had somehow forced its way in behind the mesh fence. # It didn't do anything, I guess it was just curious, but I don't need it. Nor I suspect does Hetti. I've, "strengthened the defences."
