Video surveillance is not limited to security. For some users of Axis hardware, network cameras have become an essential part of environmental research, conservation, and public engagement required to keep wildlife and nature thriving. From live-streaming rare birds to supporting long-term monitoring of critical species, Axis technology helps create observation without intrusion – and opens a vital connection to the wonders and beauty of the natural world.
Wild conditions, rare wildlife
The Cumbria Wildlife Trust, based in the north of England, is dedicated to protecting and restoring wildlife habitats. One key project in the Trust’s quiver is the restoration of Foulshaw Moss, a large peat bog damaged by post-war tree planting. The area has now been returned to its natural peatland state, though Cumbria Wildlife Trust left one or two dead trees standing – the perfect habitat for the return of the once locally-extinct osprey.
With support from Axis, a remote surveillance solution was put in place to monitor the birds and share their story with the public. There were technical challenges, a lack of power and internet connectivity at the ospreys’ nest site and harsh exposed conditions primary amongst them. But by laying over 2.5 kilometres of cable and employing weather-resistant Axis hardware, the team was able to install a mix of PTZ and fixed cameras for observation and public engagement.
Running third-party application CamStreamer directly on the camera, the cameras now livestream to the Trust’s website and YouTube, enabling researchers and viewers alike to track osprey behaviour from egg laying to fledging, generating important ecological data and engaging thousands of viewers.
You can read the latest updates on Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Foulshaw Moss in the full customer story:
Supporting conservation as resurgent ospreys in England cause flutter of excitement
Making the inaccessible accessible
While Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s monitoring project is partly designed to keep visitor disturbance to a minimum for the nesting birds, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales had little option but to monitor the island of Skomer from afar. Treacherous terrain and restricted access means it is very challenging for some to visit the island’s huge and delightful population of puffins and Manx shearwaters, making camera connectivity a critical part of the island’s accessibility.
Axis partner and rural broadband expert Dragon WiFi built an innovative solution to connect an AXIS Q6315-LE PTZ camera and a P14-series bullet camera from the off-grid island to the mainland, sending footage over two miles through a bandwidth-limited wireless link – but thanks to the compression technology of Axis Zipstream, that footage arrives at Skomer’s visitor centre in high quality. The Trust’s cameras now allow it to study the birds at close quarters, while also livestreaming the island’s wildlife to the screens of people across the world which is important for those that might not be able to visit in person.
Find out more about the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales efforts on Skomer Island here.
Generating broadcast-quality footage
At a nature reserve near Tønsberg, Norway, Axis technology has allowed BirdLife Norge avdeling Vestfold to transform its long-running ornithology project. Replacing an aging camera setup with an AXIS Q8685-LE PTZ network camera installed by Axis partner Nokas Teknikk Sør, the Vestfold branch is able to stream its footage directly to YouTube as well as archiving it for scientific study.
The project has already yielded valuable discoveries, such as the nocturnal hunting habits of grey herons, and serves as a vital tool for education, public engagement, and conservation research. With over 280 bird species recorded in the area, the video stream proved such a success that it formed the core material of a wildlife film, ‘Et Øye i Naturen’, or ‘An Eye on Nature’. BirdLife Norge describes the Axis solution as “vastly improved,” over its previous camera setup, offering secure, reliable, and high-quality footage that supports both scientific understanding and wider public awareness.
Discover more about the Axis cameras supporting BirdLife Norge avdeling Vestfold here – and watch the organisation’s film, featuring Axis camera footage, here.
Insights through observation
While these projects may not require advanced analytics, they reflect a growing trend for Axis technology to support broader projects with insights with no related security factor. Whether used in extreme locations or remote environments, Axis technology provides reliable and detailed data for those that need it, whether for research, education, or public storytelling.
The success of projects like these proves that thought and innovation is all it takes for surveillance technology to make a significant impact on the way we understand and protect the natural world – by bringing wildlife into homes, schools, and labs, Axis is helping reveal life as it happens.
