Whether it’s furry, flying or far away, it doesn’t always have to go on the BBQ – here’s everything you need to be a techy twitcher without turning your visitors into lunch
PRO TIPS
Animal-spying pointers from Billy Heaney, zoologist and nature presenter (billyheaney.co.uk)
1 BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE
Don’t focus on getting all of the garden in shot; experiment with different locations. Find out what’s sneaking in and out of that hole in your fence, or what’s using your pond.
2 BE THE BADGER
Once you’ve got it set up, do a test to make sure you’ve got your angles right and the camera’s pointing exactly where you want. Walk (or crawl) past it.
3 BE A MASTER BAITER
Springwatch often use snacks to attract animals… but don’t feed them crap. Use foods they would naturally come across, and be careful not to encourage unnatural behaviour.