The camera is set to broadcast from 7 AM to 7 PM. There is no sound. There is no wiper on the camera, so if it is raining, that may be visible. It is run on solar power, so if it is dark and cloudy, the camera may be offline. At times the cellular connection may cause a few blips along the road.
It all started with an idea and an email in late 2015. Now retired board member Tom Crozier had long enjoyed the view of the Sandhill Cranes gathering at a bend in Pheasant Branch Creek from spring through late fall. “It’s a shame that most people who visit the Conservancy don’t have the opportunity to behold the spectacle or hear the cacophony of over 100 Sandhill Crane bugling over each other,” notes Crozier. Noting the area’s limited access, he had the idea of installing a video camera that would capture the scene and be shared online for all to enjoy.
“When we were approached with the idea of installing a streaming video camera in the Conservancy, we were interested,” says Kaya Freiman, an American Transmission Company (ATC) employee and resident of Middleton. “We have a transmission line in the Conservancy and are always looking to partner with organizations and municipalities on environmental stewardship projects.”
Ultimately, a plan to install the camera much closer to the bend in the creek on the edge of the marsh fell into place. Crozier worked hard on planning and eventually developed a proposal to the City of Middleton to install the pole and camera on their property. Crozier and Freiman presented the idea to the Conservancy Lands Committee, which gave provisional approval for the project.
After that, city staff became engaged in the project and ultimately a Memorandum of Understanding between ATC and the city was signed in early 2017. With this approval in place, a small group of ATC volunteers worked to identify the technology that would be used and a volunteer engineering contractor designed the pole installation. As installation time approached, the city also cleared a path for access to the site. Matt Amundson, Middleton Director of Public Lands, Recreation and Forestry, Mark Wegner, Middleton Assistant Director for Field Services/City Forester, Alder Susan West,Alder Howard Teal and Michael Warwick of ATC were instrumental in making this project happen.
The Friends board voted to formally endorse the project in February 2018. “Thanks to Tom and ATC for this wonderful addition to the Conservancy. It’s something everyone can enjoy.” says FOPBC president Lloyd Eagan.
The solar-powered, wireless streaming video camera was installed while the ground was still frozen in February, 2018. ATC contractors configured the camera setup and installed the pole over the course of a few hours while two environmental monitors, one from ATC and one from volunteer pole installation contractor Henkels & McCoy, were on site to oversee the installation.
“Sit back and enjoy nature’s wonder thanks to ATC,” said District 5 Alder Howard Teal, who also serves on the Conservancy Lands Committee.
By Kaya Freiman, American Transmission Company Corporate Communications and FOPBC member