Ecology and bat surveying

Nightfox devices use digital night vision technology. The infrared LEDs at the front emit light that is invisible to the naked eye but detected by the camera sensor, which displays the image on the built-in screen. This lets you observe animals in complete darkness without disturbing them. Animal eyes reflect infrared light, making eyeshine easy to spot even at distance. For longer ranges, you can boost performance with an external infrared torch.

It depends on how you're surveying. For static survey points, we recommend either the Nightfox Whisker or the Nightfox Nova. The Nova was designed with ecologists in mind and offers a wider field of view than the Whisker (55° as standard, expandable to 70° with the included wide-angle lens) making it well suited to bat detection work where coverage matters. It also features HDMI output and a microphone jack, so you can connect a bat detector and record audio alongside your footage. Both the Whisker and Nova support tripod mounting. If you need to walk transects and want your hands free, the Nightfox Swift 2 Pro is a good alternative; it's head-worn and suited to mobile surveying, though with slightly shorter range.

Our IR torches and built-in LEDs come in two wavelengths. 850nm offers better range and performance but produces a faint visible red glow. 940nm reduces that glow to near zero, at a range cost of around 20%, making it the more conservative choice for sensitive surveys. Note that 940nm light often appears slightly purple on the screen of Nightfox devices; this is a screen artefact and not a real-world colour. We have not received reports of bats being disturbed by the 850nm glow, but if your survey methodology requires minimal light disturbance, 940nm is the safer option.

The two main options are an infrared torch or a floodlight. A torch such as the Nightfox XB5 Pro is handheld and suits mobile use. The Nightfox Arc is a floodlight designed to be placed on the ground in a fixed location, making it ideal for illuminating a wide area during static surveys. The right choice depends on whether you're walking or stationary.

We also sell waterproof clipboards under our sister brand Paperdry, particularly useful during dawn/dusk surveys or in wet conditions when keeping your notes dry matters.

It depends mainly on how you'll be surveying. For static work, the Nova is our most ecology-focused device: its wide FOV, HDMI output and microphone jack make it a strong choice for bat surveyors in particular. The Whisker is a solid alternative if you need optical zoom without the Nova's additional features. For walking transects, the head-worn Swift 2 Pro keeps your hands free. If your situation doesn't fit neatly into either, our customer service team are happy to give tailored advice.