A live stream on YouTube captures a remarkable moment: a young cahow, or Bermuda petrel, emerges from its sandy burrow beneath the surface for the first time. This tiny bird, still covered in gray down, has spent its early months in darkness, buried up to 15 feet underground. Under the cover of night, it stretches its wings atop a cliff and takes its first flight into the vast sky, which can extend from three to five years without returning to land. While it may take brief rests on the water, it will travel great distances across the Atlantic, even sleeping in mid-air. If it survives, it will eventually return to this same island, sometimes landing mere feet from its original nest.
For a long time, the existence of this unique species was a mystery. Once believed to be extinct, the cahow, now recognized as Bermuda’s national bird, was rediscovered in the 1950s, yet much of its nocturnal life remained unknown. This changed when a Bermudian conservationist decided to use DIY electronics to create some of the first livestreaming bird cameras, illuminating the unseen existence of this critically endangered species.
Today, Nonsuch Island is a vital sanctuary for the cahow, hosting the only known breeding ground for this species. This protected area spans 15 acres and is home to over 186 breeding pairs. Jeremy Madeiros, the warden of Bermuda’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources, plays a crucial role, involved in tasks such as monitoring nests, banding chicks, and collecting vital health data. Over the past two decades, filmmaker Jean-Pierre Rouja has chronicled the conservation efforts of the Bermuda petrel, utilizing innovative technology in these endeavors while serving as the lens capturing the ongoing successes.
Cue the cahow cam
Rouja, who grew up observing the rejuvenation of Nonsuch Island, decided in 2005 to craft a documentary about the cahow’s recovery. However, he encountered significant challenges due to the birds’ underground habitats. “They’re in dark, man-made burrows,” he explains, noting the difficulty of filming without disturbing the birds. Conventional methods were simply not viable, so by 2010, he took matters into his own hands to create the necessary camera technology.
Determined to overcome these hurdles, Rouja taught himself to create a customized camera system that could operate efficiently in low-light conditions. His goal was to develop modular, waterproof cameras that could function autonomously at night without disturbing the birds. Utilizing online communities focused on hacking GoPro cameras, he began developing devices that would meet his specifications while remaining affordable.
In 2011, Rouja and Madeiros launched one of the first 24/7 wildlife livestream cameras, which became a hit among avian enthusiasts. They cleverly integrated the cameras into four-inch PVC pipes embedded in artificial burrows, allowing for unobtrusive observation.
Unlike traditional wildlife cameras, which often illuminate and disturb their subjects, Rouja’s system ensures natural behaviors are preserved, capturing movements and interactions vividly even in the dark.
Collaborating with Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the initiative has amassed over 40 million minutes of viewership, significantly raising awareness about the cahow.
The cahow cams have engaged a global audience while also providing essential data for research. These birds are notoriously difficult to study, and the ability to film them continuously helps the team validate existing theories about their behavior and even uncover new insights.
Madeiros regularly travels to Nonsuch Island, but the cameras capture everything that occurs in between. Observations have ranged from a storm petrel that has become a curious visitor to unexpected interactions with one of the world’s rarest lizards, the Bermuda skink. Last fall, the cameras even documented a surprising instance of infidelity among the cahows, revealing dynamics previously unknown.
Rethinking the cost of conservation tech
Rouja views the efforts on Nonsuch as a blueprint for the future of conservation technology. He aims to refine tools that could be implemented in various settings worldwide.
Traditional field equipment used for wildlife tracking often comes with steep costs — sometimes exceeding $20,000. For many conservation projects, these prices make research infeasible. Rouja emphasizes the need for readily replacable gear for marine environments where equipment is frequently lost. He believes many of these technologies can be developed for a fraction of the cost.
“We’re using Bermuda as a proof of concept to ensure these technologies function effectively before broader implementation,” he states.
The original cahow cameras have established a model for future applications. Rouja encourages conservationists worldwide to utilize his designs for monitoring other ground-nesting species. Upcoming projects in Hawaii may further expand these advancements.
As a cofounder of the blue tech facility Station B, Rouja collaborates with esteemed institutions to develop and enhance marine sensor technologies. He hopes to ensure that emerging tools for conservation and research will be accessible for widespread use.
With the potential introduction of invasive species like rats during critical nesting periods, the team is also pioneering AI-powered monitoring systems. These advancements hope to automate detection of threats, enhancing the protection of the fragile cahow population.
Ultimately, Rouja sees the cahow project as a catalyst for broader conservation tech implementation. “We aim to scale these technologies based on our findings on Bermuda as a model,” he concludes.
As the latest cahow hatching season approaches, multiple cameras will provide 4K HD coverage, continuing to follow the journey of this extraordinary species toward recovery.
