Lesser Snipes: Secret winter visitors captured by a thermal imaging camera
During the winter of 2024/25, we had the opportunity to observe little snipes more closely on two waterlogged fields in the Leimental, on the border between Switzerland and France. We used two methods that complemented each other perfectly: a thermal imaging camera and several photo and video traps. This combination provided significantly more insights than would have been possible with a single method.
The recordings showed that the little snipes were present in the area throughout the winter. At times, up to twelve individuals were present simultaneously within an area of just around 1.8 hectares. Even during prolonged cold spells with snow and frozen ground, they did not leave the area. Their pronounced nocturnal activity was striking. During the day, they generally remained motionless in the same spot. It was only after dark that they foraged for food in damp, muddy areas. In doing so, they moved much more nimbly and actively than observations during the day would suggest. Short hopping movements and vocalisations between several individuals were also regularly recorded. By contrast, the bobbing motion familiar from daytime observations was scarcely visible at night.
Some videos of their nocturnal behaviour can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqs--K3l44RX8hlkcwrOf7bhdRgOjESOO
The findings regarding their resting places were at least as fascinating. During the day, the little snipes preferred to stay in areas with particularly dense cover and damp patches of ground. These are also the spots that remain ice-free for the longest during prolonged periods of frost. Without a thermal imaging camera, they would have been almost impossible to spot here.
The study demonstrates the potential of modern technologies for researching elusive species. Whilst the thermal imaging camera helped to locate the birds in the first place and to document their presence, including the number of individuals, the camera traps provided the crucial details regarding their behaviour. It was only the combination of both methods that provided an unusually comprehensive insight into the winter life of the jack snipe and led to a significant gain in knowledge about a species that normally eludes observation to a large extent. It also became clear just how important small wetlands in agricultural land can be for rare species. A combination of open, muddy ground, shallow waterholes and dense vegetation providing cover proved crucial. Such habitats have become rare in many places and remain under pressure.
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