A simple trail camera modification reveals red-bellied woodpeckers as important egg predators of box-nesting wood ducks

Summary: This study introduces a method using off-the-shelf trail cameras to monitor nest boxes in research on cavity-dwelling animals. The cameras can record photographs and videos in daylight and darkness, and can be triggered by activity or set to record sequentially within a given time lapse. The study demonstrates that this method is more efficient and accurate compared to traditional nest box checks for obtaining data on egg laying and hatching timings. Trail cameras are affordable and convenient tools for monitoring artificial cavities and a wide variety of behaviors in different animal taxa.