black ash

When setting up an AI camera to capture the Black Ash, focus on the unique texture of its bark and the base of the trunk. Because this tree grows in wet, boggy environments, standard ground stakes may not be stable. Use a tree mount or a specialized tripod designed for soft mud. Position the camera at chest height to capture the 'corky' bark texture, which is a primary identification feature. If your camera has a macro or close-up setting, use it to document the dark, soot-colored buds during late winter, as these are very distinctive for the species.

To photograph the wildlife that interacts with the Black Ash, aim your lens at the lower trunk or the water-filled depressions at its roots. These 'micro-pools' often attract amphibians like wood frogs or spotted salamanders. During late summer, when the winged samaras (seeds) are ripening, consider angling a camera toward the lower canopy. This is a great way to capture wood ducks or squirrels that visit the tree specifically to forage on the seeds.

Because the Black Ash is under threat from the Emerald Ash Borer, your camera can serve as a vital monitoring tool. Set your camera to high-sensitivity motion detection to capture 'blondeing' behavior—where woodpeckers vigorously strip the outer bark to reach beetle larvae. This bark-stripping creates a bright patch that is easily visible on camera. Recording these interactions helps researchers track the spread of the borer and the health of the local tree population.

Lighting in swamps can be tricky due to the dense canopy. For the best results, use a camera with a high-quality infrared (IR) flash for nighttime shots of nocturnal visitors like raccoons or opossums that use the tree for shelter. During the day, aim for the golden hours of morning or late afternoon when the sun hits the light-gray bark, making it pop against the darker background of the wetland.