Acoustic Microphone Pole

2 version available; 24' and 30' tall

For short term passive monitoring: 30' telescoping pole. Bring consistency to your microphone deployments with this telescoping aluminum pole, and microsite your station exactly where you want it for best recording quality. Each section locks in place with a lever up to 30' high, but collapses to 7' so you can clear out the cobwebs without de-rigging guy ropes at temporary or short-term monitoring stations. Includes a pivoting attachment which helps put your microphone at any angle desired. Easily can hold multiple microphones from Pettersson, Binary Acoustics, and Wildlife Acoustics (the microphone, not the detector!).

30' Size: 7'x2'' collapsed; 30' extended. Weight: 5 lbs.

24' Size: 6'x1.5'' collapsed; 24' extended. Weight: 4 lbs.

How to mount your microphone: because no microphone is the same, there is no bracket of sorts that connects your microphone to this pole. Every solution we have seen restricts field placement in some way, is not compatible with various makes, or is just ridiculously expensive. Most brackets likely combine all three characteristics. For surveys lasting a few nights, use rubber bands to put the microphone however you need it positioned. For longer deployments, rubber coated landscaping wire in 3' sections are great, doesn't leave residue, doesn't need tools, and can serve double duty keeping wires organized in storage. It can even be used to mount certain detectors. If the landscape wire is not handy, we have never -ever- had a microphone placement fail when wrapped with simple electrical tape. Use Scotch Super 33 or equivalent to reduce or eliminate sticky residue due to the adhesive "melting" in the heat. Zip ties aren't as useful; they never quite hold microphones in one place, are single use, and require snips to remove.

How to mount the pole: Use a small tree, large bush, fencepost, or other suitable "sticky up thing" on the landscape and secure with a short rope near the base and also above head height. A heavy duty 6' garden stake can be used as well, if properly placed into the ground. Additional guy ropes aren't necessary but might be a good idea if you are leaving the station for weeks. See the accompanying deployment photos.