A centralised multi‐unit recording system for automated, off‐grid animal observation and environmental monitoring

Automated monitoring is transforming ecological and behavioural research by enabling accurate, long‐term data collection and processing with minimal intervention—especially in remote or logistically challenging environments. However, monitoring multiple organisms or sites simultaneously poses substantial logistical hurdles, including the need to coordinate, optimise and verify the performance of numerous monitoring units. We present a flexible, centralised approach for multi‐unit monitoring based on single‐board computers. Unlike conventional systems that rely on replicated, independent units, our design uses a parent–child configuration to coordinate autonomous data collection, synchronisation and power management. The parent unit allows for remote control of all child units while maintaining the ability to configure each one individually. We outline the core principles of this centralised multi‐unit system and discuss key challenges and considerations. As a proof of concept, we deployed a centralised system to simultaneously monitor 14 nests of a colonial bird—the Jackdaw Corvus monedula —throughout the breeding cycle. Over 4 months, the system autonomously collected high‐resolution, second‐by‐second data from multiple nests with minimal intervention. Using a deep‐learning‐based computer vision pipeline, we extracted detailed behavioural metrics on parental effort and coordination, showcasing the system's capacity to generate rich, fine‐scale data. By integrating centralised control, efficient power management and remote data handling, our open‐source, low‐cost approach offers a versatile and robust solution for continuous, non‐invasive field monitoring in both accessible and remote areas. It is adaptable to a wide range of ecological applications, from monitoring long‐term forest canopy dynamics to analysing fine‐scale animal behaviour. To facilitate replication and adaptation, we provide full documentation for system setup, configuration and data processing.