quest for high-res night images of owls using near-IR - need help with equipment

[djowl]

Dear colleagues, I am an owl researcher wanting to purchase photo equipment for taking high-resolution, night-time images of owls using near-IR. The camera & related equipment will be positioned in remote field locations, using solar-powered deep-cell batteries as the power source. Camera shutter must be quiet as it will be positioned in owl nest sites (about 40 cm from the owls). Can use near-IR flash or near-IR light source. No regular flash to be used to avoid disturbance to the owls. No 110 or 220 volt electricity available. Would prefer intervalometer settings over running video (because of battery power drawdown). Project is global in scale, and will be working with rare/threatened species in several locations each year. Photography used to understand basic ecological aspects of very poorly-known owls, particularly nesting and dietary aspects. This project is focused on applying photographic technology to aid in owl conservation. Thank you so very much for your help and insights about the kind(s) of equipment (i.e., camera, lens, filters, light source, power supply) needed for this effort. David