Topic: Rain Collector & Birds; Radiation Shield

[Phipps]

I'm new to weather stations and am getting mine set up and running. I have a WMR88A and have it set up and uploading to Weather Underground using Weather Tracker.

I do have a couple questions:

1) I am having problems with birds pooping in my rain collector! How do I help prevent this?

2) I'm having problems finding a good place for my temp sensor that doesn't get hit by sun at some point during the day. Does anyone have ideas for an inexpensive radiation shield?



Thanks,

Gary

[miraculon]

Gary,

Welcome to the WxForum.

There are a variety of commercial and home-made bird deterrents available. If you search the WxForum for bird spikes, you will find some. There have been some tie-wrap based solutions that the folks here have created.

Here is a commercially available one. http://www.ambientweather.com/amrainspike.html

Is the radiation shield for a stand-alone sensor or part of a module? The Davis 7714 is a good "passive" shield. I placed a "one-wire" sensor into the Davis 7714, so it doesn't have to be a Davis sensor. You have to check if your sensor can fit if it is a module.

http://www.davisnet.com/weather/products/weather_product.asp?pnum=07714

They can be found for less than this price on Davis' web site. (Rainmanweather, ScaledInstruments, etc.)



Greg

[Phipps]

Thanks for the reply. I will do some searching for the bird deterrent.

My temp sensor is a stand alone unit.

[Phipps]

Here is how I solved my bird droppings problem. Should I be concerned about any loss of accuracy?

[DanS]

A common bird deterrent is attaching a circle of nylon cable ties around the outside so they can't land on the rim.
You may get some splash using that screen and possibly slightly lower readings. Maybe drop in a small stainless sink strainer instead?

[Phipps]

I tried metal "bird spikes" but the metal blocked the signal from the collector to the base. I haven't tried zip ties.

I wondered about splash.

[CSB]

Works for me, Haven't had a problem since I installed this.

[CNYWeather]

I took some wire fencing with squares about 1/2", and wrapped it around the top of the rain collector.
Cut it so there are spikes sticking out the top, and havent had any of the sparrows on it. They were the biggest offenders.

[Phipps]

I tried making bird spikes but they were metal and blocked my signal.

I picked up a cheap strainer at the dollar store tonight. I cut off the outer frame and it fits down inside perfectly!