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Miscellaneous Debris => Tech Corner => Topic started by: dupreezd on August 06, 2017, 10:30:23 AM

Title: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: dupreezd on August 06, 2017, 10:30:23 AM
I was going to post this under Ambient as this is what I have, but thought it might work on other weather station as well.

For I while now a bird has been using the wind vane as his personal lookout post, driving me crazy. So this morning I had enough. What can I do so the bird can not sit on the vane.

This is what I came up with. After removing the vane, I first checked where the balance point was.  Looked like it was just behind the round piece at the bottom of the vane.
I had some 14 gauge electric wire, so I used the ground wire (12") and rolled it between two pieces of wood to get it nice and straight. I then filed a notch in the tip of the vane and bend the wire to hook into the groove. Kept bending the wire up and around the back of the vane. I used aluminum duct foil to secure it at the back.
Balance was now to far to the back. I hot glued short pieces of copper wire on the inside of the front point until the balance point was back to where it was. Hot glue also secured the front of the wire.

I will post back if this works or not, hopefully it does.

Notch cut.
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Done
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Title: Re: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: WeatherHost on August 06, 2017, 10:39:23 AM
Looks like you gave it a much better perch.

Title: Re: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: dupreezd on August 06, 2017, 10:45:49 AM
I am hoping the wire is too thin for the bird to get a proper grip.
Title: Re: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: arrowspace90 on August 06, 2017, 01:25:03 PM
I saw a big, happy Mockingbird sitting on my wind vane this morning :-x
The nerve!!  Good thing the vane is offset from the rain bucket or he would be pooping in it.
Good thing the bucket itself is spiked!
And hey, I'm a big bird lover. 
Title: Re: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: Bashy on August 07, 2017, 12:53:56 AM
If they can land on mu guy lines than yours is too thick ;)

I tried a few approaches to this issue, i have tried Cable ties, they still perch on it, the only thing i found that acutally
works is this, you need a perch that is easier to land of above the anny, i have my davis and my os anny's on the mast
i ended up putting the OS above the davis and eve though the Davis is pointing north and the OS to the north west, the
birsd do not touch the davis any more, the OS is much easier for them.

If you can, buy another anny, does not have to be wired up, just needs a decent arm, i.e. a more favorable perch for them
and place it a few inches above, i will take a photo of mine in a  not, the Davis still has the cable ties on it lol
Title: Re: Wind vane "bird spike"
Post by: dupreezd on August 12, 2017, 11:37:05 AM
Looks like my mod is working.  \:D/
arrowspace90, yea same here, it is a Mockingbird. This morning I saw it stopping by to 'inspect' then flew off. Did not even try to sit on it. I guess it tried before.