Topic: No fear of bird spikes

[Jibster]

I added the Ecowitt Bird Spikes about three months ago, and I have been happy with it. I have several bird feeders in my yard, and the WH40 had become a frequent perch for those awaiting their turn at the feeder. So far, the birds do not seem interested in the Stratus. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

[GeeEmm]

I added the Ecowitt Bird Spikes about three months ago, and I have been happy with it. I have several bird feeders in my yard, and the WH40 had become a frequent perch for those awaiting their turn at the feeder. So far, the birds do not seem interested in the Stratus. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Your post crystallises a thought that has been growing in my mind - I have one of those too, and while the birds (still) love my WH40 with the new spikes, my (identical to yours) manual gauge is untroubled by them.  I think I need to find someone with a 3D printer and try the extension ...

[Platokidd]

I added the Ecowitt Bird Spikes about three months ago, and I have been happy with it. I have several bird feeders in my yard, and the WH40 had become a frequent perch for those awaiting their turn at the feeder. So far, the birds do not seem interested in the Stratus. [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

Your post crystallises a thought that has been growing in my mind - I have one of those too, and while the birds (still) love my WH40 with the new spikes, my (identical to yours) manual gauge is untroubled by them.  I think I need to find someone with a 3D printer and try the extension ...

Had best results when setting up the bird spikes like this;
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=45464.msg461715#msg461715

[Cods]

Heh, good luck mate!
The cockatoos nibbled off the auxiliary power cable to my WH-90 within 24 hours of installation. Fortunately I’ve found no need for it as frost isn’t a common issue in my corner of Queensland, but it was illuminating to see how quickly they identified that cable as a somewhat expensive bird enrichment toy. They’ve started work on chewing the silicon band around the top of the WH-90, unsure if this is likely to cause me problems or not. 
They regularly but infrequently land inside the WH-40, casually ignoring the 2nd-generation spikes I have artfully arranged, and the buggers carefully pick out the anti-bird spikes one by one, thoughtfully throwing them on the ground nearby in what can only be described as gleeful chaotic neutral behaviour with an added touch of irony. Zero bird poo issues so far though.
I’ve decided to see the whole thing as a mildly amusing battle of wits where the birds are winning, most of the time.
Our local magpie family? Not interested in either piece of weather kit, no food involved, although keeping them out of the house is as futile as keeping the cockatoos out of the rain sensor
 

[Gyvate]

Heh, good luck mate!
The cockatoos nibbled off the auxiliary power cable to my WH-90 within 24 hours of installation. Fortunately I’ve found no need for it as frost isn’t a common issue in my corner of Queensland, but it was illuminating to see how quickly they identified that cable as a somewhat expensive bird enrichment toy. They’ve started work on chewing the silicon band around the top of the WH-90, unsure if this is likely to cause me problems or not. 

that's one of the reasons why we recommend to put the cable inside the pipe the WS90 is fixed to - our WiKi shows how to do this
http://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#ws90_wittboy
the cable is not only for heating but for running the whole sensor array (if wanted)

[Tln7559]

You may try to 'improve' the setup for antibirdpins, but some birds will still be more clever and entrepeneur than you.
Like Cods describes in message #53
In Belgium and the Netherlands it has been detected that some birds (= magpies) even build nests using antibirdpins,
using them exactly as intended = defence against intruders.
Dutch weblink, but probably Google will provide eligible translation for the text:
https://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/4736250/eksters-maken-nest-van-anti-vogelpinnen-dit-zijn-de-gekste-nesten-die-ik-heb-gezien

[Gyvate]

maybe try some ultrasound devices - quite a few models have proven very efficient against birds "decorating" balconies etc.

[tedroche]

Had best results when setting up the bird spikes like this;
https://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=45464.msg461715#msg461715

In the Northeast US, I've seen a couple of different birds that frequent the WH40, despite rain spikes. I found that "bird scare tape" -- available from your favorite internet store, or likely your local hardware/feed store for a few dollars -- to have worked really well. I hang a foot (30 cm) of the tape from the bird spikes, using paper clips, and they flutter in the least breeze. The holographic print catches any sunlight and produce intermittent motion and random flashes of light, which seems to work.

[GeeEmm]

maybe try some ultrasound devices - quite a few models have proven very efficient against birds "decorating" balconies etc.

Any recommendations Gyvate, I am not familiar with that technology?

In the Northeast US, I've seen a couple of different birds that frequent the WH40, despite rain spikes. I found that "bird scare tape" -- available from your favorite internet store, or likely your local hardware/feed store for a few dollars -- to have worked really well. I hang a foot (30 cm) of the tape from the bird spikes, using paper clips, and they flutter in the least breeze. The holographic print catches any sunlight and produce intermittent motion and random flashes of light, which seems to work.

That sounds like a very cost-effective solution, I must hunt some down!

[Gyvate]

maybe try some ultrasound devices - quite a few models have proven very efficient against birds "decorating" balconies etc.

Any recommendations Gyvate, I am not familiar with that technology?

In the Northeast US, I've seen a couple of different birds that frequent the WH40, despite rain spikes. I found that "bird scare tape" -- available from your favorite internet store, or likely your local hardware/feed store for a few dollars -- to have worked really well. I hang a foot (30 cm) of the tape from the bird spikes, using paper clips, and they flutter in the least breeze. The holographic print catches any sunlight and produce intermittent motion and random flashes of light, which seems to work.

That sounds like a very cost-effective solution, I must hunt some down!

as you are based in Australia, I'd try https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ultrasonic+bird+repeller+outdoor&crid=2CJZEBGN5P4O6&sprefix=ultrasonic+bird+%2Caps%2C241&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_2_16

You'd find ultrasound based devices and even the also mentioned tape

[GeeEmm]

Thanks Gyvate, I have been travelling and returned to find the manual gauge with 35mm, the ecowitt <1mm  I was about to give up and move it, but remembered your post.  I have ordered both an ultrasonic(?) one and the streamers, plus some new spikes.  I'll see how these go, whether they improve the situation.  Meantime I am recording what I find in the manual gauge.

[GeeEmm]

Thanks Gyvate, I have been travelling and returned to find the manual gauge with 35mm, the ecowitt <1mm  I was about to give up and move it, but remembered your post.  I have ordered both an ultrasonic(?) one and the streamers, plus some new spikes.  I'll see how these go, whether they improve the situation.  Meantime I am recording what I find in the manual gauge.

Update!

'Ultrasonic' must be in the ear of the listener!?!  Installed and operating, I can hear it 50m away  , fortunately my nearest neighbor is a couple of hundred metres away and is unlikely to complain - I hope  .  Plastic whirly streamers installed, one of them got stuck in the funnel, the wind gives them a hard time and they fly all over the place, but other than that one incident they are at least decorative  .  New thicker spikes and Ecowitt's funnel extension also installed.

Upshot is that one or other, or some combination, are working, and over the last couple of months the birds have not been seen on it, not was their any evidence when inspected. 

Thanks Gyvate  , my only concern now is have I over-invested in bird deterrent and could I have saved a few pennies by only buying two of the three, or even one - but which one?! 

Not impressed with the Ecowitt extension, seems too flimsy, I think I will go with the 3D printed extension as soon as I can find someone to print it for me.

[Gyvate]

you either take the 3D print version where you can attach the "standard" bird spike at the edge of the extended rim (height = 5 cm or 2")
https://meshka.eu/Ecowitt/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=start#wh40_rim_extensions
- or you wait for the new WH40 funnel to be released "soon" by Ecowitt.

The new funnel will have a higher rim (not sure yet about the final height, but higher than their solution now) and will have holes/openings in the rim edge into which birdspikes can be inserted vertically.

[kheller2]

New funnel?!?!  Sign me up!

[Platokidd]

New funnel?!?!  Sign me up!

About time! x2 - sign me up

[GeeEmm]

This may be a little dated, but anyway ...

Serviced the WH40 today.  Dead battery, replaced and all is well.  Point of posting here is to say that the then-new bird spikes are working a treat, secured with a stainless steel jubilee clamp (ie a big hose clamp) rather than the strip thing supplied by EW.  Given up on the whirlygig things but the noisemaker is still going strong, and the birds are leaving it alone.