[wxqc] my rain collector vs. the birds

[Evan Bookbinder]

A fake cat also works. In all seriousness, birds became a HUGE problem with 
the new NWS Ultrasonic wind sensors -- hawks in fact. The 3 pronged sensor 
made a perfect perch for the birds, causing erroneous wind gusts (in some 
cases near hurricane force) to be observed when the bird was active on his 
perch.

Several attempts to remove the birds by providing alternate landing areas 
were unsuccessful -- they prefer the 10m perch to scout out their prey. The 
solution that works ended up being a auto-motion sensor attached to a strobe 
light and a blaring siren. Two days of that and the sites have not had any 
bird problems :)

Evan

> Birds can't see it, they bang into it and quickly learn to avoid the
> area. A fake hawk is also quite effective...
>
> Steve