So, Dan, what are your thoughts on "perching" an owl on top of the tower for a
week or so and then have it disappear for another week, kinda like one of those
union thugs.
The birds would think it safe to return for a while and then the owl shows up
again.
The way I would do this is with a pulley at the top and hoist the feathered,
undocumented friend up and down....
Rogrrr
KC8HZ
----------------------------------------
> From: towertalk-request@contesting.com
> Subject: TowerTalk Digest, Vol 98, Issue 56
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 04:53:33 -0800
>
> Send TowerTalk mailing list submissions to
> towertalk@contesting.com
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2011 22:17:05 -0600
> From: "K0DAN"
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] birds on the elements
> To: "W5JMW" , "Tower and HF antenna construction
> topics."
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Hi John, and congrats on your new T10 (great antenna, you will not regret
> it!).
>
> I have found that owls (north-pointing or not) work for a while, and then
> the critters discover the owls are phonies. An owl will work for a while)
> but the dumb critters aren't THAT dumb. I'd skip the owl and negotiate with
> the birds.
>
> The T10 is a super performer, efficient radiator, lightweight, and ice/wind
> survivable. ARRL and Tennadyne had some pix of my antenna some years back
> that was with 3/4" of radial ice and winds. I thought it, my tower, my
> house, etc., were all doomed. The trees, and some wire antennas got whacked,
> but the tower, house, and T10 all survived...the T10 was bent like a pretzel
> but sprung back, I did not expect it to, very impressive.
>
> Back to the birds, the shotgun works (only for a while) and is occasionally
> known to ruin a ham's antenna. I don't think birds can be dealt with, just
> accommodate them. The T10 can stand up to it, and the birds flay away if the
> ends of the elements get too wobbly! The birds will poop all over
> everything, but you're used to that, right? If the bird poop starts to
> destroy the aluminum, then resort to the owl or shotgun. In all seriousness,
> the aircraft aluminum On the T10 is very resilient and recovers its shape
> after serious loading. I have had to repair a few bent elements, and replace
> one, but it was fairly easy & materials were available.
>
> Good luck! Do you have a Labrador or barncat who'd be willing to chase birds
> up the tower?
>
> 73
>
> Dan
> K0DAN
>
>
> End of TowerTalk Digest, Vol 98, Issue 56
> *****************************************
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