[TowerTalk] Birds and the Leaning Tower

[Gary K9GS]

I like this idea and was going to suggest it but be careful which 
monofilament fishing line you choose.

Some are designed to disintegrate in sunlight; it protects fish and 
wildlife from discarded fishing line.  I would see if there is listing 
for a local wildlife or pest control company that specializes in birds.


On 8/2/2016 8:33 PM, Grant Saviers wrote:
> 80# test monofilament fishing line strung above the boom as you 
> suggest may work. Maybe a simple parallel strand 3" above the elements 
> tied to a plastic standoff on the element end.  It might need 
> intermediate supports for long or sagging elements.  It is strung 
> overhead every few feet in outdoor restaurants.  The birds can't see 
> it but soon learn not to go there.
>
> Grant KZ1W
>
> On 8/2/2016 16:18 PM, StellarCAT wrote:
>> my experience has been that rotating only works for a while- they get 
>> use to it ... I've had literally hundreds of birds on antennas at one 
>> time ... never had any damage...but here in my new location in 
>> upstate SC I have 3 VERY large turkey vultures in the back corner of 
>> our 11 acres ... near the back tower - I'll probably need to get rid 
>> of them before finishing the planned 2 towers with stacks... I 
>> absolutely DON'T want damage to those antennas.
>>
>> I wonder if one could run a dacron rope - well no - good idea but it 
>> wouldn't fully cover everything - I was thinking of running a 1/8" 
>> dacron rope taut between the ends of the boom about 3" above it - 
>> this would keep them from at least landing on the boom I believe... 
>> but I'd rather have them land there then on the elements.
>>
>> I had read somewhere - was it on here? To hang a CD on a string - 
>> drill the CD offset from the center so that it constantly twists - 
>> and the reflections will ward them off ... not sure if that would 
>> work all the time but might work during daylight hours. Seems birds 
>> tend to 'sit' on lines at sunset so that probably wouldn't work then.
>>
>> Maybe a wireless speaker? Play predator bird sounds through it? Cannon?
>>
>> The problem is whatever you do needs to be constant - so anything 
>> that involves yourself isn't going to work as they'll just be there 
>> when you're not.
>>
>> Gary
>> K9RX
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Tom_N2SR
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 12:15 PM
>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Birds and the Leaning Tower
>>
>>
>> Same here.   I normally see the turkey buzzards after a morning rain 
>> or when there is dew, when they will sit at the top of the mast and 
>> at the ends of the boom with their wing unfurled, probably trying to 
>> dry them off.   One time I think I had 8 of them up there.   I wonder 
>> if it's good luck?
>> Since the feedline to the 2 element 40 is under the boom, there are 
>> no issues with claws damaging it.   When I installed the C31XR at 80 
>> feet, and the feedlines wrap around to the top side of the boom 
>> (because of the ring rotator), I placed a piece of Dacron rope 
>> between the boom truss and the boom (vertically) to keep larger birds 
>> from trying to land there and damaging the coax.
>> I've never had a problem with a large bird trying to land on any of 
>> the elements.  Maybe they have tried in the past and have felt that 
>> it was unstable.
>> They also do not like to be "rotated."   After once or twice they 
>> typically go somewhere else.
>> Tom, N2SR
>>
>>      From: "john at kk9a.com" <john at kk9a.com>
>> To: towertalk at contesting.com
>> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2016 11:33 AM
>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Birds and the Leaning Tower
>>
>> Lately a lot of turkey vultures enjoy sitting on my upper antennas.  
>> They
>> are fairly large and not very nice looking. I do not think that there is
>> any way to keep birds off. If the element turned on the boom you can
>> temporary fix it by tossing a rope around the higher end and pulling it
>> level. For a more permanent solution you may have to use better 
>> clamps. If
>> the aluminum physically bent it is either a soft grade or too small. An
>> element truss can also help.
>>
>> GL
>> John
>>
>> my
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-- 
73,

Gary K9GS

Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org
Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com
CW Ops #1032   http://www.cwops.org

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