[TowerTalk] Birds and the Leaning Tower

Tue Aug 2 22:54:26 EDT 2016

Have you tried pizza. (jk-leaning tower reference).

Is it illegal to discharge a firearm in your town?

Rock salt shotgun worked for me in prior QTH. Took two rounds twice, but turkey vultures wised up and moved on.
AG6CX

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 2, 2016, at 7:35 PM, Gary K9GS <garyk9gs at wi.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> 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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