Month: April 2021

Springtime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Visitors backyard and the patio birdfeeder: Turkey Vulture, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal. The Turkey Vultures were back on the patio. Initially, trying to get the apple in the “Havahart” trap. Fortunately, they are too big to fit in the trap. One of them roosted a while on the sensor for my new WS-5000 backyard personal weather station. Unlike my previous weather station, the combination sensor for this weather station has no moving parts. It uses an array of ultrasonic sensors to determine wind direction and velocity. Since there are no moving parts, the vendor provides metal spikes to install on the sensor to repel birds. The Turkey Vulture didn’t read the manual. The vendor now recommends finding a commercial odorant that repels Vultures. Fortunately, the weather station is still working — and can be accessed via Weather Underground.

Daily backyard visitors. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Turkey Vulture (portrait mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Turkey Vulture (landscape mode). Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Early spring flowers blooming: White fruit tree (cherry, pear, crabapple???)

Early Spring Flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Late planting starter seeds in the indoor AeroGarden Farm for the outdoor GrowTowers (Part 1). Seeds planted this year include Arugula, Butter Head Lettuce, Black Seed Simpson Lettuce, Collard Greens, Kale, Mustard, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Summer Squash (Saffron), Zucchini (Black Beauty, Emerald Delight).

Daily Electric Energy Used (43.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (43.3 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. GeoThermal HVAC still on to heat the house. A deficit of 0.4 kWh.