Category: Technology

Views of science and technology from around the world

Thursday (20-January-2022) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard on a snowy then rainy day: Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal. As soon as it snows, the Northern Cardinals show up. They are a lot more tolerant feeding with other birds around. Unlike the Blue Jays and Red-bellied Woodpecker.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

AeroGarden Hydroponic Updates. Classic-6 #1: Some of the Basil is starting to germinate. Bounty #1: 8/9 of the Bok Choi have sprouted. Bounty #2: Only a couple of lettuce varieties have sprouted. Classic-6 #2. Not much activity. Farm 9R Seed Starting Tray: Not much activity.

alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Classic-6 #1. Day 4. Genovese Basil (3/4). Thai Basil (0/2). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Bounty #1. Day 4. Bok Choi (8/9). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Bounty #2. Day 4. Red Sails (0/2); Rouge d’Hiver (1/2), Paris Island (0/1), Deer Tongue (0/1), Marvel of 4 Seasons (0/1), Black Seeded Simpson (1/2). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Classic-6 #2. Day 4. Dill (0/1), Italian Parsley (0/1), Chives (0/1), Orange Gazania (0/1), Phlox Mix (0/1), Celosia (0/1). Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)
alt_title. (David J Mathre)
AeroGarden Farm 9R Seed Sprouting Tray. Day 3. Row A: California Poppy (American Meadows, 2018) 0/8; Row B: Oriental Poppy (American Meadows, 2019) 0/10; Row C: Lauren Grape Poppy Seeds (Marde Ross & Company, 2020) 0/11; Row D: Hungarian Breadseed Poppy Seeds (Plant Good Seed, 2020) 0/10; Row E: Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 0/8; Row F: Turkish Tulip Poppy Seeds (Waterfall Seeds, 2020) 0/10; Row G: Somniferum Blend Poppy Seeds (Seed Needs, 2020) 0/11; Row H: Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 0/9; Row I: Mixed Red Poppy Seeds (American Meadows, 2019) 0/8. Image taken with a Leica TL2 camera and 18 mm f/2.8 lens. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (87.2 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (6.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The sun returned after a day of rain then snow. Deficit of 80.7 kWh.

Tuesday (28-December-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Day 5 of the Tree Project. Time-lapse video, removing a diseased pine tree.

Daily Electric Energy Used (59.4 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (9.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Cloudy. Deficit of 49.5 kWh.

Thursday (23-December-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Blue Jay, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Fox on the patio (leaving a present).

Day 2 of the Tree Project. Several time-lapse videos of the work.


Hamlet Tree Service. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (74.6 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (31.6 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Geothermal HVAC heating the house, much of the day stage 2 since it is cold outside. Deficit of 43.0 kWh.

Monday (20-December-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

The temperature dropped to the low 20’s (F) overnight. The solar powered pump for the birdbath continued to pump water part of the night leaving an ice sculpture.


Birdbath Ice Sculpture. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Time-lapse Little Planet videos of the day. The concrete for the inner sleeve posts was allowed to set for 48 hours. Combination rain day, and colder temperatures. Eight of the eight foot outer sleeve posts were installed with the appropriate hardware (bottom brace band with eye bolt, middle collar with eye bolt, and top brace cup). The 2nd video shows eight more post holes being dug by Red Rover. Will wait for warmer weather to install the inner sleeve posts and Quikrete fast-setting concrete.

Daily Electric Energy Used (81.1 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (32.9 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny. Geothermal HVAC heating the house, much of the day stage 2 since it is cold outside. Deficit of 48.2 kWh.

Thursday (16-December-2021) — New Jersey

Autumn Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed at the birdfeeder and in the backyard: Mourning Dove, Turkey Vulture, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Dark-eyed Junco.


Birds of the day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Red Rover time-lapse video of the day. Today’s project was to attach the Woods PD-25 post-hole digger on Red Rover. Took a while to get it installed. Read the safety manual several times. When completed, dug the first of 170 holes for the deer fence project. Small issue of a bolt rubbing one of the safety shields, and a shear bolt falling out (didn’t shear, nut must not have been on tight enough). Tech from Belle Mead motors stopped by to fix the rubbing issue.


Daily Electric Energy Used (50.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (27.5kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sun and clouds. Geothermal HVAC heating the house. Deficit of 22.8 kWh.