Category: Technology

Views of science and technology from around the world

Friday (16-April-2021) — New Jersey

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.

Monday (22-February-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

About 4 inches of wet snow and sleet fell in the morning. I waited till it turned to cold rain to clear the driveway. The only reason I cleared the driveway was because I was expecting a UPS delivery. The snow blower has a hard time with wet snow. I had to stop several times to remove the packed “ice-cores” from the blower-chute. Time-lapse video recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Daily Electric Energy Used (88.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (2.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Snow and sleet. The solar panels partially covered with snow. Geothermal HVAC system on. A deficit of 86.7 kWh.

Thursday (18-February-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

About 4 inches of snow and sleet. I waited till late afternoon until the precipitation stopped to clear the driveway. More snow, sleet, and frozen rain expected tomorrow. It is a lot easier clearing the snow right away. Time-lapse video recorded with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Daily Electric Energy Used (85.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. The solar panels totally covered with snow. Geothermal HVAC system on. A deficit of 85.3 kWh.

Friday (05-February-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

More snow early this morning. I went out after the snow stopped to widen the path to the road using the Brush Mower with Snow-blower attachment. First had to replace the broken collar connecting the Snow-blower attachment to the Brush Mower. Luckily, an extra collar was included in the assembly kit from the manufacture. Some of the snow had melted and refrozen making the task more difficult. I need to get chains for the wheels. Time-lapse video taken with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Daily Electric Energy Used (70.7 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (8.5 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Sunny, however the solar panels still significantly covered with snow. Geothermal HVAC system on. A deficit of 62.2 kWh.

Tuesday (02-February-2021) — New Jersey

Wintertime Backyard Nature in New Jersey.

Heavy Snow all day long. I went out after noon to make a path to the road using the Brush Mower with Snow-blower attachment. Had a hard time since the snow was wet and heavy. I need to get chains for the wheels. Time-lapse video taken with a Garmin VIRB-360 camera.

Daily Electric Energy Used (73.3 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (0.0 kWh) from Sense and SolSystems. Lots of Snow. Geothermal HVAC system on. A deficit of 73.3 kWh.