Rob Conway wrote:

3) Are there good uses for these things for birders? OH YES!! Anyone
>who birds with others should have one of these. It is a hell of a lot
>easier to shine the light on the ground and then follow the beam as
>someone moves it to point at that "saw-whet in the 4th fir tree in the
>mixed grove of conifers on the right-past the rocks in the middle of the
>creek-the ones that look like a nestful of eggs missing one on the
>left-about half way out on that branch that looks like a dog lifting its
>leg - right where there's no bark on the top but on the bottom".

My question: What about the birds and squirrels in the tree that you don't
even know are there who are looking at you--and at the laser which could
still blind them?

Diane Bagues
Milwaukie, Oregon
dbagues at teleport.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Conway <robin_birder at hotmail.com>
To: TWEETERS at u.washington.edu <TWEETERS at u.washington.edu>; osprey at nwinfo.net
<osprey at nwinfo.net>
Date: Thursday, January 07, 1999 7:35 PM
Subject: Laser Pointer - Eye danger and a birding tool


>Tweets,
>
>I have used laser pointers since they were available at a reasonable
>(read <$50) price. I just bought a new one in November. Here is my
>take on lasers and birds.
>
>1) What about the safety of these things?
>
>NEVER shine a laser pointer into the eyes of someone/something that you
>don't want to blind. Even the very inexpensive ones (~$10) available at
>any discount store have extremely powerful beams that are capable of
>shining a pinpoint of light 1600 feet with an accuracy nearing .25"
>variance point to point in the lens alignment over the line of sight
>(these small lasers have been used as part of leveling/survey tools for
>many years). All of these light/laser pointers sold come with BIG BOLD
>WARNINGS on the packages.
>
>2) What about using them to chase undesirable wildlife from feeders?
>
>Try yelling or tossing ice instead - or just put out enough for everyone
>who wants to come visit. I experimented with using the laser pointer to
>confuse and chase away eastern grey squirrels (long-haired grey day
>rats) and it scared them, once. After that it was like "Oh, that thing
>again." As for the cruelty issue - I grew up on a farm and I have no
>trouble exterminating pests in a humane manner, blinding them is not
>part of that package. Actually now I have a couple of Douglas Squirrels
>at my feeders and they guard them from the greys like little pit bulls -
>quite entertaining to see the pipsqueaks beat up on the big bad bullies
>- but I'm not sure this is typical.
>
>3) Are there good uses for these things for birders? OH YES!! Anyone
>who birds with others should have one of these. It is a hell of a lot
>easier to shine the light on the ground and then follow the beam as
>someone moves it to point at that "saw-whet in the 4th fir tree in the
>mixed grove of conifers on the right-past the rocks in the middle of the
>creek-the ones that look like a nestful of eggs missing one on the
>left-about half way out on that branch that looks like a dog lifting its
>leg - right where there's no bark on the top but on the bottom".
>
>Laser pointer on, point to ground, follow beam as it is moved across
>surfaces to right next to that bird. A thing of beauty and an end to
>major frustrations. Yes the beam is visible in full daylight on a
>surface 1000 or more feet away (with optics at that distance of course).
>
>Where can I get one of these things?
>
>Cheap ones are best had at discount stores like K-Mart or Target.
>Target carries them in the auto department. Some $15 models come with
>several lenses, a level and other toys.
>
>Have fun!
>
>Rob Conway
>Bellevue, WA
>
>robin_birder at hotmail.com
>
>============
>
>
>
>
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