Bird Feeder Construction Tips and Pictures
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Overview: This exhibit fits within a 30"x15"x17" box. The exhibit demonstrates how a bird can land on the feeder and trigger a mechanism that pushes a shutter button on a throw-away camera. |
Bird Control: The objective is to lower the bird until it sits on the feeder and triggers the camera sensor. Then raise the bird for the next cycle. The touch sensor looks like a cludge ... However, it has been tested for about 2000 cycles without breaking. A collar tied to the string forces the two wires to touch when the bird is pulled to the top. The program senses this, reverses direction and stops in the ready position for the next cycle.
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 Bird Control Failure: When the bird is too heavy (#2 fish weight in this case) the gears will wear down significantly. You can see the plastic disintegrating in this picture after about 1000 up/down cycles.
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Camers Shutter Controller This mechanism is quite reliable. The motor can turn in either direction. Some collars might be added to the shaft that pushes the shutter button to keep it from slipping.
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Bird Land Sensor The "see-saw" balance must be adjusted carefully so that the balance to platform wire contacts breaks when the bird lands. Balance is adjusted by adjusting the rubber band or adding weights to the tin cans at each end. If it is too sensitive, it will trigger at any floor vibration.
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Bird Land Sensor |
