I am an expert in measurements and signal processing, but I am not much of a naturalist.
I know how to create an inexpensive device that can log bird visits to bird feeders by very precisely weighing the feeder, and then logging those measurements versus time.
I can detect things like:
-- how many birds are on the feeder at any particular time
-- how much each bird weighs, to within a gram
-- How much bird feed is in the feeder
-- The rate at which the birds are eating the food, per bird
The measurement system would probably work best with finch feeders, hummingbird feeders, or the like. A bird would need to sit on the feeder for at least 2 seconds to be detected/measured.
My question: Is such data useful? If so, how?
I would like to collaborate with expert naturalists to refine the system, and optimize it for making measurements that are useful.
Are you such a naturalist, or can you recommend someone who you think could be a good collaborator?
I know how to create an inexpensive device that can log bird visits to bird feeders by very precisely weighing the feeder, and then logging those measurements versus time.
I can detect things like:
-- how many birds are on the feeder at any particular time
-- how much each bird weighs, to within a gram
-- How much bird feed is in the feeder
-- The rate at which the birds are eating the food, per bird
The measurement system would probably work best with finch feeders, hummingbird feeders, or the like. A bird would need to sit on the feeder for at least 2 seconds to be detected/measured.
My question: Is such data useful? If so, how?
I would like to collaborate with expert naturalists to refine the system, and optimize it for making measurements that are useful.
Are you such a naturalist, or can you recommend someone who you think could be a good collaborator?
