We had considering just setting a hummingbird feeder inside a running microwave with the door interlock defeated, but the biologist I am doing this for had some .. ah... concerns. I'll assume he's figured out a way to make his trap so it won't damage the little beggars. I'm just making a trigger. I can get an IR remote/reciever board combo that is designed to do almost exactly what I am thinking about. Will IR remotes work in daylight? --Lawrence ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave King" To: Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 4:07 PM Subject: Re: [EE]: Hummingbird trap > One thing to consider is that the bird weighs in at about 20 grams (I think). > Any trap doors "slamming shut" that make contact might harm the bird. > And anything that touches the wings could really do a number on it. Then there > is the problem of the birds metabolism, trapping it for any extend amount > of time > could kill it so you need to be able to notify when its sprung. If it were > a bigger > bird you could just run a used tazer into the feeder.....;-] > > We have a few Hummer feeders here but it took a year before they would do > more than zip on by. They are a blast to watch though when they feed. The > feeder > is about 3 feet from my desk outside the window. Makes it easy to watch. > > Dave > > > > At 01:15 PM 25/06/02 -0500, you wrote: > >100% on-target. Thanks! > >From: "Peter L. Peres" > > > > > A normal trap has a spring or some other mechanical energy storage device > > > and the trigger releases this. In practice you could have an elastic > > > trying to close the door and a 3V motor with a half-cup shaped paddle > > > soldered onto the axle hold the door back (by a protruding piano wire or > > > such). > > > > > > Peter > > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList > mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu