One Student Killed, One Critically Injured in Collision with Russian’s Maserati: Na Jomtien

[Crossy]

WARNING Lasers of the type indicated here can cause permanent eye damage. Common sense is required and no pointing at aircraft (they are not big silver birds), people or pets. Use the regular red pointers to amuse/annoy the cat.

 

Anyway.

A few weeks back Madam was moaning to the builder's merchant that pigeons roosting on our gable-end are, er, depositing on the patio roof which now has solar panels which really don't like pigeon poop.

 

He told her to use a laser pointer! Hmm.

 

A bit of research showed that laser bird scarers really are a thing. Apparently, the birds perceive the beam as a solid object and avoid it, no actual contact with the creatures and certainly not in their eyes, that would be unethical (even with pigeons). Green is the colour of choice for birds.

 

Commercial units are not exactly low-cost of course so it was time to do some shopping.

 

I ordered the most powerful, green "laser pointer" I spotted on Lazada. "3W" it says unlike your normal pointer of about 3mW!!

 

https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i265013902-s411903063.html

 

The beast that arrived would not look out of place in the hands of Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi or Yoda!! Apparently green lightsabers are wielded by Jedi warriors.

 

It does come with diffusers to make pretty patterns, these are still in their plastic bag

 

Charged the supplied 18640 Li-Ion battery on the supplied charger, time to test.

I checked the input power and I reckon the laser is nearer to 2W but so what!

 

It works like a charm, the birds see the beam coming and scatter, no need to actually hit them so no smell of barbecued pigeon. Walk around the house aiming towards the beasts a couple of times and they don't come back.

 

After a week of use at dusk when they are seeking somewhere to roost, we are now down to one or two each evening, Madam encourages them to leave (she's evidently got an evil streak).

 

It works at long range (commercial units of similar power claim several km), aimed at the next house over (100m or so) and their pigeons scattered too.

 

[CharlieH]

Totally agree, I posted about this sometime back, its quiet and very efficient.

 

Highly recommended.

[john donson]

wow if that is the laser pointer you use, you can burn a hole in them, saw some demos before, things catching fire from it

[sometimewoodworker]

33 minutes ago, Crossy said:

I ordered the most powerful, green "laser pointer" I spotted on Lazada. "3W" it says unlike your normal pointer of about 3mW!!

Also available on AliExpress, possibly drop shipped from them,

and available with a charger if you don’t have one

[carlyai]

Just ordered one. Thanks.

I bought one in Bali years ago but had to disassemble it and put in different suitcases to take back to Aus as is illegal. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

WARNING

Got a pigeon problem? Time to break out the LASER!!!

A co-worker of mine from Brazil swears by this contraption.

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

Presumably they work on mynah birds as well?

Those little 'darlings' walk into my house when I am not at my desk.

Looking for crumbs and krappping everywhere.

[Ralf001]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

wow if that is the laser pointer you use, you can burn a hole in them, saw some demos before, things catching fire from it

 

I have a 10w laser, set it up on a spare 3D printer so I can do laser engraving... Mmmmm burning wood smell !

[Korat Kiwi]

There are some very powerful laser pointers on Lazada.  Ones that can even light a cigarette. 

 

I bought a 30mW Superfire one about 2 weeks ago. Thought I'd take it back to NZ with me... But NO. 

 

Completely illegal unless you are a member of an astrology group/company or part of the Defence Force or Police. 

 

Even having one on your person is a chargeable offence.  You also cannot give, sell or buy one unless you are as above. 

 

When I was working in the Middle East, I took several lasers back to NZ.  But times have changed. 

 

I'll keep my 30mW one here to scare away the birds. Even our oldest dog doesn't like the laser.  Young pup doesn't care.