Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, December 23rd - 28th, Charleston County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on December 28th by observer with station number SC-CR-88 in Charleston County, SC.  We chose this report because it offers great detail about soil moisture at their location offering us a good understanding of how wet conditions are in their area. What are some indications of soil moisture when conditions are wet, dry or normal in your area? When wet, does the ground become very soggy or do trees topple over when precipitation is abundant over the long period of time? Does the ground crack or become dusty when dry?  Observe and record how weather changes soil moisture in your area. This is a wonderful learning opportunity and a great way to enhance your reports. Way to go SC-CR-88!


Categories

Agriculture 
Plants and Wildlife

With more than a couple of inches of rain in the last week or so, the ground appears saturated enough that even modest amounts of rainfall of a quarter inch or so will rather quickly run off into the storm water ditches rather than soak in. Soil moisture in the garden is more than adequate and the compost is too wet.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, December 15th - 21st - Caswell County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week for was submitted on December 17th by observer with station number NC-CS-1 in Caswell County, NC. We chose this report because it offers a variety information, not only at the observer's station location but around their community.  In fact, it includes almost all impact categories observers offered on the CoCoRaHS impacts reporting form.  Like all reports submitted to the CoCoRaHS website, we read this observer's reports and we've noticed how they consistently record water levels and other conditions at Hyco Lake. Over time, these reports will allow us to better understand weather and climate impacts at this location and how they contribute to changing conditions. Consistent, long-term reporting at your location and in your community greatly increases the value of your reports. We encourage all observers to NC-CS-1's example!


Categories

Agriculture
Business and Industry
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation
Water Supply and Quality

What season is this? One day it's warm and sunny, then cold and rainy or some combination thereof. With over an inch and a half of rain in the last ten days, Hyco reached a peak of 410.59' but has now dropped down to 410.36'. On early mornings the water is so still is looks like a mirror. At night it beautifully reflects the Christmas decorations set on docks. There are still plenty of campers at the recreation area. They have even decorated with stringing lights on the fence. Some die-hard fishermen have been dropping lines into the lake from the shore and boats - hope they are having good luck. The major influx of winter birds has not occurred yet but the seed in our feeders and the suet is disappearing on a steady basis. Sasanguas are steadily blooming, providing some color. Nandinas, pyracanthas and hollies are producing plenty of berries - ample for decorations and food for the birds. There are still plenty of leaves and acorns are on the ground, slowly but surely getting leaves into flower beds or compost bins. Worm bins are in their winter locations and their activity is slowing down. fields are barren but are still beautiful, just waiting for snow! The sunny days are helping the tomatoes int he greenhouse grow and the strawberries have begun to bloom. Occasionally see a few good bugs in the greenhouse. Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, December 8th-14th, Wake County, NC

Our Condition Monitor Star of the Week was posted on December 13th by observer with station number NC-WK-6 in Wake County, NC.  In their report they noted multiple impacts relating to soil moisture, water levels, plants and wildlife.  Drought committees in both North Carolina and South Carolina consider a range of indicators when determining drought declarations.  Therefore, reports like this one that includes a variety of impacts can be helpful.  We're also amazed at how the observer included so much information in a relatively short paragraph! Great job, NC-WK-6! 

 Categories

Plants and Wildlife
Water Supply and Quality

The soil remains moist as we had over half an inch of rain in the past seven days. The creek is full and the water is still clear. Small fish (minnows?) are visible in the creek. The pond is full and quiet. We had a great blue heron visit the pond this past week and he caught a fish. The grass remains green for the most part. We have had some seed pods from the sycamore trees fall to the ground this week. Squirrels are digging many small holes in the garden we assume they are planting seeds to help tide them over for the winter.

Who uses your CoCoRaHS data?

Does it sometimes feel like you're all alone in the world as a CoCoRaHS observer?

Do you ever wonder if anyone even takes the time to look at your precipitation measurements and condition monitoring reports?

The answer is - Of course you aren't alone! And, of course the information you provide through the CoCoRaHS network is invaluable to many different types of people and organizations!

CoCoRaHS headquarters has compiled a series of "Messages of the Day" to highlight the many and varied ways that CoCoRaHS data are used. These user groups include weather forecasters, hydrologists, water managers, researchers, farmers, climatologists, and more!

Check out this link to see an archive of these daily messages and learn more about how these different groups use your CoCoRaHS data.

Next up: What is CISA doing with the over 675 condition monitoring reports we've received since last September?!

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, December 1st-7th, Craven County, NC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number NC-CN-31 on December 3rd. We chose this report because of the variety of detail included.  The observer notes temperature, leaf fall, river levels and several of other impacts.  This gives us a vivid picture of what conditions are like in their area.  We especially appreciate the observers attention to impacts at their location and around the community.  We encourage all observers to look for ways that weather affects their neighborhoods and communities, as well as their yards. Thanks for setting a great example, NC-CN-31! 

 Categories

Agriculture
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation

wkly rpt: ( a day or so late ) Thanksgiving week was filled with rain, then cold, then warmed up. Seems as if those farmers who did not harvest their crops of soy - may not harvest them. Bradford & Cleveland Pear trees still have their leaves, but they are beginning to fall during the rains and windy weather. River levels remain normal - neither high nor low. We did not have any travel hazards here during Thanksgiving Wednesday or Thursday, although there was a brief couple hour period of heavy rain. Local holiday events such as parades and fairs have not seem to have been effected by weather this past week. When the weather is warm, our honeybees are foraging on mahonnia and eleagnus.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, November 24th-30th - Beaufort County, SC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on November 24th by observers with station number SC-BF-10 in Beaufort, SC.  This report is special because it does an awesome job depicting dryness and recovery in their community.  The observer paints a vivid picture of dry conditions including dust while mowing and low water levels. Then they talk about the abundant rainfall that occurred is a pretty short period of time and how it completely changed the landscape. Wow!  The story the observer tells through examples we can easily understand make this report stand out. Great job SC-BF-10!  We look forward to more reports like these!


Categories

Water Supply and Quality 
Plants and Wildlife
  
Banner rainfall this weekend for much needed rain! Saturday the lawn was so dry, the lawnmower kicked up dust, the lagoon levels were way down, and everything was beginning to go dormant. In about a 36-hr. period we received 2.07" of nice soaking rain, exceeding the entire month of November rainfall. It was the first meaningful rain since October 21. This morning, it is very mild, the lawns are greener and the lagoons are up. A near 3 acre lagoon next to our house has risen to the top of the drain grate and is trickling slightly over the top. A great time to be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Next report in 2 weeks.

Measuring Winter Weather Precipitation

It's hard to believe that many places in the Carolinas have already received snowfall this year!

As temperatures drop and some areas begin to receive sleet and snow, this is a great time of year for a refresher on how to measure winter precipitation with your CoCoRaHS rain gauge.

There are 4 CoCoRaHS Snow Measurements you can enter on your daily precipitation report:

1. The depth of new snow (new snowfall)
2. Liquid water equivalent of new snow (either in the gauge or on a snowboard)



These are a few pictures of the 10" snowfall received in
Madison County, NC on November 1, 2014
sent by observer Pat Momich. 

3. The total depth of new snow and old snow and ice at observation time
4. Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) of total snow on the ground (optional)

Here are a few links to CoCoRaHS resources to help ensure that your winter precipitation measurements are as accurate as possible:

• "In Depth" Snow Measuring - Slideshow
• Ice Accretion - Slideshow
• How to measure snow water equivalent or 'SWE' - Video (5 minutes)
• CoCoRaHS Snow Training Webinar - Video (Be sure you've got a warm cup of cocoa for this one - it's very thorough, but it's about an hour long!)

Remember, even if you're in an area of the Carolinas where you don't receive much snowfall, freezing temperatures can damage your rain gauge. Be sure to bring your filter and inner tube inside during cold winter months. 

If you have any tips for measuring snow, be sure to leave a comment so that some of our new observers learn from those of you who are more experienced. 

Did you check out your CoCoRaHS water year summary report?!

Each year in October, the folks at CoCoRaHS headquarters work to compile water year summary reports for every single CoCoRaHS rain gauge station throughout the US and Canada.

The 'Water Year' begins October 1st and ends September 30th each year and can be thought of as the cycle between a resting or replenishing season in the fall and winter to a consumption season in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter months, precipitation from the sky generally exceeds evaporation from the ground. This is the time of year when groundwater and soil moisture are replenished and snow pack is formed creating the 'reserves' needed for vegetation growth and crop cultivation and harvesting in the spring and summer. 

You can view your water year summary report when you are logged into the CoCoRaHS website by clicking on 'View Data' at the top of the screen. The link to Water Year Summary Reports is listed about half way down the page. Be sure you are logged in to access the full details of your water year summary. 

Want to know how your annual precipitation total compares to your neighbors? Click on your state below and check out all of the water year summaries for CoCoRaHS observers by county. 

You can view charts of your monthly rainfall totals
through your CoCoRaHS Water Year Summary Report.  

North Carolina 

South Carolina

You can find links to all 50 states as well as Canada here.

If you haven't taken the time yet, be sure to check out your own water year summary and see how you 'measure up'!

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, Nov 17th-23rd - Caswell County, NC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on November 22nd by observer with station number NC-CS-1. This report is great for a number of reasons.  First, the observer notes a several impacts including delays in falling leaves, fluctuating temperatures and abrupt changes in precipitation patterns. Recording the impacts caused by sudden shifts in weather help us better understand how these changes affect the environment. Secondly, they recognize that birds haven't appeared at their feeder yet. This can give valuable information to researchers about the effects of weather on bird migration patterns. Lastly, they note multiple weather impacts including those on human populations.  This gives researchers broader understanding of how both ecosystems and humans respond to local changes in weather. This report provides a great example to the many weather impacts in our communities that we may observe everyday but may not "take note" of.  It reminds us to be aware of our environment and the people around us in order to see the ways that we are intimately connected to the natural environment.  Great work NC-CS-1!


Categories
Agriculture
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation
Water Supply and Quality

What season is it? One day we're in the 60's or 70's, next day we hardly rise above 40. Chilly days mean warm fires, thanks to my wonderful husband. Leaves were about a month late in giving us a good color show. Lots of leaves are still on the trees. But more leaves and acorns have already fallen than usual. We were quite dry - bad for fall plantings. But then almost an inch of rain fell. HURRAY! On another day we saw about a dozen flurries, extremely early. What a November! Hyco Lake level had been steadily dropping but that trend was reversed with the large rain. Current level is 410.02' While there are still a large number of campers at the recreation area this is due to work in the area. But not unusual to see a fisherman or two about every day. Bird feeders are ready but the usual winter birds have not arrived yet. Maybe the weather fluctuations are confusing them also. Except for winter cover crops, large fields are barren. Several have recently been plowed which creates a wonderful fall picture. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.

A news story about you!

The CISA & CoCoRaHS citizen science condition monitoring project (of which you are a part), is featured in the latest edition of "Dry Times".

"Dry Times" is the quarterly newsletter of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). NIDIS is a supporting partner for CISA's work with citizen scientists, in addition to our other activities to develop a drought early warning program in the Carolinas. The CISA and NIDIS partnership is just one of several NIDIS-supported regional programs to improve our ability to prepare for and respond to drought in the United States.

Be sure to check out the newsletter to read the featured article about your work and to learn about other projects throughout the U.S.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, Nov 10th - 16th - Richland County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number SC-RC-12 on November 15th.  We chose this report because the observer discussed how dry conditions were becoming in their area by noting dust while raking leaves and no significant grass growth.  These are great indicators of dry conditions. Dusty soil is an especially good example because it goes beyond stating that they soil is dry.  Rather it gives an example so we can have a better idea of how dry the soil has become. How does look and feel in your area?   Is it dusty? Does the ground look cracked?  It is squishy when you want on it?  These are all types of soil conditions you can record in your next condition monitoring report.  Thanks for setting a great example SC-RC-12!


After getting 1.25" at the beginning of November, we've now gone 13 straight days without rain. Liberated a lot of dust while raking leaves. Have had no significant grass growth for 4 weeks.

Fall photos depict seasonal change

The signs of changing seasons are all around us here in the Carolinas. Check out some of the great photos we've received of the colorful fall leaves!

Seasonal changes provide lots of great information for condition monitoring reports. Perhaps there are migratory bird species visiting your fountains and feeders or fall vegetables you are beginning to harvest for cold weather soups and stews. If you are an observer in the mountains of the Carolinas, how are businesses fairing who cater to the 'leaf peepers' this time of year? If you are in the Piedmont region where we've received less rainfall recently, are you seeing any changes in water levels in nearby rivers or lakes? For those of you who have been recording observations for about a year, you could even look back at last year's reports to see what similarities or differences you might be observing this autumn.

Thanks again to the folks who have shared photos. Seeing images of the observations you record is a great addition to your condition monitoring reports. Keep up the great work!

Colorful Beech and Maple trees in
Madison County, NC from Pat Momich

Donald Kunkle in Pomaria, SC shared this photo of a fire red Maple. He tells us that the Maples have retained more brilliantly colored leaves for a longer period of time this year than he can remember. 

This beautiful skyline photo was taken from the observation platform on Sassafras Mountain
in Pickens County, SC by Joe Vaughn. 

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, Nov 3 - 10th - Wake County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was submitted by CoCoRaHS observer with station number NC-WK-6 on November 8th.  We appreciate the observer's diligence in listing the types of species they observed. Their description of the color of water in local pond is also useful for understanding the timing of seasonal changes in water bodies.  We don't receive many of these types of reports but we'd like to! We hope this observer will continue observing changes in these same places in the future so we can have a long-term record of conditions at their location.  Thank you so much NC-WK-6!  Keep up the good work.


Categories 
 
Plants and Wildlife
Water Supply and Quality

Most of the trees in our yard have either dropped the bulk of their leaves completely (river birches), or have turned brilliant colors typical of the season (sugar and red maples, hickory and tulip trees) with the exception of the sycamores who apparently are still unawares the seasons are changing. The sycamores continue to have full green leaves. Despite minimal rainfall in the past week, the other plantings do not show any signs of lack of water. The grass is growing well. The stream and the pond water is black, even blacker than it was last week. This is not due to runoff but appears to be typical of this type of waterway in the fall.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, October 20th - 26th - Caswell County, NC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number NC-CS-1 in Caswell County, NC.  We were impressed with the many impacts they reported.  From lake levels to plants and wildlife to tourism, the observer shows that there are many types of impacts to be recorded around one's community.  We also appreciate that the observer named the species they were describing.  This will help us compare their current condition to normal conditions.  As you read their report, can you think of similar conditions or aspects of your community you can included in your next condition monitoring report?  Great job NC-CS-1!  Thanks for setting the bar!

 Categories

Agriculture
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation
Water Supply and Quality

Just returned from a trip from NC through the mountains of Virginia and West Virginia then through Kentucky to southern Indiana. This trip consisted of traveling in USDA hardiness map zones 6 a and b plus 7a. Fall leaves were pretty but a little pas their peak. very disappointed in the lack of reds and oranges on the trip up but some more returning on the same route. Everything looked very lush. Talking with locals along the way most said they had been receiving ample rain. Those in southern Indiana said landscape plants and lawns required very little supplemental water during the summer. 
 Most farm ponds looked at or slightly above normal. 

At Hyco the lake level rose considerably after the heavy rains in the middle of the month. After a rapid increase, the level reached a peak on the 16th at 410.58 and has been slowly but steadily dropping every since. Even with the large rain the lake stayed clear. There are still many campers at the lake campground due to various construction projects int he area. Hummingbirds and butterflies are gone for the summer. Mums are in full bloom now, leaves are rapidly falling, acorns abound. Early morning find "fog" on the lake due to the cool air temp mixing with warmer water temps. With cool nights,pumpkins galore and most money crop fields empty, it's definitely fall and time for Halloween.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, October 13th - 19th - Charleston County, SC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by observer with station number SC-CR-88 in Charleston County, SC.  In their report, they discussed ecological changes at a local park.  First, they identified the location they were referring to by name, Roxbury Park in Meggett.  This is important because different areas have different types of ecologies.  By identifying the location, we can better understand how weather is affecting the landscape.  The observer also included information told to them by a naturalist.  You too can include information from reliable of sources in your reports as well.  You can also include stories about weather and drought in your community that you've heard on the radio or tv or read in newspapers.  Though these sources are not considered reliable at times, they can offer valuable insight into local conditions.  Way to go SC-CR-88! 


Category:
Plants and Wildlife  
Agriculture 

With about an inch of rainfall last week, soil moisture in the vegetable garden has improved. At Roxbury Park in Meggett a week ago before the recent rain, there were very few mushrooms. Back at the park this weekend after the rain, I anticipated more mushrooms in the park but didn't in fact observe them. While I was there, Ken Carmen, the park naturalist, told me about a small depressional wetland that has been ephemeral in recent years (drying up part of the year) but this year has retained water the whole year. It's filled with moss and attracts song birds for bathing. That day, he'd seen at least 6 different species bathing, including some that are otherwise rare in the park this time of year.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, October 6th - 12th - Wake County, NC

 Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by a Wake County, NC observer with station number NC-WK-6 on October 12th.  We chose their report for several reasons.  First, they not only noted fall colors but also identified the type of tree (River Birch) that is showing changes.  In addition, they compared the tree to fall colors on other trees. Second, they offered some very useful information about pond in their area.  They noted muddiness and algae, both of which are indicators of the health of the pond. We don't often see these types if information in observers' condition monitoring reports but we'd like to!  We want to encourage all of you to note the species of plants you're referring to in your reports and be aware of changes in the bodies of water in your area.  You can note water levels, muddiness, algae and other observations.  Thank you for setting a great example NC-WK-6!  Keep up the good work!


 Categories:
Plants and Wildlife
Water Supply and Quality

While the leaves have started turning colors and falling from the trees, the most significant change is in the river birch trees in our yard. The other hardwoods barely seem to notice that it's fall. The new grass seed continues to grow. A great blue heron was fishing on the pond this morning, the water in the creek continues to flow and the pond is full. Several hard rains have brought more muddy water to what was earlier clear with a few strands of green algae starting to show up. The ground is rather soft in the low-lying areas.

Time for Some Rain Gauge Maintenance!

Sometimes we get into to a routine that with checking our rain gauges and recording our data that we forget to check the reliability and accuracy of our data.  Reliable data is that in which the methods used for gathering it yields consistent results.  Accurate data is data that is correct.  Reliability and accuracy can be compromised if your rain gauge is not set up properly.  Maybe everything is in order in terms of placement and cleanliness when you first set up your rain gauge but over time, all sorts of things can happen that can compromise your data.  Here's a check list to make sure your getting reliable and accurate data from your gauge.

• Is your rain gauge still located in an open area? (No structures, tress or brush surrounding it)

• Does your rain gauge have gunk in it? (bird poop, debris, algae)

• Is the post on which your rain gauge sit straight?(Warped wood, bent metal) 

• Is your rain gauge straight? (Not lose or leaning. Measure with bubble level)

• Is it far enough off the ground? (2 feet off the ground in open areas, 2 in developed areas)

So, check your gauge to make sure all to make sure you're getting reliable, accurate data. For more information about the correct placement of your gauge, view this slide show.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, September 29th - October 6th - Horry County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on September 29th by CoCoRaHS observer with station number SC-HR-14.  In their report, they recorded the rainfall at their location and compared their total for this year to those from 2013 and 2012.  If you've been recording precipitation measurements and observing for a year or more, you can compare your rainfall totals with those you received last year and previous years. Your records along with those of other CoCoRAHS observers are available through the CoCoRaHs website.  Just go the CoCoRaHs homepage and click "View Data" at the top of the page. Then you can scroll to see different types of records.

Comparison with recent and historical records is one way scientists understand precipitation trends. Adding this kind of information to your reports is a great way to increase their usefulness.  It's also just plain fun to compare totals from previous years.  Thank you for the good work SC-HR-14!
 

 Categories

Plants and Wildlife 

 1.91" of precipitation the past week. The wet weather continues. Last week we surpassed the total measured rainfall of 48.03" recorded in 2013 and 48.34" recorded in 2012. We are now one tenth of an inch short of 50 inches for 2014! There was standing water in the wetlands and the creeks and drainage ponds are full. Everything is green and thriving.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, September 22nd-28th - Madison County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was reported by CoCoRaHS observer with station number NC-MS-5 on September 26th.  We chose this report for several reasons: 1) it encompasses multiple impact categories it encompasses, 2) it notes how much rain was received when a front passed over their area, 3) the observer specifically identifies the types of plants are showing fall colors and 4) observer recorded happenings in both their yard and the surrounding community. Reports like this one are incredibly helpful because of it's attention to many impacts in both the household and community.  It is also very detailed which helps us understand what's, which's, when's and where's of impacts. This is truly a stellar report.  High five NC-MS-5!

Categories 

Energy
Plants and Wildlife
Tourism and Recreation
Water Supply and Quality

It's been a dry week. On the Autumnal Equinox, we had a front pass through with a brief, hard rain of .12". That's it for the whole week. The French Broad River is low--876 cfs. I talked to some rafters who said it was slow, but pretty. Rafting companies still get good business on weekends. We turned off our microhydro. Fall color is showing on sourwoods, dogwoods, sumacs, and maples. The tulip poplars are dropping brown & yellow leaves. While the resident hummingbirds left, I seen two travelling hummers on separate days. I'll keep the feeder available for other stragglers. At least one broad-winged hawk is still here, but some migrating hawks have been seen over the Blue Ridge. Our drinking spring quality & quantity is unchanged.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, September 15th-21st - Horry County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week is a report posted by observe with station number SC-HR-14 in Horry County, South Carolina.  We like their report because it compares present precipitation patterns with those in the past. Historical and present day records are very important for climate science because they allow us see weather and climate patterns and their effects over time.  We know last year was very rainy.  Therefore, comparing precipitation amounts in Horry County with those of 2013 really helps us understand how much precipitation they have received.  It's also fun to look up climate records for your area and compare them to what you're observing. You can visit the North Carolina State Climate Office or South Carolina State Climate Office websites to find some these data sources.  Great job SC-HR-14!

Categories:
Plants & Wildlife
 
Last week we recorded another 1.27" of precipitation. We are currently just a few hundreths of an inch short of the total rainfall recorded in 2013! So it has been a very wet year so far. There was still standing water in the wetlands earlier in the week but has since drained. Still, everything is very green and moist with no need for any supplemental irrigation at this time.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, Sept 1st - 7th - Orange County, NC

This week's Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on September 3rd by observer with station number NC-OR-34.  In their report they discuss the effects of low water levels on water quality.  As we read through your reports, we notice that few observers report on water quality.  This is a great idea for impacts you can include in your reports. The observer also notes how quickly their lawn rebounded from dry conditions. Plant resilience can also help us better understand drought. Do plants rebound quickly, slowly or not at all once they receive precipitation after a dry spell?  You can observe about plants in your yard, neighborhood fields or those in wilderness areas. Don't forget to try to include the names of plants species in your reports. Thanks for offering such great ideas NC-OR-34!  

Categories

Plants and Wildlife
Water Supply and Quality

This week I had to start watering the plants again, and I noticed that the raw water from well was turning red again which sometimes happens when the water level gets low. When we had a lot rain, the raw water was almost clear. Since the arrival of the rain, my lawn seems almost entirely green again; however, the moss that grows under the trees is still brown. I do not see any standing puddles in the usual spots on the property so the rain is soaking into the ground.

What's Your Anti-Bird Setup?

Anti-bird setup. http://www.wxforum.net/index.php?topic=4458.0

 

Recently, a CoCoRaHS observer emailed us asking what she could do to prevent birds sitting and leaving droppings on her rain gauge. Sometimes droppings can block the opening that funnels precipitation into the gauge. Since this seems to be a common problem we want ask observers if they have any inventive solutions. There are a few anti-bird setups that can be found online.  The picture at right shows a homemade anti-bird setup posted on WXForum.net. There are variety of setups you can do depending on the types of birds that visit your gauge.  Do you have an anti-bird setup?  What do you do to discourage birds from perching and pooping on your rain guage?  Post your comments here
or email us!  We'll post your suggestions here in a few weeks!

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, August 25th - 31st - Sumter County, SC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted on August 31st by observer with station number SC-SM-1 in Sumter County, SC.  We chose this report because the reporter offers excellent examples of how dry their area has become. For example, they not only report that the ground is dry but they give a visual description of the dust and dirt that's produced as a result.  They are also specific about what species of trees are turning color prematurely.  These kind of details make reports more useful because they offer information that is specific to place, time and conditions.

We post great reports like these because we want to encourage observers to learn from one another.  How can you make your reports more detailed?  Instead of noting trees or other plants impacts, can you include more information about what kind of plants you're referring to?  These are just a few ideas to help you think about ways you can enhance your reports.

Thank you for an outstanding report SC-SM-1. Keep up the good work!

Categories

Agriculture : $50.00
Plants and Wildlife

 
Ground conditions are very dry. Grasses are dying once cut by lawn equipment and this is causing excessive dust and dirt and clippings to be scattered about once lifted by either the wind or lawn equipment. Red Leaf Maple leaves are prematurely falling and Dogwood leaves are starting to prematurely turn from green to red. A false autumn.

Condition Monitoring Star of the Week, August 18th-24 - Caswell County, NC

Our Condition Monitoring Star of the Week was posted by CoCoRaHS observer with station number NC-CS-1 in Caswell County, NC.  In their report, they note multiple categories of impacts in their community ranging from agriculture to tourism and recreation. We've been reading condition monitoring reports submitted by all observers over the last 11 months and we've noticed that reports focus on weather impacts in their yards or households.  We want to encourage all reporters to keep your eyes open and be aware of how weather can affect your community.  The report below is a great example of additional impacts you could include you your reports. Thank you NC-CS-1!  Keep up the good work!


 Categories

Agriculture
Business and Industry
Plants and Wildlife 
Tourism and Recreation 
Water Supply and Quality

The saying "it's not the heat it's the humidity" definitely applies now. When my glasses fog up when I go outside or when I wake up and the windows are fogged up, it's humid outside! Most vegetable gardens have finished producing. Time to get ready to plant a fall garden. The lake level has steadily risen all week, now 409.84'. All the wheat has been cut. Tobacco priming continues. Birds are still molting. Hummers still around- even with two feeders near each other, only one will drink the nectar at a time while chasing others away. A few flowers are blooming but fall mum are full of buds. Another weather lore is the number of fogs in August foretell the number of snows in the winter. So far we have had at least 4 foggy morning - bring on the snow. Campers still utilizing the sites and still activity on the lake when weather permits. Lots of fishermen early this morning. School starts Monday.