night vision or lack of

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 12:14 am

How bad is a finches night vision?

I watched my gouldians when the lights went out, and they were fluttering about, seemingly unable to see and find their perch, although I could see it just fine. I used a small flashlight and shined it on their perch and they went to the perch. It appears that what I thought was an adequate night light is not sufficient. It looks like I have to find some place that is selling Christmas lights. Not sure if they have the Christmas stuff on the shelves yet.

JohnBoy · Post by **JohnBoy** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:45 am

ac12 wrote:How bad is a finches night vision?

I watched my gouldians when the lights went out, and they were fluttering about, seemingly unable to see and find their perch, although I could see it just fine. I used a small flashlight and shined it on their perch and they went to the perch. It appears that what I thought was an adequate night light is not sufficient. It looks like I have to find some place that is selling Christmas lights. Not sure if they have the Christmas stuff on the shelves yet.

Our Dollar General already has Christmas lights out.

cindy · Post by **cindy** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:41 pm

Target has mini lights in the patio section for $4.99

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:49 pm

I picked up a set of LED xmas lights from Target. I chose the LED xmas lights over the incandescent to save on the electric $. Target had blue, white, and warm white. I chose blue, thinking that it would be darker and more like night.

Man are they BRIGHT. There is WAY more light than the nightlights I had before. I think the birds were confused because it was WAY brighter than before. The way I strung the lights, I have about 4 on the front of the cage, aimed towards the back of the cage. The LED has a lens so most of the light goes forward, rather than around like an incandescent bulb. Where the LED light hits the coroplast there is a BRIGHT blue circle. On the full breeder cages I have 8 lights per cage, 4 on the upward leg and 4 on the downward leg of the string of lights. And the top cage has even more cuz of the lights that go across the top of the cage.

I picked up another timer to do similar to what I read here that someone else does. The timer for the night lights goes on 10 min before the cage light goes off. We shall see if they learn the pattern and go to roost in that 10 min.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:05 pm

Yes I think they will learn pretty quickly that once the mini lights come on they have a short period of time to roost before the big lights go off. And if by chance some don't make it before - well that's what the mini lights are for - to allow them enough light to get to a perch.

I don't know what LED lights are compared to the regular mini lights but as long as they do the job, all is well.

I have a string of white 'icicle' minis leftover from a few years ago and am currently using it behind 3 flight cages and it just gives off way too much light at night. I like the white colour but must get a single string of mini lights to replace it for sure.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 1:51 am

Liz,
If your lights use a minature incandescent bulb you should be able to use a dimmer to get the brightness down to a more reasonable level.

I don't know if a dimmer will work with the LED lamps. I will be trying it out after I get an adapter to screw into the light socket where I have a dimmer wired in.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 9:03 am

Hi Gary, I think it would be cheaper and faster to get a new single string of mini lights rather than getting a dimmer and having to wire that up somewhere / somehow.

I myself am not electrically wired / minded.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:21 pm

As long as the mini-lights is not as bright as the LED mini-lights. If it is still too bright, you can get an in-line dimmer and plug it into the wall, then plug the lights into the the dimmer. I have one for my feet heating pad under my desk.

This is similar to the one that I have.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1 ... ogId=10053

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