In certain parts of the country, we aren’t always lucky enough to have natural snow on the slopes so the resort has to create it to ensure the skiers are happy and keep coming back. The perfect tool to assist in accurate snow creation is a Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter. Many resorts rely on the Kestrel meter for dependable measurements when fabricating snowflakes. The Kestrel 3500 provides reliable readings for all the environmental elements that go into successful snow making including: wind speed, temperature, wet bulb temperature, and wind chill.

Since running the machines to create the perfect wintery mix can be costly, using a Kestrel unit to aid in measuring the weather to ensure conditions are just right can save snow makers time and money.

If you’re not into the snow making business, but still want to make use of your Kestrel while skiing or snowboarding, dip the Kestrel meter top down into the snow and submerge the thermistor for a few seconds for an accurate reading of the snow temperature. Monitoring these conditions over time may even help you get an idea of when the temperatures will drop causing the slopes to become too icy or dangerous to ski.

As always, we ask that you share your adventures with us! Let us know if you have any stories about using your Kestrel in the snow or on the slopes, we look forward to hearing from you.

Many paranormal professionals believe that movement from the dead can affect barometric pressure.  Ghost hunters look for the pressure to drop below normal to detect unusual activity. The Kestrel 2500 NV can measure the barometric pressure trend over a 3 hour period so you can review the results later and help you determine if a lingering soul was around. With its night vision “NV” backlight, users can easily see the readings on the meters, even in the creepiest of places.

In addition to tracking pressure, the Kestrel 2500 NV will also track wind speed, temperature  and altitude. Some ghost hunting professionals also find it useful to keep an eye on humidity to pick up any changes in the air. Another tool to aid in the tracking of ghosts, is the Kestrel 3500 NV which measures the same environmental conditions as the 2500 model plus relative humidity. Try taking a Kestrel unit out on this “All Hallow’s Eve” and see what trends and changes you notice in your area and let us know what you discover.

So when there’s something strange in your neighborhood, what ya gonna use? Kestrel Meters!

Weathernews took advantage of NK’s extensive customization and private labeling options for its order of Kestrel 3500 Weather Meters. Before starting production, some members of the NK team met with Weathernews’ management to ensure that the unit being manufactured for them would truly represent their brand.  The company’s owners were able to select the color of the case and window and the design of the packaging label. The multi-function meters were then branded with the Weathernews logo and packaged with Japanese language instructions. The units will soon be distributed to Weathernews subscribers and field weather reporters at no cost, keeping their mission alive.

In addition to growing US exports and supporting the US economy through sourcing of raw materials, this order has helped directly employ several Philadelphia and Delaware County residents, many of whom would have otherwise been jobless. “We are teaching the new hires electronic assembly, soldering and lean manufacturing skills which will benefit them in the future” said NK’s Human Resources Manager, Paula Whittaker. “If this project translates into recurring sales, the employees may be eligible for full-time positions and company paid benefits.”

This was a win-win situation for Nielsen-Kellerman, not only are we having fun creating a unique Kestrel Weather Meter for a customer, we also added nine new people to our team to help with the project. If you have any questions about our private labeling option, let us know!

In talking with several members of the NK team, it sounds like we have the unique opportunity to meet so many interesting people involved in a variety of industries who use our products. I must say, I am really looking forward to it! It is truly amazing learning how many people have a need for a Kestrel meter, whether it is for professional or recreational use. We also venture out into the different markets and hear firsthand what experiences people have had using their Kestrel unit.

During my first week at NK, I participated in a quarterly FBI Demo shoot in Fort Dix, NJ where a large group of local law enforcement go to check out new products and practice on the range. Many of the participants were seasoned Kestrel users with interest in learning more about our newest unit that has built-in ballistics software, the Kestrel with Horus. The experience was very exciting and I can’t wait to go back (hopefully my aim will be a little better next time)!

The next few weeks will definitely be busy for us at NK as we head into trade show season. We’ll be in Fort Benning, GA at the end of the week for this year’s International Sniper Competition and then in Annapolis, Maryland for the Boat Show next week. They certainly know how to keep things interesting here at NK!

In the few short weeks that I’ve been here, I have already talked to some of our wonderful Kestrel users.  I had the chance to catch up with Tom from Maryland who used his Kestrel 4500NV with Bluetooth this month to aid him in winning 1st place at the ASC Fall match. By coupling the Kestrel weather meter’s environmental measurements with the calculations from Android’s ballistics calculator, “Shooter”, Tom took home the winning trophy.  Later in the week, I spoke with Mick from Nevada who was looking forward to using his Kestrel 3500NV when he heads to China in November to base jump from one of the world’s largest bridges.

I’m looking forward to meeting our NK fans and users and hearing stories about how our products have helped make their job or hobby easier! If you have a cool story you’d like to share, please post it here!

-Meg Keating, Brand & Marketing Manager at NK

The erratic and rapidly expanding nature of wildfires can prove deadly and devastating, swallowing hundreds of thousands of acres in a short period of time.  Weather reports from distant weather stations are useless for determining the conditions at the point of fire. Kestrel meters allow firefighters to know the relative humidity right at the scene of the fire allowing them to make decisions for safety and firefighting strategy. Instant wind speed and direction readings also provide clues to the fire’s behavior and how quickly its path might change. Wildland firefighter and first responder Timothy Tonge explains, “Firefighters have come to depend on Kestrel meters for critical information on current weather conditions.  Correct and current knowledge of weather conditions plays a key role in keeping firefighters safe, and properly fighting and extinguishing fires.”

Previously, firefighters had to use several tools to get all of the information available in one handheld Kestrel meter.  The Kestrel 3000 model replaces an entire firefighting belt weather kit with a 4-ounce unit. With optional Bluetooth® data transfer capabilities, the Kestrel 4000 series allows for wireless weather data transfer to fire behavior models and other software.

Every Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter is backed by a five year warranty and is designed, developed, built, and supported here in the USA. Nielsen-Kellerman’s Kestrel Weather division has been researching, developing and manufacturing technically advanced portable weather instruments for more than fifteen years and owns multiple patents on their unique features. Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters are employed by thousands of users in hundreds of different activities around the world.

For more information on Kestrel applications, please visit here.

*The Kestrel meters on a prescribed burn. Courtesy of Jim Thomasson.

Here, you can see the Kestrel 4000 attached to a tree trunk collecting weather data during a live fire exercise as part of a 1st Special Forces Group 6-week sniper course.  The sniper team duo pictured below managed to secure an ideal final firing position by patiently navigating and concealing themselves behind trees and bushes.  The Kestrel 4000 was used to gather instant weather data continuously for 30 minutes while the team observed the target area, and input all pertinent information into their ATrag ballistics software on a PDA.  As the only sniper team to achieve a first round hit of the day, they thank the Kestrel Pocket Weather Tracker for giving them the most accurate shot!

The Kestrel 4000 series with Bluetooth wireless data transfer is compatible with many popular ballistics programs. For help getting started or with troubleshooting your Bluetooth connection, read our Connection Guide. If you are a software developer and you’re interested in learning more about becoming a software partner, read about it and get additional information here.

If you haven’t already heard, the all new Kestrel with Horus ATrag Ballistics combines all of the above capabilities of instant environmental data PLUS integrated Hours ATrag Ballistics software. That means you get comprehensive, automatic aiming solutions customized for your target and location all in one unit- no PDA required. Depending on your needs, there’s a Kestrel as advanced or as basic as your job requires.

Check out more cool Kestrel customer snapshots or submit your own to our Facebook page!

Why do flamingos stand on one leg? The Kestrel 4000 helped researchers find out!

Matthew Anderson, Ph. D, of Saint Joe’s University, studied the pink birds for a year at the Philadelphia Zoo to discover the answer to that question.

Using a Kestrel 4000, collapsible tripod and Vane Mount, he was able to monitor and track all environmental conditions to see how they might influence flamingoes’ resting behavior, specifically the famous one-leg perch they are known for.

The research team found that as the temperature drops, flamingos tend to tuck their leg under their body in an effort to minimize heat loss.  It appears standing on two legs increases their exposure to the elements and encourages the loss of body heat. When they stand with one leg tucked under their feathers, it acts as an insulator for that leg maximizing body heat.

Flamingos are tropical birds usually found in warm climates; however, they often spend much of their time in the water.  Since bodies of water tend to change or drop temperatures more quickly than the air, this may be their way of self-regulating their own body heat. How a flamingo responds to low temps in a physical way is similar to how we might fold our arms across our chest when we walk into a chilly room.

Apparently, cold weather is for the birds…at least if you’re a flamingo.

Click here to read more about the study, “Caribbean Flamingo Resting Behavior and the Influence of Weather Variables”.