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”.

You can get your Kestrel Horus unit right now!  Call us toll free at 800-784-4221 or 610-447-1555 to place your order. You can also e-mail us at info@nkhome.com or place your order online here http://www.nkhome.com/kestrel/kestrel-horus/.

Interested Dealers, please contact Christine Lasser to place your order classer@nkhome.com or 610-447-1555 ext. 227.

Which Kestrel meters will be available with Horus Atrag Ballistics software?

The Kestrel 4500 NV series will be available with Horus Vision ballistics. The Kestrel 4500 is the only model to give wind direction, which is important for long-range shooting and a perfect complement to an integrated targeting solutions system. The Night Vision (NV) series is the preferred model for the military because of its dim red back light that does not obscure or bleach out your natural vision in low light situations. Nocturnal or early AM hunters like this one too for the same reason.

You will also have the option to choose a model with Bluetooth data transfer or without the wireless technology. With the Bluetooth technology, you will be able to wirelessly load your customized gun library right onto your Kestrel Horus unit easily and instantly. This would also give you the option to save your data for tracking and comparing shooting competition performance against range conditions or for training purposes.

The available colors will be in Olive Drab and Desert Tan.

How much do they cost?

The Kestrel with Horus Ballistics will cost less than the combined price of a ruggedized PDA and Kestrel meter together. This new Kestrel meter eliminates the need for a PDA- all the critical data you need is right in the unit! Plus, it’s a lot lighter than the Trimble and most other durable PDAs on the market…yet just as tough.

The Kestrel with Horus ATrag Ballistics retails for $619.

The Kestrel with Horus ATrag Ballistics + Bluetooth data transfer retails for $739.

I’ve never used ballistics software before. How can this help improve my shot?

The Kestrel with Horus ATrag Ballistics takes out the guesswork and eliminates the chance of error in long range shooting. As you know, minor changes in environmental conditions can have a huge impact on the accuracy of your shot at a longer distances. Relying on cue cards or guessing limits your accuracy potential. The Kestrel with Horus Ballistics automatically includes all the critical weather information required for the built-in ballistics algorithms trusted by the military. With the Kestrel weather info plus proprietary ballistics calculations, you get instant aiming solutions that tell you exactly how what your windage and elevation holds are for the most accurate shot.

Can I build my gun in the Kestrel Horus unit?

Yes. You have the option to choose from a list of standard long distance shooting guns or customize your own user gun. The Kestrel will hold and save up to nine guns in the unit itself. If you maintain an extensive gun library on your laptop, you have the ability to wirelessly transfer your gun information to the Kestrel with the optional Bluetooth® data transfer capabilities.

Do I need a station pressure or barometric pressure reference for shooting?

Many leading ballistics programs use “barometric pressure” as a general term for pressure in software and manuals. This can be a bit misleading because what you’re really looking for as a shooter is station pressure. While in the Horus mode of your Kestrel unit, you will see “SP” for station pressure.  This is the actual air pressure of your location. Barometric pressure is not the true air pressure at a given location.

Barometric pressure is the atmospheric pressure adjusted to sea level.

Station pressure is the atmospheric pressure measured at a given location, or “station,” without elevation correction. Sometimes referred to as actual pressure.

It’s possible for these readings to be the same sometimes. For instance, if you live at or near sea level, barometric pressure and station pressure readings will be the same. But at altitudes higher than sea level, the difference between barometric pressure and station pressure becomes significant. Think about it like this, will the flight of your bullet be affected by the pressure at sea level or will it be affected by the pressure exactly where you’re shooting?

To make sure you’re getting is station pressure, be sure to set your reference altitude to zero in the Kestrel unit while in the Horus mode.

Can I upgrade my current unit to include Horus Vision software?

No. The Kestrel with Horus ATrag Ballistics was specially designed and built to support the integrated ballistics solutions along with the Kestrel platform you’re used to- environmental data, storage and wireless data transfer capabilities. Sometimes we’re able to offer an upgrade option if it only involves a code change but in this case that is not possible because this advanced Kestrel uses a whole new board to hold all the additional capabilities.

However, we have some good news for you! We do have a Customer Care Discount program where you may trade in your current Kestrel for credit towards the new Kestrel with Horus Ballistics. Plus, we’ll donate the unit you trade in to the nonprofit organization, americansnipers.org, which provides equipment to our troops in need overseas. Get a credit, get the newest Kestrel, AND give to a charitable cause all at once.

Here is a link to more info on Customer Care Discount program.

For more info on the donation organization, please visit www.americansnipers.org.

Shooting Accessories Hot Tip: You may want to check out our all new Multi-Cam Kestrel Tactical carry case. It goes perfectly with your Kestrel Horus unit and offers added protection for a superior portable and durable combo.  Plus it looks cool.

While we’re at SHOT, we’ll also have some of our team across town at the World Of Concrete Show. Our Kestrel 4300 Concrete Construction Weather Tracker automatically calculates evaporation rate right at the pour- giving concrete contractors the environmental info they need to prevent plastic shrinkage cracking. Come check us out at booth S12711 for a chance to win a prize!

As if two shows in one week weren’t enough…the Kestrel girls will then be heading straight to the American Meteorology Show in Seattle to see what’s happening with the world of weather bugs. It’s Kestrel Girls around the world all for the love of weather. If you’ve been to any cool events lately or have any pictures with your Kestrel in action, post them here!

Your Kestrel Weather Girl & Blogger,

Monica

twitter.com/KestrelChick

www.facebook.com/KestrelMeters

So, when can I get it?

The official release date is scheduled for this fall.

We make all of our own products right here at the Kestrel headquarters so we’re on top of the entire production process. We’re also perfectionists. We refuse to let you have products that aren’t up to extremely high standards. We put our Kestrel meters up against stringent NIST standards, rigid military drop-test specs, and IP-67 & MIL-STD-810 protection from dust and water damage. If you don’t know what those codes stand for, it’s basically a fancy, super official way of saying a product is darn TOUGH. Let’s just say the Kestrel is the Clint Eastwood of hand-held weather meters, or Chuck Norris even. What that means for you, is that we conduct robust rounds of beta testing and updates to ensure the product that reaches your hand is top notch. Check back for schedule updates or changes.

Which Kestrel meters will be available with Horus Atrag Ballistics software?

The Kestrel 4500 NV series will be available with Horus Vision ballistics. The Kestrel 4500 is the only model to give wind direction, which is important for long-range shooting and a perfect complement to an integrated targeting solutions system. The Night Vision (NV) series is the preferred model for the military because of its dim red back light that does not obscure or bleach out your natural vision in low light situations. Nocturnal or early AM hunters like this one too for the same reason.

You will also have the option to choose a model with Bluetooth data transfer or without the wireless technology. With the Bluetooth technology, you would be able to wirelessly transmit all of the Kestrel weather data to a laptop for analysis or long-term documentation. For example, tracking and comparing shooting competition performance against range conditions or for training purposes.

The available colors will be in Olive Drab and Desert Tan.

See what they look like here.

How much do they cost?

We will have more info on this going forward so be sure to check back at our site and this blog. You could also follow me on Twitter @KestrelChick. Fan us on Facebook and of course shoot me an e-mail: mdevlin@nkhome.com.

The Kestrel with Horus Ballistics will certainly cost less than the price of a ruggedized PDA and Kestrel meter combo. This new Kestrel meter eliminates the need for a PDA- all the critical data you need is right in the unit!

For more info on the new Kestrel with Horus Vision ballistics, please click here.

Know Your conditions.

Your Kestrel Weather Girl,
Monica Devlin

Can I upgrade my current unit to include Horus Vision software?

No. The Kestrel with Horus Vision ATrag software was specially designed and built to support the integrated ballistics solutions along with the Kestrel platform you’re used to- environmental data, storage and wireless data transfer capabilities. Sometimes we’re able to offer an upgrade option if it only involves a code change but in this case that is not possible. We do have a Customer Care Discount program where you may trade in your current Kestrel for credit towards the new Kestrel Weather Tracker with Horus Vision.

Here is a link to more info on Customer Care Discount program.

Your Kestrel Weather Girl & Blogger,

Monica Devlin

Get connected your way.

The all new Kestrel with Bluetooth® data transfer series is capable of running on various software platforms. That means now there are more ways to use Kestrel weather data to fit your needs. Storm tracking, shooting applications, Haz Mat plume modeling and fire behavior models, much more!

We are open and excited to work with you to either assist you in troubleshooting your connectivity issues OR get started on pairing the Kestrel wirelessly with your software.

If you are a software developer and would like to find out more about software integration with the Kestrel Bluetooth® data transfer series, please find more information in the Bluetooth Connection guide.

http://nkhome.com/wp/kestrel-interface-protocol/

You may also contact Tech Support for additional assistance.

610-447-1555

info@nkhome.com

Post your questions and comments in our NK Knowledge center and we’ll respond within 2 business days. Here you’ll also find answers to many FAQs.

Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters Software Partners

Below is a list of our fully-integrated software partners. This is just a very preliminary list…we’re currently working with many partners. More to come soon! Join the wireless weather data wave!

Shooter

Shooter is a highly accurate ballistics calculator for the Android mobile platform (v1.6 and higher). Shooter’s primary goal is to provide accurate shot solutions quickly and easily when in the field. This is done by utilizing a proven-accurate and fast ballistics solver coupled with an advanced, intuitive user interface supporting features like firearm and ammunition profiles (so you never have to enter the same data twice) and options to use your device’s hardware (GPS, Accelerometer, Compass) to help you input shot-data both quickly and accurately.

http://sean.kndy.net/shooter/

Contact:

Sean Kennedy

sean@kndy.net

Lex Talus Corporation

The Field Firing Solutions software (FFS Delta series) has become the standard for real-time, long range ballistic solutions and support, computed on rugged hand-held devices for field use. The Delta IV-K software interfaces with the Kestrel 4000 BT series weather meters for on demand or continuous atmospheric and wind serial data which the software uses to automatically update its firing solutions.

http://www.precisionworkbench.com/

Contact:

Blaine Fields
blaine@lextalus.com

Click here for Introduction to the Kestrel 4500 guide.

For more quick tips, contests, specials and latest product news, follow us on twitter.com/KestrelChick or fan us on Facebook!