UV light and skittish birds.

[Mack]

I've noticed on some days I can get really close to birds and some will fly up near me. Other days I cannot get them to even approach me and they stayed perched in the trees hiding.

I was researching some wind-proof double-canopy umbrella for outdoor reflector use and found it has UV brighteners that make the flash much bluer than I'd like. A UV black-light made the white umbrella glow. Not good.

Aside, I learned that birds can see down into the UV range and some clothing, if not most even washed in Tide, have UV brightners in them. So that makes you look like a giant threat to the bird. Some hunters use a product called U-V Killer by Atsko ( https://www.amazon.com/Atsko-Sno-Seal-Killer-18-Fluid-Trigger/dp/B003GW7HMI ) to keep deer and birds from becoming alarmed by their presence.

More info on it here: https://cleanitguide.com/how-to-remove-optical-brighteners-from-clothes/

So I'm off to buy some to treat this glowing UV umbrella. My old photographic umbrellas always blew over in desert wind so hopefully the dual-canopy and slot will allow some airflow through them and not bend light-stands up or cause stuff to go airborne.

 

[SteveAdler]

What are the active ingredients in these UV blockers and are there any environmental impacts?

 

[Mack]

What are the active ingredients in these UV blockers and are there any environmental impacts?

Nothing on bottle says what's in it. The Atsko website looks to be "Green Tech" stuff. Dunno.

https://www.atsko.com/u-v-killer-information/

It pours out like milk. There is some small mixing ball or nut in the bottle as it can settle out. I mixed it with a small bit of 91% alcohol from the drug store per their enclosed instructions when I brushed it on my umbrellas (Three coasts.).


Aside, I had dark navy blue or black pants on yesterday and the IR 720nm filter and full spectrum E-M1 camera made them look white when it accidently went off in my lap. Very bizarre! Don't know what they look like to the birds as they likely have some UV in them given washed in Tide which adds more UV brighteners (Even over the top of the "U-V Killer" stuff.). I do know wearing them that no birds came near me at all. Coincidence?