Temperature Testing on Different Nesting Cavities

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>Entrances By Sandy</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>    </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Entrances By Sandy"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id255.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Martins Cant Read"><U>Martins Can't Read</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id254.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="European Starlings and English House Spa"><U>European Starlings and English House Sparrows</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Comparing Breeding Success: Snyder Exclu"><U>"Comparing Breeding Success:</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why do Some Martins Choose to Nest Alone"><U>Why do Some Martins Choose to Nest Alone?</U></A>   |   <B>Temperature Testing on Different Nesting Cavities</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id224.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Comparing Breeding Success: Snyder Exclu"><U> Snyder Excluders vs. Conley Excluders"</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why do Some Martins Choose to Nest Alone"><U>Why do Some Martins Choose to Nest Alone?</U></A>   |   <B>Temperature Testing on Different Nesting Cavities</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0418dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I><B>Temperature Testing on Different Nesting Cavities</B></I></div> <div> <B>After a failure last year of trying to capture actual temperatures and humidity inside different gourds that were actually being used for nesting, I had a relatively successful year in capturing accurate data.  For accuracy, I took my 6 dataloggers to work and compared their reading every ½ hour against a calibrated thermometer that I have to use to report my water samples and tests to the state of NC.  All dataloggers were dead on.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Before installing the dataloggers in the nesting cavities, I set them up to record data every 30 minutes, starting on March 1, 2008.  4 were placed in gourds that were 18 feet high and facing Southeast at a compass heading of 155 degrees.  These were mounted in:</B></div> <div> <B>1.  A natural gourd painted Majestic Oak brown</B></div> <div> <B>2.  A white Supergourd</B></div> <div> <B>3.  A natural gourd painted Leather Satchel brown which is a little lighter in color than the Majestic Oak Brown</B></div> <div> <B>4.  A white Natureline</B></div> <div> <B>All gourds, with the exception of the Natureline, were double vented with ¾” elbows.  All gourds had 6 holes that were 7/16” in diameter drilled in the bottom.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One datalogger was placed in a compartment of the T-14.  This compartment was facing due East because of the way the house is setup.  The T-14 is built from Sintra.  It has ½” thick walls and back, and a ¼” thick front door.  The house is not vented in anyway except for what comes in the entrance hole.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One datalogger was used to measure Ambient Temperature and was mounted under the North facing section of the T-14.  It was fixed so that it got air flow, but was never in direct sunshine.  Some say that the Ambient temps should have been taken in the shade, but I disagree as the Martin housing is not in the shade.  The ambient temperature datalogger was about 2' lower than the other dataloggers.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We had what could be considered a fairly cool May.  The highest temperature registered by the Ambient temperature datalogger before June 6, 2008 was briefly bumping the lower 100s for 3 hours on June 5, with 102 degrees being the highest.  The humidity was 38% and the dew point was 71.6 degrees.  Before that, all outdoor temps had been in the high 80s, with an occasional low 90.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>On June 6, 2008, the heat was on.  The Ambient temps went to the 105 range for several hours each day.  This lasted for 4 days.  The highest Ambient temp during this period was on June 9, 2008.  It was 107 degrees with a humidity of 31.5% and a dew point of 70.4 degrees.  The Ambient temps stayed at 100+ degrees for 6 ½ hours.  This period is when I experienced all of my jumpers.  After this, the Ambient temps stayed in high 80s to upper 90s, with an occasional 100 to 102 degrees.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Now, for the nesting cavity information.</B></div> <div> <B>1.  Natural gourd painted Majestic Oak Brown with 5 chicks plus parents.  Highest temp 119 degrees with a humidity of  24.5% and a dew point of 73.1 degrees on June 9, 2008.  Before this date, only an occasional 100 degree, but most readings where in the 90s.  This temp was only hit once, but for about three on that date, the temps inside the gourd stayed at 104+ degrees for 9 1/2 hours.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>2.  White Supergourd  with 6 chicks plus parents.  Highest temp was on June 9, 2008 at 111 degrees, with a humidity of  34.5% and a dew point of 76.6 degrees.  The Supergourd stayed at 100+ degrees for 9 hours.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>3.  Natural gourd painted Leather Satchel Brown with 5 chicks plus parents.  Highest temp was on June 9, 2008 at 116 degrees with a humidity of 24.5% and a dew point of 70.6 degrees.  This gourd stayed at 102+ degrees for 9 ½ hours.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>4.  White Natureline with no chicks or parents, no nest at all.  Highest temp was on June 9, 2008.  It was 111 degrees with a humidity of 33% and a dew point of  75.2 degrees.  It stayed at 101+ degrees for 8 hours.  This temperature really concerns me since nothing was nesting in this gourd.  And yes, the top vents were open.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>5.  T-14 compartment with 6 chicks and the parents.  Highest temps was on June 9, 2008.  It was 103 degrees with a humidity of 38% and a dew point of 72.4 degrees.  The house stayed at 101+ degrees for 6 hours.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id222.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Why do Some Martins Choose to Nest Alone"><U><B>Previous Page</B></U></A><B>            </B><A HREF="mailto:sbunn1@suddenlink.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:sbunn1@suddenlink.net"><U><B>Contact Me</B></U></A><B>             </B><A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="In Memoriam"><U><B>Next Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>