comparing temps, heat indexes in dry and sprinkled gourds

[lwilg]

Comparing dry martin super gourds and sprinkling the gourds

I used 2 acurite indoor humidity hygrometers, #00613. I had these set up in the house to compare them. Hygrometer 1 and 2 read exactly the same as far as temperature. #1 registered 2% lower percentage of humidity than #2 at that temperature.
I put the hygrometers in 2 different gourds and read the temps and humidity at 3:15 in the afternoon on July 15. #1 read 108 temp and 25% humidity, which equals 113 heat index. #2 read 108 temp and 26% humidity, which equals 114 heat index.
Using Weather.com, Wunderground.com., and my own weather station, I read the ambient temps at 3:15. The 3 sources varied in temp from 95-97. The humidity varied from 26%-30%. The heat index varied from 94-97.
I waited until 3:50 and then read the hygrometers again. Both read 108 temp and 22% humidity at that time. That is a 110 heat index. Using the 3 ambient weather sources, temps varied from 95-97, humidity from 24-29, and heat index from 94-96.
At 3:50 I turned on a drip irrigation sprinkler mounted on the pole above the gourds at a very low flow so that it sprayed just enough to drip down on the gourds.
I left the sprinkler running until 5:45 and checked again. #1 had a temp. of 82 and a humidity of 40%, which equals heat index of 81. #2 had a temp of 84 and 42% humidity, which equals a heat index of 84. The ambient weather at the time I checked the hygrometers varied from 95-97 temp, 23-28% humidity, and 93-95 heat index. At this time the temp in a dry gourd was 101, with 21 % humidity, which equals a heat index of 99.
This information suggests that in a low humidity, high temperature ambient weather situation, sprinkling gourds with very low water flow seems to improve the environment inside super gourds to very acceptable temps, humidity, and heat indexes. I definitely will continue to use this system here in Kansas. Since humidity levels were raised inside the gourds here on a very low humidity day in Kansas, it could very well be true that in high humidity areas that the lowering of the temperature might be offset by higher humidity that could result in a higher heat index. I will leave that evaluation to someone else, if anyone has any interest.

[Dave Duit]

Thank you for this study. I do mist on hot days and I feel the martins bene
fit.

[lwilg]

Dave--I used a sprinkler rather than a mister. I don't know if the finer spray of a mister would have a different impact on the humidity in the gourd, and thus the heat index, or not. It could be a little higher, but maybe not. Good luck trying to keep the martins alive.

[Guest]

Could you post a pic of your setup, I'd like to get an idea of what its like. And post one if you could with the water flowing at the rate mentioned.