Hello all,
Can someone tell me if there is some truth to the notion that natural gourds are better for warmer climates; I recently moved southward and want to know if I should use only natural gourds.
Hot climates and plastic gourds
We had a student compare internal gourd temperatures in the Fall of '04: 3 Big Bos vs 3 Naturelines vs 3 Supergourds vs the 1 natural gourd we had, all hung facing north.
On any given day, the maximum temperatues inside that one natural were consistently two to four degrees F lower than any of the plastic gourds.
Mike Scully
On any given day, the maximum temperatues inside that one natural were consistently two to four degrees F lower than any of the plastic gourds.
Mike Scully
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Guss P O'Brien
I use all plastic Natureline gourds. I have noticed some apparent heat related stress and death of chicks, but I have nothing to compare to. The smaller chicks seem more vulnerable to the heat.
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Guest
I know it doesn't get as hot here as it does down in texas. But last year we had some pretty hot days. I remember watching the martins hanging their heads out and mouths wide open.
This year I put a small elbow at the top of the super gourds for a vent. Right now I have a cork in the end of it. If it gets hot I can remove the cork and see if that helps. So far this year they are nesting in my housing. Come on sy's....
, where you at??
This year I put a small elbow at the top of the super gourds for a vent. Right now I have a cork in the end of it. If it gets hot I can remove the cork and see if that helps. So far this year they are nesting in my housing. Come on sy's....
, where you at??Gus, just FYI, we ran a test of two Naturelines with top vents entirely plugged vs two Naturelines with top vents wide open last fall. The difference was about 1 degree F.
Of course two to four degrees cooler for the natural, or even one degree cooler for the vented Naturelines might not sound like much. But it seem to me that martin heat tolerances (up to about 105 F) are very close to the maximum recorded highs during the nestling period over much of their range.
We haven't tested one yet, but I'll bet a natural cavity in a dead tree is well insulated enough to stay pretty close to ambient temperature. If so, martin heat tolerance is closely keyed to what naturally occurs.
Many days down here in a plastic gourd, temperatures creep perilously close to that lethal 105 F, I expect even a degree or two cooler could spell the difference between death or survival.
Mike Scully
Of course two to four degrees cooler for the natural, or even one degree cooler for the vented Naturelines might not sound like much. But it seem to me that martin heat tolerances (up to about 105 F) are very close to the maximum recorded highs during the nestling period over much of their range.
We haven't tested one yet, but I'll bet a natural cavity in a dead tree is well insulated enough to stay pretty close to ambient temperature. If so, martin heat tolerance is closely keyed to what naturally occurs.
Many days down here in a plastic gourd, temperatures creep perilously close to that lethal 105 F, I expect even a degree or two cooler could spell the difference between death or survival.
Mike Scully
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Guss P O'Brien
In my experience with chick heat stress and death, it seems like the temp was not extremely high, but it seemed very humid and there was very little wind. Like right after some of those pop up afternoon showers when the sun comes back out and it was some off those nest that are very then and sloppy- not much material in them.
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Guest
I'm sure some have insulated these HDPE/Plastic gourds,,can you say what you used and how it was applied?
dick
dick
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Guest
I will let you know how it goes; I'm in South Carolina and I have a mixer of SG, Natureline and Naturals. ASY Martins are hanging around but I don't know if I have any keepers.
Are there somewhat sure signs (other than nesting or me being patient) that they plan on staying?
thank in advance,
Are there somewhat sure signs (other than nesting or me being patient) that they plan on staying?
thank in advance,