Question about water supply..its already hot here

[Hugh Criswell]

Its already 90 here in central Ga and hardly no rain..the closest pond is about a mile from my house.i am worried about the Martins getting too hot and not getting enough water to keep cool. I was wondering if i attached a sprinkler on top of a pvc pole and ran it for a while in the evenings if the Martins would could fly through the water and drink . Would like to know if anyone has tried this or is it just not a feasible idea Thanks Hugh last year had 2 pair right now i have 23 martins

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

For a martin, flying a mile can be done about as fast as you can walk from the den to the kitchen refrigerator to get a drink. It is completely unnecessary to supply them drinking water if you have water a mile away.

Some people do mist their martins when it gets about 105 degrees or so, but there again, many think that it does more harm than good. However, you decide on your own, I doubt that anyone has proof one way or the other.

I sure hate to see it get so hot so early, but many of our martins will fledge within the next 3 weeks, so they should be fine.

[Hugh Criswell]

Thanks for the information it had not occured to me that a mile is a very short distance for them to fly.I pray that yall get the rain that you need this summer, and tha we get some also Thanks Hugh

[Vern1]

Greetings,
I would be more concerned if I had metal houses than if they could get water.
Last year here in Texas, it was hot, dry and then it was really hot.
I had my best year in quite a while last year but like Emil said, they were fledged before the dog days kicked in.

[Siberman]

I'm blessed to live near several lakes but I keep bird baths full during the summer as well as an ornamental pond ( about 2000 gallons) in my front yard. Keep an eye out for predators , though. Last summer my little oasis attracted all sorts of varmits.