Heat emergency in North Mississippi! Help!

[AidanRois]

Since this is my first year, this is my first experience with heat trouble, and despite all I've learned, I need pro help.

My last nest is an SY nest with 4 aged across 4 days. All other nests have 'fledged'. The eldest should be 23 days today, and the youngest 20 days today. For the past few days it's been HOT, upper 90s. I've managed to catch them flailing across the yard and return them so far... but now I've got fledglings falling out from the other side of the house as well. As of this moment, I've caught the two young ones and one fledgling (the other died on it's porch), and they're cooling in a box. Keelbones can be felt and very visible on all in 'heat trouble', ears even starting to sink in. The parents don't seem to be feeding much if any today. They sure are mad at me though for catching the babies. I managed to get a pedialyte soaked mealworm down each of them, and they seem to be 'waking up'. The other two mates for the young ones are still outside on their porch. Because of their ages... here's the obvious question....

What can I do to try and save these babes? The forecast is not looking great for the rest of the week either with high 90s to possible 100s through the weekend. We are in Horn Lake, MS zip 38637

Please help.... I've tried everything I've learned on here, but they keep jumping from heat, and I fear the whole nest will be lost.

Thanks in advance.

[AidanRois]

Also, trying to be prepared, is this a good place to start looking for rehabbers if it comes to that? Never had to do this, so I dunno where to look.

http://www.mswildliferehab.org/MWRrehabbers.htm


I totally get now why established landlords say while it's so rewarding, it'll break your heart too.

[Louise Chambers]

I would add ice packs to empty rooms next to each of the four remaining nests now, and as soon as possible, add a large sunshade to roof, and to end wall of house if it faces west or south. Fill a ziplock bag with ice cubes if that's what's easiest right now.

Parents may be having trouble finding enough food in the heat - can you put small dish of mealworms on porch or inside rooms with young? You could drown mealworms first with pedialyte, then they won't crawl off and that will get more water into the nestlings.

[AidanRois]

I can surely do the ice in a bag thing... I have a few ice packs too. Should I leave the packs in all afternoon since some fledges come home at night?

I'm using freeze dried mealworms that've been rehydrated... I've left them on the porch before after bad weather, and they did disappear. I will do that again.

My main issue is getting them to stay inside... they're much too young to be out; can't even flap correctly yet. Every time I get them in their box, 5 mins later, they're out again on the porch... *sigh*

How long should they stay indoors in this box? I fear shocking their little systems with the cool, and they are starting to wake up....

I apologize for the panic, I just fear for my wee ones.

[Louise Chambers]

They are jumping because they are too hot, or hungry, or both - and check the nests for mites, too. But probably it's heat and hunger. Try to do the extra roof, even with a big piece of white cardboard and tape, with a few spacers so cooler air can circulate between roof and cardboard.

I'd put ice in a couple of times an afternoon - the extra roof for shade is a do-it-once aid, worth the brief amount of time it would take. You can keep them out a bit and feed more, but if you keep them out too long parents might think they are gone for good.

[DornCounty]

do you have a photo of your setup? Your profile says S&K but what color is it?

[AidanRois]

@ Louise - No parasites, thank God.. nipped them 2 weeks ago... Any kind of board with the 'air gaps' in it would work? Foamboard, cardboard, the like...? I'll try another feeding then put them back out. They're really moving in the box now. Hopefully I'll get them in without the others jumping. They do every time I come near the house. Oi.

@ Dorn - It's the standard white with green roof 12 room converted to 6 with SREH. I've added long perches of bamboo to each corner (which they love), but failed to get porch dividers up.. I have learned that lesson with this nest; no trouble with the others. I believe I'll paint the roof white before next season after this debacle. I do have a photo... but can't get it to attach... *tries to find photobucket login from years ago*

[DornCounty]

Yeah if it's green I would for sure perform the temp mod that Louise recommended. That Green roof is a heat sink.

[Louise Chambers]

That's what I was wondering, too - I bet the roof is dark, and maybe walls are too. Light colors would be cooler, though with extreme temps, maybe that would not be of enough help on its own.

Tiffany, did you see these photos?
http://www.purplemartin.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23553
I used foamboard to make sunshades for some houses I help with. But white cardboard, anything light and opaque will work short term, with spacers (we are all posting at same time! )

good luck - it should help

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

I have a few nests and they are feeding the babies now (3PM, 102 degrees), and there doesn't seem to be a problem..Maybe the babies at your place are hungry!

[AidanRois]

@ Dorn - I'm for sure painting everything on the system white after this disaster. I thought it'd work, because another local has the same house, and has been fledging beautifully for years. Hah... Everything will be white next season. If, there's a next season.

@ Louise - Yes! Love those photos, and I've just found some white cardboard I'll try to rig up.

@ Emil - That was my initial worry. From one check to the next, all of a sudden there were keelbones everywhere... that made me think feeding trouble, but I saw the parents often, so I didn't process it. Now I know better.

Full Update - This is a disaster. In the time I spent cooling and feeding the 3 I had managed to catch on the ground (which really perked up after two feedings of pedialyte worms), one of the last two died on the porch, and the other has vanished into thin air. I searched the entire backyard... nothing. I am at a loss. I did pack the adjoining rooms with ice as suggested, and believe this, one of the babes from the box in question is back out on the porch, and sitting on the ice. Oi vey. The parents swooped and squawked me as usual, so I believe they saw the babies put back in. I left copious amounts of rehydrated worms on the porch and in the door of the box in trouble, and am in the process of doing more for the lone fledge on the other side.

So.... now what? Change the ice religiously, yes... Try to rig up a roof shade, next on list... What happens next if the parents fail to do anything? Should I try to start looking for a rehabber? Will these SYs come back next year after this disaster? At this point I'm considering not doing next year. I'd much rather them breed somewhere else than die on my property. :(

[AidanRois]

Well, found the runt. He's cooling and has a few worms in him now...

BUT... the fledge jumped again. What on earth can be done? I'm completely baffled.

Parents are not feeding at all now. Only flying above, around, and making noise. They'll land and look at the babies, but won't feed or do anything else.

Throw any ideas my way... I'll try anything at this point.

[Emil Pampell-Tx]

We had a very dry year (extreme drought) last year, it was our worst martin year ever. This year we had abundant timely rains, and we are having the best martin year ever.

Don't feel bad about it, its weather related. I was just sick to see all the poor starved babies last year. I was going to get some crickets this year for sure, but haven't needed them.

We had martins for many years, and it seldom happens that the babies starve. As a landlord, we must accept what nature deals us. The martins need good housing, and they usually prosper. If you have your birds trained to eat from a feeder, you would be able to save some of them, but not all. This all is part of being a landlord. I know that you are deeply concerned about them, but really, we can only do so much. Best of luck to you in future years...

[AidanRois]

@ Emil - That's about what I'm resigned to. I did have one death in that nest, but it looked healthy. I accepted it as natural, and didn't worry. This, however, is driving me nuts. All other babies fledged beautifully, and then the heat hits when the SY nest has a week left. Horrendous timing. The mother in this SY nest uses the feeder regularly for the eggshells, should I try to put a cup of worms up there too?

I'll keep with the ice and replacing them, but after watching the parents, it doesn't look hopeful.

Is there anything I could do? Being so close to fledging, I can't teach them to fly....

I guess bottom line is, should I look for a rehabber, or let nature take them?

Sorry everyone, I didn't mean to cause a ruckus. :( Thanks for all the help! Will definitely be helpful if I do this again.

[DornCounty]

just get the white shade covers on and put ice in it.. then let nature take it's course.

It won't be your fault. Just remember over time you are going to help the martin population much more than hurt it.

[AidanRois]

@ Dorn - Yeah, you're right. I've got all that in place now, plus worms on the feeder tray... All babies back in boxes for the moment... they'll prolly be out again in 10 minutes or so. If the parents don't want to feed, they must have a reason.

Thanks everyone.

[bacato]

Sorry for your troubles Tiffeny - hot up here too. I was lucky that all of mine fledged last week, before our 100+ temps (had 106 yesterday). We're parched up here, no rain in the forecast. Hang in there!

[AidanRois]

@ bacato - I hear ya. We can kinda see y'all on our weather map on the news (Memphis), and you guys are looking about as rough as we are. I don't normally say it, but please Lord, let it rain soon! Our weather guy changed his forecast today to get up to 104 by this weekend! but... I won't have too much more to worry about.

Because...

Update: Today was the day. In the morning, mother finally brought food by, but would only stare at the babies, and then fly off with the bugs in her mouth. When I got home from town, I rounded up the jumpers from the yard again. One died in my hands, and the other two went in a box to cool and be fed. The elder ate well and held his worms, but the little one threw his up. By the time I got some more made up, they had died together, huddled in a little pile. Also, the shadow in the door of their box didn't move all day, so I assume that baby died last night since I didn't get to check today. So, with all said, the entire nest wiped out; one natural death, four from heat, plus the one little fledge from the other side of the house. This makes a season summary of 4 nests (3 successful ASY and the failed SY), 19 babies, 13 fledged. I didn't see anyone come home tonight, so I'll watch again tomorrow, but I believe my season effectively ended today.

I have my theories on what went wrong, but when the weather turns on you, there's not much you can do. I thank everyone for their support and the great cooling tips that did help out for a little while at least. I will definitely be putting everyone's great wisdom into practice again for the years to come. 13 of 19 for a first year ain't bad I guess. Without this forum, I wouldn't have learned the tricks to get those 13 out successfully.

Thanks again everyone.

[ToyinPA]

Tiffeny:
Sorry you lost those chicks. Hate when that happens.

I have seen this happen in central PA. Weather turns hot, parents can't find food, chicks get thin & their immune system crashes. They die :(.

One year I had chicks fledge early due to lack of food & ended up rounding them up & feeding them. Even a week after some fledged they were ending up on the ground due to starvation.

One chick the parents totally abandoned. I fed him for 4 or 5 days before he was strong enough to fly on his own.

A few suggestions:
When it turns hot do daily nest checks. Check for mites, blow fly larva, wet nests, sick or thin chicks. Change nests, feed chicks.

Offer supplemental food, which not only helps the chicks, but the parents too, as they use a ton of energy looking for food. A single chick should have around 10 meal worms or crickets 3 times a day minium. A few days of supplemental food can really make a difference, if lack of food is the only problem. I use orange gatorade to dip crickets in for chicks.

Spray water up over the house to cool it down a few times a day, but use caution not to get any inside the nests. Add ice packs.

The dark roof is a heat sponge. My S&K houses have silver roofs, which help to reflect the heat. I have 3 S&K houses. 1 of them is white inside the other 2 are black inside. They like the white inside best.

If you can't do this on your own then it may be best to gather the chicks up & take them to a rehabber, if you have one in your area. I have none here.

I have been feeding crickets since my colony arrived in March. First due to the cold. I was flipping crickets while it was snowing!, on cold mornings & and a few days ago due to the heat. Also on high wind days or if we have more than 2 straight days of rain too. My colony has never looked so healthy. Parents look well filled out, feathers look shiny & they do not seem stressed at all. Chicks are very fat, clear eyed. I have not had one sick chick so far this year. It only takes a couple days of drastic weather change to change the insects available. In that couple days parents & chicks both can suffer.

I also have a Robin nest with 3 chicks & Momma Robin runs around gathering up any crickets or insects the martins drop. We only had 3-4 days with no rain, but had wind & high heat, which dried the ground, so they couldn't get worms. So we watered the yard for them.

Having a Martin colony is not always easy. You can do your best to keep all of them alive or let nature take it's course & expect some to die. Since there are so few in my area (only colony in the whole county is mine) I do all I can to keep as many alive as I can.

I buy live crickets, 1000-2000 at a time. I put the boxes in a paper bag, tape the bag shut & freeze them for 24 hours. Then sort into bags of about 100. When I need some I thaw them in hot water for about 1 min, drain, dump onto paper towels & then into a dish & flip them from those long plastic ice cream spoons. Thankfully my colony has learned to catch them. So far I have gone thru about 4000 crickets.

If your colony is still there you may consider offering supplemental food for a few days until the heat lets up & they can find food. Adults will need food & will also feed fledged chicks if they have enough themselves.

Best wishes,
Toy in PA