mist cooling martins in Kansas

[lwilg]

Last year I lost 1/3 of baby martins to extreme heat before I put up mister/sprinkler. This year, especially with martin numbers down considerably here--22 to 14 pairs and neighbors who have had martins for years having no martins this year--, I decided I didn't want to have martins die due to heat if I could help it. So early this spring, I ran a 1/4 inch drip tube up each pole and clamped it to the top of the pole. In the end of each tube I place a drip sprayer. It produces a circular pattern that sprays down on the 8 super gourds about 2 and 1/2 to 3 feet below. It takes very little water. Last year I had only 1 gourd that got some water inside. Not ideal, but no martins died because of it. I only have 3 pairs left in gourds. They are doing fine. I don't know if some water entered any of the gourds, but I will take my chances with that since most will die in the gourds or jump when the temperature is 105 to 107 every day for 4 or 5 days and predicted to be above 100 for at least another week.

[Laverne]

This sounds like a good idea. Many landlords report misting their gourds. I'm glad you have found it successful and thanks for letting us know. This heat can be brutal to both man and beast...