They love those ice packs.

Diane Porter · Sat Jul 07, 2012 5:52 pm

Today our thermometer in the shade stayed at 107 for over an hour. The martin gourds, however, are in the sun!

For the last week, during which we've been over 100 every day, I've been putting an ice pack in the one occupied gourd every afternoon and changing it about two hours later. Today when I opened up the second time, two of the three babies were lying on top of the still-cool pack.

They do seem to like it. And they're still alive.

Louise Chambers · Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:41 pm

So many people have said that they later found the nestlings lying ON the ice packs! kind of amazing, and great that it's helping.

GeneP · Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:41 pm

Boy Diane, you're sure having a tough first season. After this, you'll be equivalent to a 10 year landlord!

J Getting · Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:59 pm

Diane, where do you get those ice packs? Are those the same as the ones you have in freezer and you put them around your neck when it's sore??

Diane Porter · Sun Jul 08, 2012 3:28 pm

J getting asked:

Diane, where do you get those ice packs? Are those the same as the ones you have in freezer and you put them around your neck when it's sore??

They're used for icing injuries, sore neck, etc. They're thin, they stay flexible when cold, and they don't get solid when you freeze them, so you can fold them lengthwise to put them through the opening to a gourd.

I have three that I switch out.

I was sent home with one wrapped in a kind of handy-wipe from the dentist after a procedure.

One is called "COLD/HOT PACK." It's made by Mueller, in Wisconsin, 800-356-9522.

My other good one is in the gourd right now so I can't see its name.

I think I've found them in sporting goods section of big stores.

I got a couple extras from WalMart yesterday, but they froze solid, so they won't work. Dang.

I don't put them in bare, as I don't want them to condense water in the gourd or chill the birds. I wrap it in a fairly thin cloth (or that handy-wrap thing from the dentist). Now that my hot babies are 12 days old, they have feathers and this probably won't matter so much, but I'm continuing to wrap the cold packs for the birds' comfort.

DebA · Mon Jul 09, 2012 11:46 am

Told ya! I experienced that last year. You know they love it when you find them right on top of it. I figure they are smart enough to know when it's too cold or not. Since they have to be big enough to crawl over to it. We are getting some rain today. I hope it turns into a decent amount. Our semi blocked ditch has been a hit with all the birds. The swallow birds swoop it easily. Gives me joy to figure out a way to provide water to them. I'll post some pics soon.

Deb