Heat and martins
I have martins sticking there heads out of entrances today as the temperature is 90 and the wind is almost calm . I was thinking of spraying the gourds with cold water but am afraid it will make the humidity worse not sure what to do .
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C.C.Martins
- Posts: 3368
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2017 11:15 am
- Location: Corpus Christi Tx
- Martin Colony History: 2016- Visitors.
2017- 5 pair. 15 fledged
2018- 18 pair. 85 fledged
2019- 17 pair. 81 fledged
2020- 25 pair. 111 fledged
2021- 28 pair. 118 fledged
2022- 33 pair. 151 fledged
2023- 33 pair. 165 fledged
2024- 40 pair. 185 fledged
2025- 40 pair. 181 fledged
HOSP:
Home colony: mix natural, super, Troyer and excluder gourds, enlarged compartment house. All SREH.
Satellite colony: Oso Bay Preserve: 49 PMCA excluder gourds; 16 room Lonestar Goliad with Modified Excluder entrances.
2019: Visitors
2020: 3 pair, 11 fledged
2021: 10 pair, 30 fledged
2022: 11 pair, 35 fledged
2023: 18 pair, 101 fledged
2024: 39 pair, 181 fledged
2025: 51 pair, 216 fledged
PMCA member
I'd not recommend you spray, you may just douse the nest with water and create a whole new set of issues. If possible, put up sun shields, corrugated sign board. You can also put in ice packs, encased in socks to cool the young...Im assuming you have young.
The birds are panting, thats how they cool off...90 degrees isnt really that hot. Your weather outlook is high 80s through the week; mid 50s at night. they should be ok.
Do you have vents on the gourds?
The birds are panting, thats how they cool off...90 degrees isnt really that hot. Your weather outlook is high 80s through the week; mid 50s at night. they should be ok.
Do you have vents on the gourds?
A good house sparrow is a dead house sparrow.
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
HOSP: 17. Starlings: 23
All my gourds have a 1 inch pvc elbow for ventilation . The martins in gourds are almost fledging age. I have even delayed mowing around them as to keep them from getting stressed out from the combination of heat and noise. If they can hang in their the temps will be better Friday.
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flyin-lowe
- Posts: 3792
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:49 am
- Location: Indiana/Henry Co.
If they are almost fledge age then they will stick their heads out no matter what the temps. If you don’t have any jumpers then they are not too hot. They might not be the most comfortable but if it was unbearable they would be jumping. Spraying water, as you mentioned, can cause more harm then good.
2026 HOSP 29
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
2025 62 pair HOSP 20
2024 60 pair, HOSP 44
2023 60+ pair, HOSP 8
2022 60 nests with 262 eggs, HOSP 14
2021 62 pair, HOSP 9
2020 42 nest, HOSP 8
2019- 31 pair
2018- 15 pair 49 fledged
2017 3 SY pair, 12 eggs , fledged 10. 4 additional lone SY's
2016 1 pair fledged 4
2015 Visitors
2014 Visitors
2013 Moved 6 miles, 1 pair fledged 2.
2012 30 pair fledged 100.
2011 12 pair 43 fledged.
2010 5 pair 14 fledged.
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jpp77
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Mon Apr 17, 2017 9:21 pm
- Location: Lawrence, KS area
- Martin Colony History: 2015 - 1 pair, not successful (Sparrows)
2016 - 1 pair, 4 young
2017 - 5 pair, 23 young
2018 - 8 pair, 40 young, two deaths most likely due to heat.
2019 - 18 pair, 74 eggs, 1 nest abandoned, all the rest successful.
2020 - 32 nests, unknown exact egg numbers, 1 death.
They should be fine at 90 degrees. May just be sticking their heads out waiting for food or close to fledging. One or the other. We have had multiple days in the upper 90’s and so far so good. I do occasionally spray water up above my gourds so it falls down on top of them to cool off. No different than rain. I’m not sure it really helps though. Hang in there