Jumpers

[Fireflyfisherman]

Heat index rose to 115 today. Only have found one jumper but have numerous babies out on the porches. We are so close to fledging that I am hesitant to tell my wife to lower the gourds to figure out where he came from (heavy rack and I am away from the house until tomorrow morning). What would you do for this one bird? Dang nature gets rough and never does it at a convenient time.

[Louise Chambers]

We once returned a downed martin to a house by using a long pole - maybe it was a pool net, can't recall - to lift it up to porch level, and it scrambled off and into the nearest entrance. This was at a site at a senior apartment complex, we were visiting someone there, no way to lower housing, no knowledge of where the bird came from. But at least it was up off the ground.

Could she give that a try?

[Fireflyfisherman]

Brilliant! This we can do!

[Fireflyfisherman]

Well she got him into a gourd only to find him back on the ground right before dusk (a good find). He is now in a bucket for the night with a makeshift nest and covered by a food cover for ventilation (one that keeps flies from getting to outdoor food) and to keep critters out. When I get home in the morning I will figure out where he came from and get him back in there. Thank you for the advice. It was such a good idea. She says his breast bone isn’t protruding and looks well fed, he is just dirty. Time for a quick nest change. This weather and storms make it tough. Timing on these martins seem to be all over the place with new fledglings flying every other day. Makes these nest checks and neat changes hard to do.

[rrmartins]

Had our first jumper today, just too hot. Have two other nest with babies with no pin feathers yet. Doesn’t look good.

[Chris B]

So far no jumpers this year, but I now have a "rehab" gourd on the front porch which is where I would put one for the night.