Share your shade-making solutions

[G Saner]

Now that all but a few of my colony's nests have fledged, I am shading each remaining gourd individually with a banker's box lid.

This works OK but I am thinking of something more permanent for next year. I have two PMCA Deluxe Gourd Racks. Right now, I am considering a 5-foot diameter circular sheet of something that could be tied to the perching arms on the upper level. I can already tell that you cannot shade the entire gourd at all times, especially early and late. I am also worried about the material in winds.

What material are you using? How much of an overhang do you use? Any suggestions about your solutions would be helpful.

[jbowers]

I joined the forum very recently, looking for solutions to the intense early heat here in Texas. I had 49 nestlings, and at the last nest check a few days ago, I'm down to 12. I am cutting white 24 x 18" Coroplast (corrugated plastic) yard signs into 18" circles with a 3" center cut out, and securing one to the top of each gourd below the gourd arm and hitch pin. (I have the 12-Unit deluxe gourd rack w/excluder gourds.) I hope they will stand up well to rain and wind.

[birdman in buckhead]

See post "Damned if you do Damned if you don't"

[G Saner]

jbowers,

I really like your solution. The panels get the shade directly over the gourd and they are attached without any fasteners. Also, easy to move around from one gourd to another. Unfortunately, I have the pronged owl guards and my pvc elbow vents are attached at the top back of the gourd neck.

Is 18inches sufficient to shade the gourd all day? I had considered the sign board you are using. Let me know how it handles the sun, rain and wind.

Thanks, Gary

[Thomabear]

jbowers, that looks very nice and functional. Great Job!

[white-out]

I just acquired a 10' old mesh satellite dish for a new rack and this post got me wondering if this could help. It is very light, maybe 40 lbs and I think some fabric could be fastened/glued to the mesh for shade. If it was permanently fasted to the top of the pole, 10' diameter would shade most racks through the heat of the day. No fussing with anything once up and It may also help with hawk attacks. Crazy?

I can't wait to hang some gourds on this next year!

[jbowers]

G Saner,

The boards provide shade most of the day, except for early morning and evening, when the sun is pretty low. We've had a heavy rain, and I didn't see any problems. They're holding up to the regular breezes fine (20+ mph), but we haven't had any high winds yet. The birds seem to be loving the shade, and they'll actually perch on top of the boards at times.

Happily, the twelve nestlings that survived the heat have fledged. And at this morning's nest check, three of the nests had new clutches of eggs in them! I was sure it was too late in the season for that.