This is the first year to have any PM's in my house. :) I have 1 pair of nesting ASY's w/ 5 eggs not yet hatched. Mr. ASY brought home some friends & then ran them off when they got too close to "Mama". I want to add additional housing in case more SY's come by but not sure what is the best alternative. The house the couple are in is a Trio TSS-12 w/ porch dividers now in place.
It has been in the middle to upper 90's the last week. I've been concerned because I've seen "Mama" with her head stuck out "panting" in the afternoons. Is there anything I can do to help keep her cool?
:???: I was considering a Trio Castle because of the multi-directional entrances but I didn't want to spend close to $400 when I only have 1 pair. Option 2 is to use the S&K Tri-Tel Pole I have in my back acreage & put a Gourd rack & perching tree on it. Are the Big Bo gourds from S&K ventilated enough for our temps? (Cost would be less than $100)
Your input & expertise would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks, Lila
Heat in TEXAS, Best Additional Housing Choice???
Natural gourds appear to be significantly cooler than most plastic ones.
Our tests on year had Supergourds a tad (~1.5 F) cooler than Naturelines or Big Bos. And Natureline a bit cooler than Big Bos, but we have fledged young every year in Big Bos here in San Antonio.
Intuituvely, I would think any gourd would be cooler than most house designs.
Mike Scully
Our tests on year had Supergourds a tad (~1.5 F) cooler than Naturelines or Big Bos. And Natureline a bit cooler than Big Bos, but we have fledged young every year in Big Bos here in San Antonio.
Intuituvely, I would think any gourd would be cooler than most house designs.
Mike Scully
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birdy girl
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I don't know the answers to your questions, but I am going to put up a gourd rack with natural gourds next year. I read somewhere that natural gourds are 2 -3 degrees cooler than plastic gourds. I was just wondering how long you have tried before getting martins to nest in your house? I tried 2 years and had one nesting pair last year. THis year I have nothing. I had had a few lookers but no takers.
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Guest
Hi Lila,
I don't think it really matters what you put up, its gonna get hot here in it. As Scully said, I think gourds would be a little cooler. There has been a couple of post of insulating metal houses, but I think the cost is around 1/2 the price of a house.... doing one at a time.
I have all my houses facing towards the south, the wind that we get here has to help some. However, its hard at times trying to "fill up" with males claiming more than one house. Once the SYs get here, they usually can get a room.
Have a great year
Chuck
I don't think it really matters what you put up, its gonna get hot here in it. As Scully said, I think gourds would be a little cooler. There has been a couple of post of insulating metal houses, but I think the cost is around 1/2 the price of a house.... doing one at a time.
I have all my houses facing towards the south, the wind that we get here has to help some. However, its hard at times trying to "fill up" with males claiming more than one house. Once the SYs get here, they usually can get a room.
Have a great year
Chuck
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
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- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
I always use gourds that have a vent in them, and the heat doesn't seem to bother them. They hold their mouths open, but I never find dead babies that the heat killed. I have mostly natural gourds.
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Guest
Lila,
There are some housing temperature test results in the Archives:
www.purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/Temptest.htm
Tony
There are some housing temperature test results in the Archives:
www.purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/Temptest.htm
Tony