Getting a little shower,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Guest]

cooling off my one nest of babies. It was 97 on the wall of the back of my house under a metal patio cover. I had given them some simulated rain with the garden hose earlier.They seemed to like that.

dick

[Guest]

Dick,

In case you haven't seen this, here are some more tips:

www.purplemartin.org/forumarchives/archive/HeatHelp.htm

Tony

[Donna - TX]

I wish I got that little shower! I am using my hose during the day and spraying above the houses and gourds.(started that yesterday) The martins didn?t know what to think at first except for a couple of older males but today they came a runnin when I turned on the hose. Some still aren?t sure about it but I think they will join in once they realize what it is. I just hope we get some rain soon because I saw the martins feeding very low this evening and not bringing in much to their babies all day. Simon went ahead and picked up some crickets and mealworms just in case I need them. The next few days will be in the mid 90?s so it?s going to be hot in those nests.

[~Patrick~]

I was out this evening watching the feeding parents and began to think the same thing. Some of them were taking an awful long time to get back between feedings. I'm wondering if the insect population is drying up. We haven't had any rain since the storms a few weeks back and it's getting dry. I might try supplementing myself if the young looked stressed or small or listless at the next nest check.

Good luck,

Patrick