http://www.purplemartin.org/main/19.2-BeattheHeat.pdf
http://www.purplemartin.org/main/21.3-BeattheHeat.pdf
If hot temps are coming, start planning now
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Louise Chambers
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- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Hi Louise,
Thanks for the post. Are you hearing anything about when or if upper nineties or hundred degree temps will hit Texas this year? just wondering.
Last year, the hundreds did not hit until middle to third week of "July" in my area. We had 1 nest hatch on July 1st and I was like wwwhat.. The latest hatching clutch I ever saw which is trouble here. They made it tho but 100 degree temps that late is not normal here.
Thanks for the post. Are you hearing anything about when or if upper nineties or hundred degree temps will hit Texas this year? just wondering.
Last year, the hundreds did not hit until middle to third week of "July" in my area. We had 1 nest hatch on July 1st and I was like wwwhat.. The latest hatching clutch I ever saw which is trouble here. They made it tho but 100 degree temps that late is not normal here.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
Matt, the NWS has not contacted me with weather news (ha!) but this site predicts a cooler summer, let's hope they are right! ANd wetter, too. http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/p ... rchill.php
Thanks Louise. If it ends up playing out like predictions, this is good news. I am not saying you got all the answers or anything but I believe you did mention there would not be a drought this year back at the beginning on it. 
We can never know the weather but if cooler means at less than 95, this would be nice.
If so I would think I would "not" put up shade boards if the temps stayed at or below 96 degrees since I'm thinking they can handle that. If it went "and" stayed higher ... as usual... shade boards should go up.
What is the temp you would recommend shade boards?
We can never know the weather but if cooler means at less than 95, this would be nice.
If so I would think I would "not" put up shade boards if the temps stayed at or below 96 degrees since I'm thinking they can handle that. If it went "and" stayed higher ... as usual... shade boards should go up.
What is the temp you would recommend shade boards?
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
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Louise Chambers
- Site Admin
- Posts: 6208
- Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
- Location: Corpus Christi, TX
At our colony sites here, if temps are going to be above 95 and stay there for several days - up they go! They don't do a bit of harm. It varies, too depending on nestling age. If a gourd has younger birds, we'd be more likely to put boards up to stay, since weather is only going to get hotter. With birds almost ready to fledge, might hold off unless temps are going to be/stay at 97 for several days. Some sites are breezier or near water, others are surrounded by concrete. So landlords have to keep those things in mind too.
Last edited by Louise Chambers on Mon Jun 15, 2015 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Makes a lot of sense. Buda is always 2 to 3 degrees cooler then Austin due to concrete city, machines, exhaust and so forth. Thanks again Louise.
2008~(1st yr) 4 pairs, 11 to 12 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
2009~(2nd yr) 9 pairs, 41 fledged
2010~(3rd year) 11 pairs. 50 fledged
2011~(4th year) 20 pairs, 23 out of 23 gourds Martin occupied, 3 fledged, the rest died in the drought. (1 new Blue Bird, 3 BB fledged.)
2012~ 26 pairs, approx. 100-110 fledged
What about putting a water sprinkler under the gourds or spraying water on them? It's gonna be in the mid 90's around here fro a few days and no rain in sight.
2014 8 gourds, 3 pairs nested. Ended w/ 24 total
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
2015 24 gourds, 22 nests. Lotsa birds!
2016 24 gourds and good activity.
2017 32 SREH gourds. Great activity.
2018 40 SREH gourds. Good finish despite big storm damage. No more dangling gourds.
2019 56+ SREH gourds, all on 3/8 rods. Birds did very well.
2020 56 SREH gourds.
I don't think spray or running sprinklers "under" the gourds would/will have any impact on the cavity temp inside. It may make it a shade higher in humidity levels, which in the south, we have enough already. Best way is to shade the sun OFF the cavities or housing. Without direct sunlight, the cavity temp will stay more stable as the outside air temp.
When sun shines on something, the temp rises above the air temp if that makes any sense, sorta like a car sitting out in the sun, even with windows down, it still gets warmer than the outside air.
When sun shines on something, the temp rises above the air temp if that makes any sense, sorta like a car sitting out in the sun, even with windows down, it still gets warmer than the outside air.