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104 degrees and 2 eggs in the nest

organicgardener

17 years ago

We have had triple digit temperatures for a couple of weeks and no rain. My blues have started their 3 nesting in this Texas inferno. What is she thinking? She laid her 2nd egg today. I have heat shields on the box. I'm thinking seriously about putting up an umbrella west of the nestbox. Temperature relief, and maybe rain, is on the way tomorrow. Our high is going to be "only" 93.

Linda C

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Comments (7)

donnalovesblue
17 years ago
Linda, we've experienced the same brutal temps and dry conditions. The 2nd brood fledged Sat., but when the nestlings were just a few days old, the heat index reached 108-110 degrees for over a week and I was worried sick. Thank goodness things have cooled off and we are getting a little much needed rain.

I didn't get a 3rd nesting last year so I don't expect round #3!

Sounds like you're doing everything you can to cool off the box. Did you purchase the heat shields or make them yourself?

Hope everything goes well with this 3rd nesting! Keep us posted.

Donna
Connie Kru
17 years ago
Did you put up an umbrella. I have thought of doing the same, was afraid it might scare of adults.????
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organicgardener
Original Author
17 years ago
I made the heat shields with a second identical nestbox. I used plastic tubing to hold the shields away from the nestbox about an inch. The plans are on the Texas Bluebird Society's website: http://www.texasbluebirdsociety.org/documents/heatshield_plans.pdf
I've not put up the umbrella yet. Today I woke up to the sound of thunder and rain. The Temperature is now 74 degrees. We are still discussing the umbrella. My idea is to put a metal T post a few feet away from the nestbox and put the umbrella there (west of the box) to provide afternoon shade. Husband is reluctant - afraid he will spook the birds. I keep telling him that these birds are very tolerant of nestbox monitoring and are used to my presence. Discussion continues.

Linda C
lisa11310
17 years ago
A few years back somone posted a pic of a big yellow smiley umbrella over their nestbox. Put it up when you can be there to make sure they accept it. If they dont no harm done take it down, but im sure they will.
organicgardener
Original Author
17 years ago
The umbrella is up as of 4 P.M. today. I had husband pound a T-post in the ground just SW of the nestbox. We taped the umbrella to the post. It provided great shade. The bluebirds totally ignored it.

Linda C
michelle_4466
17 years ago
One thing that you can do is water the yard especially around the nest box.That creates cooling.
michelle
organicgardener
Original Author
17 years ago
I water every day that I am allowed. Wednesday and Saturday. We are under mandatory water restrictions.

Linda

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