3rd nesting this year- concerned about heat!

[Love my blues!]

Hi All- haven’t been on in awhile- need to catch up. Hope all are doing well & so sorry for those that have had bad nesting seasons.

I’m in AL & have been very lucky to have had 2 successful broods fledge this year (11 total). Surprisingly, they’ve completed their 3rd nest for another go. I was really hoping they wouldn’t nest again because we are approaching 97-100 degrees here with a higher heat index. My box is not in the direct sun & faces South. It’s a newer well-insulated box, but I’m going to add the styrofoam/spacers/bungee shield. Is there anything else that I can do? This is pretty late to nest in this area.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Nicole

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Nicole, sounds like you are doing it right with 2 successful nestings. Wow, to have another nest going this late there in AL would be pretty hot for them – additional heat shields would be good for sure, but you should be okay if they are not in direct sun. Do you use spookers, wren guards & baffles for the crawling critters? Congrats the success so far and good luck. Do have a question, you mention your box is a “newer well insulated” one – is the insulation for cold or heat, i.e. where is the insulation & what is it made of? Did you buy it this way?

[Love my blues!]

Thank you, Carol! First egg today & tons of juvie HOSP around. Put a gigantic heat shield up with spooker today. Nervous about this one…

By well-insulated box, I’m using the terms that Wild Birds Unlimited uses, which is where I got it. It’s a particular type of wood with thicker walls, nice-sized vents, & opening on each side. WBU guy didn’t think I should worry about the shield, but wanted to do what I could. These birds are wearing me out!!

Nicole

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

Nicole, your box sounds very good – thick wood & good air vents, which is how we build our boxes. But in a very hot area and especially if they are in direct sun (all four of mine are), I truly believe the shields are needed – but just my thoughts. I know my first year I had 4 babies just die in the box in July, all at the same time, and although I suspected pesticide poisoning (all dying at once), it could have been heat related because I did not know about heat shields. Great you have your 1st egg – my pair finally have 3 eggs and she began incubating yesterday. I have to be more concerned about the wren than the HOSP on this one!

[Love my blues!]

Good luck with yours, Carol! Second egg here today. Going to be 100 several days in a row next week. Hope they can survive it. Ugh!

Nicole

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