Heat shield suggestions?

[Whitney Gregge]

My bluebirds are currently working on a new nest and with the temperates getting in the high 90’s im worried they won’t make it. Any suggestions as to what I can do to help? Boxes are pretty much in the sun most of the day and there isn’t any shade without getting next to the tree line.

[Dene]

I live in Texas over 100 heat index each day and high 90’s except when raining and we use an umbrella, I take it down every evening when the sun moves low and put up every morning. The shade knocks off about 10 degrees and the male will sit under it on the top of the box a lot during the day in the shade of it. Others have used foam from Home Depot that there are directions for how to use it if you do a look around you will find it.

[Carol – Mid-Mo.]

This is a pic of the heat shield I use – made out of about 3/4 to 1″ Styrofoam. Need to use it on the south side & west side of box and on the top. VERY important to have dead air space between foam & wood box 1/2 to 1 inch. My boxes are also in full sun and I’m in Missouri. We do have some heat here but not like in the more southern states. I usually put it up when temps reach 90 degrees because we have lots of humidity and heat index is always a lot higher. Lots of different ways but I find this works fine and I keep shields from year to year. Do notice the dead-air space in the pictures – this allows the flow of hot air to get away from the box. Something to look at. Good luck. P.s. That tree is probably 200′ away from the box – no shade at all.

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