Heat and no shade

[sonja8582]

Hello all-
I am needing help from the expert landlords. I have had several jumpers this year, likely due to the intense heat and there are No trees taller than the Martin house for hundreds of feet. I need to know how to shade my birds choice 3 story Martin house. This is the link: https://birdschoice.com/products/purple ... 6VEALw_wcB

I have shade cloth, and white pvc sunboards to start with. Please help!

[C.C.Martins]

Sonja8582,

End of season for a lot of folks and they drop off. Ill try to answer:
The corregated sign boards should work ok. Attaching them is easy enough with those black office supply clips.
If you have the top perch as in the picture and cut the board to match the roof I think youll be ok. Point is to put something between the sun and the roof or side of the house preferably so air can pass under it for the breeze.
I think there will be no reason to cover both sides?
just the top and perhaps a side facing the most intense heat. Just give them room to fly to their cavity, they will adjust just fine.

Its been a very hard season.

Many years ago I attached foam board to the roof of our martin house one summer, used the metallic tape and just cut it to the shape. Worked just fine.

I hope this helps you!!
Tom

[sonja8582]

Thank you so very much! I still hear the purple martins in the area in mid morning and have seen a few males but otherwise they are absent, and I suspect the heat is part of reason! Thankfully, I had several fledgelings survive- and my colony is still growing inspite of the 100 degree temps!
Tom do you think I need to separate the signs from the roof or the material from the roof or can I just put directly on top of the roof?

[C.C.Martins]

Well, sounds like your birds fledged already! Ok well then what you are seeing is perfectly normal behavior. Its not the heat keeping them away they accomplished their mission for the season and are ready to head back. You did it! You may get visitors in the morning or afternoon just checking things out but interest is nil.

So you have time. I wouldn't worry that you have to rush, they aren't interested in nesting. Id leave it all alone until they are well gone from the US; some folks take theirs down immediately, some wait. I like to wait. End of August for me in Corpus. Up to you.

So you want something permanent, or something to use during the very hot months? Very hot months may be better-- those cold hard north winds
Feb, March timeframe may mess with your shades. If I had that house Id look at where the orientation in relation to the sun...where is it blasting most, if its on the right side you could very well attach the sign board to that side but remember heat radiates, it will dissipate best if there's an inch or less between the side of the house and your sun block vs attached directly to the house. The house has rails going all the way around it, perfect for mounting a sunshade on the side, it gives space for the air to circulate.

Why not vent the roof? instead of a roof shade? drill a 1/2 inch hole just under the roof in the side just under the peak and put in a 90 degree PVC "elbow" oriented straight down, seal it with silicone calk, can find them at lowes or home depot...maybe one on each side. can insert a piece of foam during colder months, remove it when its 90 degrees.

You could also paint the roof with bright white paint, exterior paint of course, the white will help reflect the sun.

I love martins house projects, Im just itching to do some additions to ours. Iv a one level heath house sparrow trap in my living room...put 3 van ert traps in it...cant wait till Jan! haha

Anyway, I hope this helps,
Tom

One PS: sorry, always doing this. does the house have expanded compartments? sorry, dont know much about those houses.

[sonja8582]

I need help currently- see my post. I have 2 babies that need to be adopted by colony. Looking for East Texas locals- see my post today

[Martintown33]

Hi Sonja..I hope you found a solution to your issue , on your other post.. don’t want to steal your thread but saw toms idea.. Tom. I like your idea for the roof sun shade. I was trying to figure a way to keep the roof sun shade panels in place without permanently adhering them. Office clips! Perfect with the foam board strips as spacers to allow for air flow.. easy to install when it gets hot and remove when it’s cold , for the early arrivals..
good luck in the off-season!
Rob

[ron20m]

Sonja,
Sorry I just saw this. Maybe next year. Heat always a problem.
I'm a big fan of misters. Of course you have to have water.
I'm in oklahoma and had heat indices over 110 with zero jumpers.
I have 3 gemini poles and use twist ties to attach a 16 nozzle system to each house.
Works like a charm.
Been posting it on this forum for several years.
Good luck

[sonja8582]

Can you send me pictures?

[Kuemic]

Sonja, it has been a brutal year for heat and humidity! I'm sorry about your jumpers, we've not had to deal with that yet. We do use shade cloth, which I double and then attach to a rectangular structure. Using heavy duty fishing line, I sew the cloth tight to a frame (made by my husband) of garden stakes (the coated steel ones). We use the same garden stakes as perching rods for the martins. Everything is attached to the house and gourd rack with zip ties, based on sun exposure and occupancy. Both shade systems have survived 75+ mph winds this season.

My husband also insulated the roof of our metal Trio house. Hope this gives you an option!