Backyard Birding

Night time temperatures have been dipping a bit in my area of the country, leaving an icy reminder of the coming winter on the edges of my bird bath. Water will soon become a much coveted resource as available sources begin to freeze. Before we got our bird bath heater, I would watch the Robins peck holes in the ice to get to the water underneath. When they were finished, the finches and sparrows would flock to the free water to drink and bathe. After we purchased the heater, we had a small flock of Eastern Bluebirds hang out in the yard for a few days in December as they were getting ready to migrate.

Birds need water as much in the winter as they do in the heat of summer. Temperatures may be cooler, but their ability to stay warm is dependent on clean feathers. Since most shallow water freezes, there is almost no water available. Many birds will eat snow to remain hydrated, but this cools their bodies.

There are a variety of bird bath heaters which will keep your bath free of ice. They can be a little expensive to purchase, but are not very expensive to run. I recommend saving and getting one of at least medium quality. A little extra investment now will save you from making a repeat purchase next year. The nicer ones also generally shut off if your bird bath goes dry which is a nice feature to have. The one we purchased was $30.

If that is not in your budget, you can still offer water to your birds. Before we got our heater, I poured fresh, hot water in the bath twice a day. I went out at the same time each morning and afternoon and it did not take long for the birds to learn the schedule. They would gather in the bushes and chatter noisily while I filled the bath and checked to make sure I hadn’t made it too hot before going inside.

If you do not have a bird bath, I posted an entry some time ago about selecting bird baths. Some places may have them on sale currently, but it is not an item that needs to be stored away until Spring! Cleaning your bird bath is also still important.

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Perhaps even more important than cleaning your feeders to your birds health is regularly cleaning the birdbath. As I was preparing to write this, I was surprised at how much conflicting advice is out there for maintaining a clean and healthy birdbath, so I will stick to the advice given us by the kind people down at our wildlife habitat store.

It is important to note why birdbaths get so disgusting so quickly. The water is warm, shallow, still and deprived of oxygen. These conditions are perfect for the growth of algae and bacteria which are naturally floating in the air all the time. They can also be introduced by the bird droppings. Once they take home, the water in your bath turns stagnant quickly, becoming a health hazard for your birds.

Changing these conditions can slow the growth and keep it more manageable. As tempting as it may be, however, never add detergents, bleach or other additives to the water. Even chemicals safe for an aquarium may not be safe for birds.

The safest way to clean the bird bath is to empty it, rinse it and allow it to dry completely. Scrub it with a hand brush, rinse it and refill it. If you empty your bath and rinse it daily, this will not be necessary as often.

One way to slow the process is to keep the water moving. This allows the water to remain oxygenated. A Water Wiggler, or fountain added to your bath will accomplish this.

If you have ever thought of adding a pond to your yard, these can also be adapted to suit your birds, as well. The depth of the pond and its filtration system help to keep the water from stagnating. The plants in it also assist in maintaining a healthy, natural balance. I have often read that people can be very successful attracting birds to their yard just with a well-designed pond and no feeders at all.

To sanitize your birdbath, bleach is probably the safest. Use nine parts water to one part bleach and clean the bath thoroughly. Rinse it well then refill. If the bath needs soaking, cover it with something to keep birds out until you are finished. The chlorine in the bleach dissipates quickly, so there is little chance of much being left by the time you refill your bath.

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After posting about providing water for your birds, a number of people came searching for information on bird baths so I thought I would provide a summary of some of the different types of baths out there.

Pedestal bird bath

This is what we have. It is a simple bird bath available almost anywhere. The most important thing to consider when selecting this model of bath is the depth of the water. Birds prefer the shallow type. The slope should be gradual and the ultimate depth no more than three inches. If you already have a deeper bath, you can try laying a few stones in the bottom. I have read that birds prefer to bathe low to the ground, and have noticed this to be an issue among some ground feeders. Most birds seem to accept the bath fine, but our American tree sparrow and the juncos we had this winter just hop around the base scratching at the drips.

They are also available made of different materials, such as concrete, plastic or metal.

Hanging bird baths

These are great, especially if you have limited space. A shallow dish hangs from a tree, pole or other overhang. These are also a lot lighter than the concrete bird baths, and easier to clean.

Bowl-type bird bath

Similar to the pedestal bird bath, this is a simple, shallow bowl which can be set on your deck, balcony or even directly on the ground. You can purchase one for the purpose, or even use an overturned trash can lid or other shallow dish. We set out an old pie dish with water in it for our juncos this winter and it worked very well. These are also light and easy to clean, which is a plus.

Sprinklers/misters

Birds love the sound of water and anything you put in your yard which sounds like running or dripping water is likely to attract birds. These have an additional advantage besides watering your lawn: they attract hummingbirds. It can be quite enjoyable to watch these delightful little birds as they dart in and out of the mist!

There are a number of companies which offer a wide selection of baths in enough styles to suit your tastes. Here are a few companies I know of, but one of the best places to start is your local wildlife habitat store. Attendants there can answer any questions and you will get a chance to see the baths before purchasing.

Birdbaths.com
Birdingguide.com

(Please note, I am not affiliated with either of these companies, and there are a lot of others out there. I only am providing some links for your convenience and because you can get a better idea at what is available by searching through their products. I have never ordered from either company, so please don’t take these links as an endorsement or recommendation.)

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All living things need water and providing this resource in your yard can attract a diverse number of birds, some of which may not be attracted to feeders. We’ve had Carolina wrens, blue birds and robins all frequent our bird bath, although none have ever displayed any interest in our feeders. Birds need to water to drink and to bathe. Clean feathers are important for flight.

Providing water can be as simple as filling an old trash can lid or as elaborate as a flowing water garden with shallow places for bathing. We have a simple concrete bird bath purchased at WalMart which serves our purposes and space well. No matter what form you choose, there are some things to consider:

Warm, shallow water quickly becomes stagnant. They can become a breeding ground for disease.

Mosquitoes also breed in these conditions, which will make your backyard unpleasant and possibly a source of disease.

To prevent this, clean your bird bath regularly. We empty ours daily, letting it dry completely before refilling. We also scrub it clean weekly with mild soap and rinse it thoroughly. Never put any chemicals or other additives in the water to keep it clean, for this could be detrimental to the health of your birds.

Duncraft also offers an interesting product I just read about yesterday. The Water Wiggler keeps the water in your bird bath moving so that mosquitoes won’t lay their eggs in the bath. I wasn’t so interested for the mosquito factor since we’ve never had that problem. I have read, however, that birds are attracted by the sound of water, especially where it is scarce. A steady dripping or the sound of running water, though almost silent to us, acts as a beacon to thirsty birds. I wonder how effective this wiggly water would be at this?

What water features have you used in your yard?

birding, backyard birding, bird baths