Backyard Birding

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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