Backyard Birding

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