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Wild Birds Need Water

by Susan Nelson Hopkins

How you choose to introduce water into your garden determines the bird species you will attract.

Fortunately, a few basic water sources can bring in a large variety of birds.

Birds are attracted to natural-looking water features...

The single most important thing to remember is to mimic nature as much as possible.

Wild birds will respond if the water appears to be a natural occurrence.

Adding A Bird Bath To Your Bird Garden...

Birdbaths are particularly important during droughts, or in areas that are heavily developed or polluted. Here are the basic requirements:

1. The most effective birdbath will only be 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" deep. You can make deeper ones work by placing enough stones in them to create a shallower depth.
2. The sides should slope gradually outward so birds can climb or hop to the edge. Adding stones along the edges of a straight-sided birdbath will provide the same effect.
3. If your birdbath is large enough, provide a stone in the middle so birds can land there as well as on the edge.

Maintaining Birdbaths...

A plastic or similarly light-weight birdbath will be much easier for you to clean and move. (Just make sure the slopped edges are rough enough to prevent birds from slipping.)

Remember that mosquitoes are active during warm summer months. Every two days, empty and refill the birdbath to prevent mosquito larvae from developing into adults.

Since it takes from three to five days for this metamorphosing process, dumping the water every two days prevents mosquitoes from maturing.

Also, periodically scrub your birdbath with a brush and mild detergent, making sure to rinse thoroughly. This will keep it clear of droppings, debris, dirt, and feathers.

Placing Birdbaths In Safe Locations...

Keep in mind that in natural habitats, birds favor water sources that are fairly close to shrubs or other cover.

The ideal distance between the water source and cover is 10 feet to 12 feet; however, since most of us don't have large yards, you may need to manipulate this a bit.

Just remember that the cover needs to provide safety from domestic cats... not thick enough to conceal the cats, or so close it encourages kitty ambushes.

By the way, check out the articles in the Care of Wild Birds section. You will find tips and resources for feeding wild birds, caring for baby birds... even how to prevent wild birds from crashing into windows.

Providing Water at Ground Level...

Some bird species prefer drinking and bathing at ground level. Follow the same requirements when selecting a ground-level vessel as you would for a raised bird bath. The depth, sloping sides, and maintenance are the same for both.

On-the-ground water vessels can be flowerpot saucers, old dog dishes, upside down trash-can lids, or even birdbaths minus the stands.

A unique application would be to situate the vessel beneath an open-branched shrub, or simply place a dead or broken branch over the dish. This creates a perch for the birds to queue up on.

Another idea is to stack a few rocks next to the water for birds to bask on... the rocks will warm up during the day.

There is also a bonus in the damp ground beneath the water vessel. It attracts worms and bugs... great snacks (yuck) for carnivorous bird species like American Robins.

Water is a critical ingredient in any bird garden... that is, if your goal is to attract wild birds. When you're ready to introduce water for birds, the key is to keep their needs uppermost in mind.

I know this sounds corny, but imagining yourself as a bird sort of puts it into perspective. Would you feel safe, would you use that birdbath?

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