Summer is so eagerly looked forward to because of the riches of visual delights it brings. Not the least of these is the myriad of birds that are drawn to the birdhouses that we’ve erected, and the safe havens our eaves provide for nest-building. Watching the mating process, the nest building, and eventually the first day of flight are treasures of Nature in which we are allowed to partake.
Just as we need to hydrate during the warm season, so do birds. One way that we can pay back to Nature is to provide safe and clean drinking and bathing arenas for them.
If you have a deck, this is an ideal place to set a bird bath-particularly if it’s close to a hose for easy daily cleaning. It will draw birds that are not just visiting your feeders for seed; these include vireos, warblers, orioles, bluebirds, thrushes, buntings, and even more. Plant gladiolus around your deck and the hummingbirds will be able to eat and drink; there are few greater pleasures than watching these marvelous little birds, especially when they seem suspended in space.
Traditional bird baths consist of a basin on a pedestal, but the available colors, textures, materials and finishes are so varied that you can easily find one consistent with the style of your garden. Choose one with gradually sloping sides that provide several different depths of water.
Small birds, such as chickadees, need water less than an inch deep while larger birds like robins will bathe in 2 inches of water. With a solid rim on which to perch, the birds can more easily tip their heads to drink. But they also need to bathe, which is why we encourage you to have a basin with a slope that will allow for both drinking and bathing.
Why not consider a clamp-on bird bath that attaches to your deck’s railing and has both shallow and deeper areas that accommodate birds of all sizes? One caveat-glazing may be more attractive to our sensibilities, but it can be a slippery surface, so consider first a bath made of pottery, stone, or cement composition.
The most important aspect of providing water for our avian friends is that it be clean water in a clean environment. Do a daily scrubbing on your bird bath, and refill with fresh water. If there are tough stains, use a very little bleach mixed with water, scrub, and rinse THOROUGHLY before you add the fresh water. Adding this task to your daily regimen will prevent algae from forming. And if you’ve placed your bird bath close to your garden hose, it will be even easier to provide safe hydration.
There are many bird baths from which to choose; we’ve listed a few of the ones with unique qualities.
- Just like children, birds are drawn to the sight and sound of dripping or splashing water. Dripper bird baths run a tube from the faucet to the dripper with an adjustable valve that enables you to make the drip very slow, thus conserving water while still attracting the birds.
- Solar fountain bird baths contain a solar panel that circulates the water with a pump. They are energy efficient, but functional only during hours of bright sunlight.
- Misting bird baths are a particular favorite of hummingbirds, who fly through them to bathe. If nearby leaves get wet, some birds will bathe by rubbing against them.
No matter which kind of bird bath you choose, place it in the open so that its visitors can watch for predators, but also provide landing spots within 10 feet of the bath. And then feel good about yourself for having made Life in the Wild just a little bit easier for your garden’s denizens.