Written on
February 15, 2010 – 10:11 am | by renefarmer1961
The heat in the summer time can take a toll on birds. The bird feeder that you may now have in your yard is wonderful for attracting all kinds of varieties of birds, but nothing attracts birds better than a bird bath.
Birds, just like all other wildlife, need water for drinking and bathing. This is especially true in areas that don't have many water resources such as lakes, ponds, streams and springs. Bird baths offer an attractive addition to your yard or garden and offer the local birds and those that are just flying by, a refuge for drinking and cleaning up.
They are great to have, especially for nature lovers who are either short on space, or don't have any pets of their own. Bird baths can be easily maintained and require very little space, whether they are placed in a small, or a very large yard, or garden.
Bird baths can be made of different kinds of materials such as concrete, stone and metal. Stone is probably one of the best materials to use, because it is more durable and is more apt to resist the changes of temperatures. Concrete bird baths can work out fine, but because they tend to decay over time, they are not as solid and sturdy as the stone baths. Even a metal garbage can lid turned upside down can make for an excellent bird bath.
Bird baths that are at ground level are used the most, however, the birds are at a greater risk of danger from neighborhood cats, dogs, raccoons and other animals that may prowl the neighborhood.
The most common and traditional bird baths are the pedestal type.
This type of bath, firmly secured to the top of a pedestal and fixed at a safe height, also allows the birds a better view of their surrounding area. It should be placed away from bushes, which are known hiding places for predators to hide in.
Many bird baths are also designed for either hanging from an overhead member of a structure, or from a tree branch, or from a metal post secured vertically into the ground. These particular hanging baths have shallow dishes and cater primarily to song birds.
Birds like to feel safe and comfortable when drinking or bathing. They will always be hesitant to use the bath if it is placed to close to humanity. You will also not want to place bird houses and bird feeders to close to the bath, because the seeds and waste will contaminate the bird bath.
They love the sound of running water and prefer this type of bath as opposed to one that only has still, standing water, which, for health reasons to both humans and birds, should be prevented as much as possible from standing for more than three days at a time. A bird bath with movement is better than still water, as standing water will attract mosquitoes which could possibly lead to West Nile virus and other potential problems.
Standing water will also attract feathers, bird droppings and dead leaves. However, many of these problems with still water can be eliminated by routinely cleaning the bird bath and cleaning out the old seed hulls.
Just like humans in a bath tub, birds can easily slip on a wet surface. They are extremely sensitive and become very uncomfortable when entering water that rises to their midsection, because of the fear of drowning. They like to ease themselves into the water and having such sharp, deep drops in water depth, may scare them off completely.
Many of the commercial bird baths are way to deep. A bird bath should not be any deeper than 3-4 inches. You can put rocks in the bottom, but this makes it more difficult to clean. However, by placing just one large rock in the center and a few smaller ones around the edge, may help to solve the problem.
Birds have different tastes when it comes to bathing. Some like a bath and others prefer more of a shower. You can purchase a dripper or a hanging mister and by simply clamping it onto the edge of the bird bath, it will give the birds a choice. Having this dripper or mister mounted, will also attract many more species into your yard, more so than what a plain, simple bath would.
You can also purchase the recirculating fountains that will take the water from within the bird bath and spray it into the air, or perhaps one with drippers that drip a drop of water every few seconds.
Butterflies also love the misters and another way that you can attract them, is by setting out a dampened sponge in a shallow bowl with a mixture of sugar and water.
Although a wet bird doesn't fly very well, they'll always's jump onto the nearest branch to preen themselves and to dry off.
Don't be alarmed if birds don't jump into their new bird bath right away. Being cautious in nature as they are, it may take them several days to discover and then to begin enjoying their new yard fixture that you've just set out for them. And once they do, be prepared for some wonderful sights and sounds!
A bird bath that is gaining popularity, is the solar powered baths. They are very easy to install and use, plus they don't require any additional plumbing or wiring. They are also extremely cost efficient because they don't require any electricity.
Solar bird baths are also beneficial to the birds, because they constantly keep the water moving which helps to eliminate bacteria. It is very important that birds keep their feathers clean during the winter months, as well as in the summer.
In colder climates, a heated bird bath works very well in accomplishing this. Some of the heated bird baths were designed specifically for this purpose. If you already have a bird bath and you want to heat it, you can purchase special devices that will do the job just fine. Some of the bird baths have been rated to withstand heavy snowfalls and temperatures below -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-29 degrees Centigrade).
There are several different types available which protect both the water and pump from freezing and allows for the birds to have a constant source of water. Depending on models, most do a very good job of keeping the water heated. You may also choose the option of using a small heater in conjunction with the solar bird bath, which will insure that the birds stay nice and warm and hydrated. It, no doubt, would be greatly appreciated on those cold winter days.
Using a solar bird bath serves an unique way of protecting both yourself and the birds from deadly bacteria, such as salmonella and the virus, trichomoniasis. Salmonella can infect people and although trichomoniasis doesn't pose a risk to humans, it can lead to a painful death to wild birds, which they contract through the transfer of shared drinking water.
For the still water bird baths, a weekly scrubbing will help to control algae and certain diseases. Also, by seeding the bird bath with natural enzymes, it can help to prevent algae and grime from staining the inside of the bowl.
It is very likely that the commonly shared drinking places of birds, are a likely source of potential infection, so great care should be given when cleaning bird baths.
It has been recommended to clean the still water bird baths with diluted bleach and then allowing them to dry before refilling. The optimum, of course, is to change the water daily and to not leave it standing overnight (unless you have a device that moves the water).
When cleaning bird feeders and bird baths, it's always's a good idea to either wear disposable gloves during the cleaning, or to wash your hands with soap and water directly afterwards.
Bird feeders, as well as bird baths, should also be cleaned and washed on a regular bases to prevent the spread of diseases such as salmonella.
And besides, nobody likes to take a bath in a dirty bath tub, not even our bird friends!
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