In the age of malls and condos, just as the birds need us to grow plants they can eat, they depend on us for fresh water for drinking and bathing. Many of the ponds, marshes and streams once relied on are now history. This makes a proper birdbath very popular—and more fun to watch than Animal Planet.The pictured birdbath serves sparrows, mockingbirds, robins, starlings, finches, the local squirrel and the neighbor’s cat. It also provides a focal point in the garden. A birdbath doesn’t need to be fancy; there are many on the market or you can make one. The pictured one is an inexpensive china pasta bowl sitting on a cast-concrete base.
To be bird-friendly, the birdbath needs a thick rim for perching and to be deep enough for splash-baths but not too deep for wading or for the birds to be able to see over the rim (2” to 3” is good). Put the birdbath in an open area, at least 2’ to 3’ off the ground and within a short flight (say 15’ to 50’) of safe perches like bushes and fence railings. Near-by objects must be lower than the birdbath rim. The open space and elevation prevent cats and other predators from using the birdbath as an ambush site. The adjacent perching area allows the birds to check that the area is predator-free, and gives them a waiting place until it’s their turn to bath. Lastly, the water container must be stable enough that it won’t be tipped over by the wind or a bird.
The birdbath should be placed and designed so that it’s easy for you to change the water at least daily. The birds like to take a dust bath, then a water bath, to rid themselves to mites and to clean excess oil of their feathers. However, this leaves the water too muddy for further use.
Winter is extra difficult for the birds since the sprinklers are gone, the
fountains drained, and the ponds iced-over. If you’re interested, there are
commercially available “bird-sippers” that use black color or electric heat to
provide unfrozen drinking water.
