The Birds of Summer Need You
How to offer a Lifesaving Oasis for Feathered Friends
By Jeanie Anderson
We are now entering the hot and dry season for the next few months here in San Diego County, resulting in scarce water sources for wildlife.
Our avian friends could really benefit from a reliable source of water every day for drinking, of course, and for cleaning their feathers, which is so important to flying well.
Personal experience: I have had a bird bath in my front garden, offering fresh water for years. Sometimes, I watch a bird flying in the sky toward my home from some distance and it makes a “bee line” to the bird bath. It’s on their GPS program!
You can create an oasis for birds with a little commitment of time each day.
One suggestion is a simple planter dish - 12 to 16 inches wide - either terracotta or plastic. It can be placed on the ground or on a homemade pedestal, i.e., stack of bricks or blocks. Find a location that has some plants nearby - in pots or in the ground - so that birds feel safe when they visit to drink and bathe. A bird bath on a pedestal is the gold standard of course – they are available in many designs to suit your aesthetic tastes. My cement pedestal bird bath from a nursery has been serving birds for over 25 years.
The larger the bird bath, the larger the bird visitors. Folks have ravens and hawks visiting in larger accommodations.
Two key parts of the commitment:
Change the water EVERY DAY – keep a little bucket near your garden house faucet dedicated to the task. Flush out the old water - fill with fresh water. Maybe when you go out to get the mail, you can flush the bird bath?
Clean the bird bath every week. Keep an old dish scrubber near the bird bath so it’s handy. Scrub and spray out to clear the debris and algae growth. Leave in the sun for a while to sanitize. Refill with fresh water.
Over time, you will find yourself adding more watering holes in your garden. It is rewarding to know you are making a difference for birds.
I wish you flocks of happy birds splashing and singing in your oasis!
Here is an insightful article link on bird baths: https://blog.nature.org/2015/03/09/backyard-bird-baths-science-birding-wildlife-habitat/
