Like all animals, birds need water to survive. Though they can extract some moisture from their food, most birds drink water every day. Birds also use water for bathing, to clean their feathers and remove parasites.
For these reasons, a dependable supply of fresh, clean water is attractive to most birds. In fact, a birdbath will even bring to your yard birds that don’t eat seeds and wouldn’t visit your feeders. Providing water for birds can also improve the quality of your backyard bird habitat and should provide you
with a fantastic opportunity to observe bird behavior.
Make a birdbath:
When you’re choosing a birdbath, look for one with a basin that you can clean easily. It should also have a gentle slope to allow birds to wade into the water. You can make your own bath out of a garbage can lid, a saucer-type snow sled, or even an old frying pan.
Try to imitate a natural puddle as much as possible when you’re installing your birdbath.It’s a good idea to put some sand in the bottom of the bath, to give the birds sure footing.
The key to attracting a large number of birds is to keep your bath full of water at all times
Place your birdbath in the shade, near trees or shrubs if possible. A shady location slows evaporation and keeps the water fresh longer.
But remember to clean your birdbath every couple of days. Don’t let the water become stale; clean off the bottom of the bath immediately if green algae starts to form.
Last of all, Be
patient! It takes a while for the birds to become
accustomed to the bath.
Remember: if you’re trying to make your backyard a better place for birdlife, few things are more attractive like a well-maintained birdbath.
