An important part of a bird's day is the chance to drink water and bathe in it to help rid the bird of parasites and to cool off. The backyard birder has many opportunities to provide water and improve the landscape while attracting even more birds to the yard.
Fresh water year round is important for birds. In the summer, the natural source of water, such as a stream or a brook, may dry up or become so muddy it is not potable for birds. In the winter, in the colder climes, water may freeze and become ice. Some parts of the world, such as the American Southwest has little natural water sources.
Water in your backyard may attract more birds to the area as the natural sources dry up or freeze. A reliable, accessible water source will bring the birds back to your yard season after season. Providing the water is cheap, and fun to do.
First, the water needs to be clean and fresh. In the summer, you need to check your birdbath or pond frequently, to assess water levels and cleanliness. Never use chemicals in the water to control insects or algae. Garden ponds need to be cleaned and refilled on a regular basis. Some people use pumps with filters, along with plants and fish to keep the pond naturally clean.
The surface of your water container, whether it be an expensive, designer birdbath, a large terra cotta planter basin or just a rock with a depression for water, the surface needs to be rough to give the bird good footing. You can use sand, stones or concrete for the surface. If you have a slippery surface like a plastic one, you could 'rough' it up with sandpaper or use the stick-ons for human bathtubs.
The container should have a gradual shallow slope, not more than 3 inches deep. I like birdbaths with two levels, one very shallow for the little birds like chickadees and goldfinches, the other a little deeper, for the robins and mockingbird (by the way, I have a mockingbird who bathes about twice a day, emptying the bird bath almost completely by the time he is done).
Put your birdbath somewhere so the birds have good visibility for their safety, preferably out in the open. Put the water somewhere close to you, so you can monitor it, and be able to enjoy the antics of the birds in the bath.
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