by Amy Gross
put out water in summer to keep your feathered friends happy
PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME (usually wistfully) how much they love watching birds but choose not to put out feeders for various reasons. But I have good news for anyone resistant to setting out bird seed: You will be doing your birds as much of a favor—if not more—by simply putting out fresh, clean water for them to drink and bathe in. I am not exaggerating when I say that water is a bird magnet. In our dry climate, especially in the summertime, birds are anxious to find drinking water, and to paraphrase a famous movie quote, “If you pour it, they will come.”
In my front yard, I put out a large water bowl on a ground platform feeder that draws finches, quail, crows, bluebirds, towhees—you name it. We live in a rural area, and that water is also a blessing to bobcats, squirrels, rabbits and even the occasional coyote. I keep a smaller bowl on the railing of our backyard deck, and it’s a nonstop draw for birds of all sizes. The key is to keep the bowls very clean and refill them daily, especially during the dry summer months. Trust me; it goes fast!
If you want to take it a step beyond just drinking water, consider a birdbath. It does require some maintenance, e.g., regular cleaning and filling, but it’s because you won’t be able to keep birds out of it, offering hours of birdwatching fun for you and a much-needed pitstop for them. In their travels, birds pick up all kinds of grit and dirt in their feathers that they desperately need to be rid of. Birdbaths are typically very shallow, allowing even the littlest finches to safely wade in and vigorously “wiggle and jiggle” to get themselves nice and clean. Remember that, as with feeders, birdbaths can also be breeding grounds for disease, so regular cleaning and occasional disinfecting are critical. When it gets cold, there are even heated birdbaths for the winter months.
Perhaps consider combining the above—drinking and bathing—in the form of a gorgeous, flat-topped fountain strategically placed in your yard for easy viewing. It will look beautiful, especially when filled with happy, healthy, grateful birds.
Amy Gross is a birder and the organizer of Santa Fe Birdbrains, a Northern New Mexico–based Meetup group.
