Splish, Splash ... Watching a Bird Take a Bath

Bird watching is a popular pastime and hobby for many people, perhaps because birds make use of habitats everywhere – forests, farms, city parks, and even our own backyards. Often, we get some of the most intimate views of birds as they come to feed near our homes. There are many ways to attract birds to a backyard for viewing; gardens can be planted with specific plants which attract birds for nesting and feeding, feeders can be put up to encourage birds to forage in the area, nesting boxes create attractive habitat for some birds to raise families in, and birdbaths can be placed in a yard as a watering and bathing source.

Water sources are important for birds, especially during dry and below freezing weather. If you want to furnish a water source, consider how it fits into the larger picture of habitat for birds, particularly birds that you wish to attract. The “bath” itself does not need to be fancy; a shallow container with some stones or surfaces for footing is best. Nearby cover and perching areas that are relatively safe from predators are important. The bath needs to be kept clean and the water refreshed often.

Today's photo was taken in the spring from the window of WPC's Watershed Assistance Center in Blairsville. A European Starling takes advantage of this traditional pedestal birdbath for a quick cleaning. Birdbaths come in many shapes and colors and not only encourage birds to visit your backyard, but make wonderful accent pieces to any garden. The following link is a nice place to visit and learn about what makes a good birdbath.

Text modified from Birdwatching's Tips on Birdbaths. Today's photo was taken by WPC's Watershed Assistance Center Technician Alysha Trexler.

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