Birdfeeders

We have had a few sunny days and I have been pushing the season and thinking about spring. However, let’s face it, it is still winter and the birds know it. For those who live in areas where it is still mostly freezing, a heated birdbath is really an essential component to a backyard bird habitat. When I heard there was snow on the ground last Friday in 49 of the 50 states, I realized I should mention this again. Not all birds eat seed, but all birds need water, so a heated birdbath will attract even species who won’t visit your bird feeders. Birds don’t have to burn as many calories drinking heated water and they can also clean their feathers. The heaters are designed to just keep the water above freezing, so are quite economical to operate. If you already have a birdbath, a heater can be purchased separately, or many birdbaths come with the heater already installed.

After many days of either fog or dreary rain, we got up this morning to a beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine. I walked out to the backyard to simply enjoy the sun on my face so tilted my head back to the sun and was quite delighted at what I saw. Our flowering plum tree, completely devoid of leaves, was full of finches. There were over a hundred gold finches, house finches and purple finches, as well as a scattering of pine siskins - all sitting on branches facing the sun and enjoying it just as I was. Occasionally, one or more would fly down and splash in the bird bath, go back to the tree and begin preening. What a wonderful sight on a warm Saturday morning! Keeping the bird bath full of clean fresh water has drawn many birds, but this was a very special treat. I wonder if they know that the weather prediction is for another week of rain?

During this time of the year when snow covers the ground in many states, bird baths will actually attract more birds than food will. It is necessary to have a bird bath with a specially designed heater to keep the water from freezing, since birds cannot peck through ice. Bird baths come in many styles and varieties. There are just a couple of things to keep in mind. Most important, the bird bath cannot be more than about two inches deep and should have sloped sides for easy use. Be sure to locate the bird bath in a place that is easy for you to get to, even in the winter, for it should be cleaned out as needed or at least once a week. Even though there is no snow here in northern California, our bird baths are very busy, even during rainy days. Our bird baths are used frequently year round and are a source of great entertainment for us as many species are seen splashing and preening regularly.

Bird have two basic needs for water during the winter as well as other times. They need drinking water and water for feather maintenance, but during freezing weather, open water can be difficult to find. If they cannot find water, they will resort to eating snow. Eating snow really uses up their energy, for it can take 12 times as much energy to warm water from snow as it does to warm water from the freezing point to the bird’s body temperature. Therefore, especially in very cold areas, bird baths can be very important to a bird’s survival. It is also important for birds to be able to bathe in the winter for maintaining their feathers in peak condition is necessary to keep warm. If birds cannot find water, their insulation will be impaired and this is a huge energy waste. Bird baths are only useful if they are not frozen, so the practical solution in very cold areas is to use de-icer. They are easy to hook up and use very little electricity. They have a themostat and only turn on automatically when necessary. Some bird baths come with them, but if you have a bird bath and need a de-icer, they certainly can be purchased separately. Please don’t use antifreeze or salt in or near your bird bath, for these are harmful to birds.

There are so many ideas for birdbaths! Of course, there are many styles of beautiful and functional birdbaths on the market, but any shallow container can become a birdbath. All birds visiting your bird feeders also need water for drinking and for bathing, so offering a birdbath is just another way to make your yard more bird friendly. We have two in our yard. One is attached to the deck railing about 4 feet off the ground and seems to be preferred by finches, woodpeckers, orioles and jays. Right on the ground, we have a clay dish - the red kind that a planter sits in. The mourning doves love it as well as towhees, juncos and many others. They are both used so much that I need to clean out and refill them daily. As soon as I have filled them, there is lots of splashing and bathing activity. Another inexpensive item to use is an upside down aluminum garbage can lid. Maybe add a few rocks and pebbles to make this large birdbath a little more bird friendly. Whatever you use, just be sure that it isn’t slippery, should have a gradual slope and never be more than 3 inches deep. It is best to have a perch nearby to preen on.

If a bird were to avoid bathing for even a few weeks, it may not survive. Personal hygiene in birds, although quite different than in humans, is truly a matter of life or death. Feathers that are not clean do not function efficiently either in flight or in protecting the body from weather conditions. The most common means of bathing include bathing in water, in dust and sunbathing. Water bathing is the most common and the easiest for us to watch. All that is required is a shallow source of water that a bird can wade into and splash water onto its body until thoroughly soaked. They use puddles, ponds, shallow streams, sprinklers and of course our bird baths. After getting wet enough, a bird will fly to a safe perch to preen. This preening smoothes down feathers, removes dirt and parasites as well as distributes natural oil to condition the feathers. Having bird baths in the yard will draw even birds who don’t visit our bird feeders. Some species such as quail, pheasants and grouse, prefer a dust bath to keep their feathers clean. We often find indentations in the dirt in our garden where the quail have been busy with their bathing. If you see a bird sitting all fluffed up and appears to be in a daze on a sunny day, it is most likely just sunbathing.

If you have any large trees nearby such as oaks or maples, the shade they offer under their branches is a real draw for many birds such as finches, towhees, and thrushes. In the desert areas, quail and other species will seek the shade provided by large rocks or sagebrush. Water sources such as streams and bird baths offer a cool place on hot days. The bird baths will be especially busy on very hot days and will probably have to be filled more than once. When the temperature goes above 90 degrees, our bird baths are in almost constant use by finches, jays, orioles and even woodpeckers get into the act. On the few days that the temperature goes above 100, we sometimes even set up a small sprinkler on the grass. The grass can certainly use the extra water and the birds just love to visit the spray. A full bird bath will draw birds out throughout the day which makes for a very busy yard.

So you want to start feeding birds in your yard, but what is the best way to start to insure success? This is actually pretty simple. To start with, there are some basic things to consider. Birds will be most comfortable in an area that offers protection, food and water. If you have shrubs and trees nearby to offer protection from predators, shelter and places to raise their young, birds will be comfortable in your yard. There are many types of bird feeders that are all designed to attract different species of birds, but to begin, it is best to invest in a good tube bird feeder which is then filled with sunflower seeds. A tube bird feeder can be hung from a tree branch, mounted on a pole, or hung on a hook attached to a deck railing or fence. These are easy to fill, have multiple perches and are familiar to most birds. Fill it with sunflower seeds, for the greatest  variety of birds love sunflower seeds. There are three types of sunflower seeds: the gray striped seed is the largest, next is the medium sized black striped seed and the smallest is the black oil sunflower seed with solid black hulls. Birds like them all, but the small black oil seed is preferred by most seed eating birds. Its thin shell makes it the easiest to eat and it has a higher oil content than the other two. Hang your new tube bird feeder in plain view and not too close to the house and you will be thrilled with the bird activity which begins in your yard. Be sure to have a source of water nearby as well. An attractive bird bath is a nice addition, but not necessary. Any shallow container filled with clean, fresh water and placed near places to perch and preen will be enjoyed.

In nature, puddles are the bird’s natural bird bath, so it stands to reason that the best bird baths imitate the dimensions of a puddle. Therefore, the best bird baths are round, have a flat bottom and gently sloping edges to a depth of no more than 3 inches. There are many options, including terra cotta flower pot saucers or glass pie plates, but there are many attractive options on the market. Although the natural location of a puddle is on the ground, birds will certainly find an elevated bird bath. There are a couple of advantages to having your bird baths up off the ground. First, it is safer for the birds to avoid stalking cats. Since wet birds don’t fly as well, be sure to locate the bird baths near the cover of trees or shrubs. Also, it is much easier to watch the birds in an elevated bird bath. Be sure to always keep these bird baths filled with clean fresh water.

To keep birds coming back to your yard or deck again and again, it is important to provide a source of fresh, clean water. While food is a bird’s first requirement, water is just as important for drinking and for bathing. In the average city or suburban area there are not enough sources of natural water, so it is important to provide an ample source. Adding bird baths to your habitat is the easiest and most practical solution, but other solutions from a fancy waterfall water feature to a simple saucer or pie plate are also effective. No matter what style is used, the most important thing is to keep it clean. It should be cleaned out and refilled every day to prevent the formation of algae. We keep a wire brush handy to give our bird baths a quick regular cleaning. Since wet birds have trouble flying, it is important to have the protection of a tree or shrub nearby for preening.