By Duncraft Birding Experts | August 2024 | 3 min read
1. Why Water Matters for Backyard Birds
Water. Covering more than 70 percent of Earth's surface, it's one of the most abundant and most important substances on the planet. Yet when it comes to backyard birds, it's not always thought of as high on the list of things to provide. Bird feeders and bird houses are usually right at the forefront of people's minds and can be found in nearly every backyard, while bird baths and other water features are common but not omnipresent. Despite that discrepancy, providing water for birds is very important and learning to do so effectively isn't all that hard.
2. Moving Water vs. Standing Water
Although any kind of water is an improvement over no water, standing water is generally thought to be ineffective at attracting birds. Moving water, on the other hand, will attract birds both visually – the motion will draw their attention – and sonically, as they will hear and investigate such things as drips and splashes. Because of this, many bird baths either include fountains or bubblers to offset the standing water that could otherwise be ignored by birds. Besides baths – which are generally either a pedestal, a dish or heated – and fountains, there are a few other water features that you can add to your yard, such as misters, waterfalls and coolers.
3. Keeping Water Clean
Clean, fresh water is more likely to attract birds than dirty water, so it's important to keep your bird baths and water features in top shape. For still water, like in fountain-less bird baths, clean the basin at least once a week, and as often as daily if needed. Cleaning should involve scrubbing and changing the water—avoid using anything stronger than a diluted disinfectant, as it can be harmful to birds. On the other hand, moving water, such as in fountains or waterfalls, tends to stay cleaner naturally and requires less frequent cleaning since it's less prone to bacteria and parasites.
4. Drinking vs. Bathing
Birds can be helped by water features in two major ways – it can give them a place to access drinking water, and it can give them a place to bathe. The need to drink water is fairly obvious, but some of the particulars concerning birds may not be as well-known. Because birds have no sweat glands, they don't lose as much water during the day and thus don't need to drink as much. As far as the need to bathe goes – baths not only help to keep a bird cool both inside and out, but can also get rid of debris such as dust, parasites and loose feathers that have attached themselves to a bird's plumage. It's extremely important for birds to keep their wings clean and baths are an effective way for them to do so.
Since birds both drink and bathe in the water, it makes sense to set up separate things that allow birds to do each thing independent of the other. Admittedly, bathing in water that others are drinking isn't a huge deal for the bather – but drinking water that's been used to bathe either yourself or somebody else, whether you're a person or a bird, isn't probably the healthiest of ideas. The solution is to have both a bird bath, such as the Clear Birdbath with Post, and a water cooler such as the Bird Water Cooler in order to keep the bathwater away from the drinking water. The birds in your backyard will undoubtedly be grateful for this split, and as an added bonus, you'll be able to draw more birds to these two things than you ever could with just one of them.
5. Making Water an Essential Part of Your Setup
Water features should be an essential part of a birder's offerings to backyard birds. Hopefully, this has helped shed some light on why that's the case. Happy Birding!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does moving water really attract more birds than standing water?
Yes. Moving water attracts birds both visually and sonically — the motion catches their eye and the sound of drips or splashes draws them in from a distance. Standing water in a fountain-less bath can go unnoticed, while a dripper, bubbler, or fountain makes the same bath far more effective at attracting a wider variety of species.
How often should I clean my bird bath?
For still water bird baths, clean the basin at least once a week — and as often as daily in hot weather when algae and bacteria build up quickly. Scrub the basin and change the water completely each time. Avoid using anything stronger than a diluted disinfectant, as stronger cleaners can be harmful to birds. Moving water baths and fountains stay cleaner naturally and require less frequent cleaning.
Why do birds need to bathe?
Bathing helps birds stay cool and keeps their plumage in good condition. A bath removes dust, parasites, and loose feathers that can accumulate on a bird's feathers. Clean, well-maintained wings are essential for flight, so regular bathing is an important part of a bird's daily routine — not just a luxury.
Should I provide separate water for drinking and bathing?
Yes, ideally. Birds use the same water source for both drinking and bathing, which means bathing can quickly dirty the water that other birds are drinking from. Providing a dedicated bird bath for bathing and a separate water cooler or dripper for drinking keeps the water cleaner and will attract more birds overall than a single shared source.
What types of water features can I add to my backyard?
Beyond a standard bird bath, you can add drippers, misters, bubblers, fountains, waterfalls, and water coolers to your backyard setup. Each adds movement or sound that makes water more attractive to birds. Heated bird baths are also a great option in winter, keeping water liquid when natural sources freeze over and making your yard a critical resource for birds during cold months.
