Attract Birds to Your Garden

…With Water

by Sharon Blair (in her Stone Tablet debut)

Fresh clean water is an essential element for all birds to drink, bathe and preen. Providing a source of water such as a decorative BIRDBATH, a simple plant saucer or a garbage can lid turned upside down will attract seed and insect eating birds.
To feel comfortable, smaller birds like to walk slowly into a birdbath to drink or bathe. Two or three inches of water are preferred by many birds but you can also provide “BIRDBATH FILLERS” for deeper baths. Fillers are specially selected round river rocks that look great and allow birds to wade in.

Moving water will attract many birds. Use a DRIPPER, MISTER or WATER WIGGLER. Drippers and misters refill the bath with fresh water as well as make the water move. Hummingbirds love to dart through the mist created by a mister. Foliage near misters offers birds an area to leaf bathe. The WATER WIGGLER, which runs on batteries, is also a great way to get water moving in any birdbath and also prevent mosquito production. After the birds finish bathing watch how they preen their feathers as they perch nearby to finish their grooming.

To keep your birdbaths clean and free of algae, dump the water daily or at least weekly, scrub with a BRUSH and refill with fresh water. A capful of BIRDBATH PROTECTOR will reduce and dissolve mineral deposits, reduce sludge buildup and prevent mosquitoes.

Providing water with seed will:

Attract a greater number of birds • Fill birds’ need for water • Add beauty to your garden