Remember our feathered friends during the heat wave

July 31, 2006 · Print This Article

With temperatures forecasted to be in the mid-nineties, please remember to have a supply of fresh water for the birds.

Now is a good time to clean out your birdbaths, removing algae and debris. (This should be done every few days regardless of the weather.) If possible, try to place your birdbath where shade will be during the hottest part of the day.

If you do not have a birdbath, you can make one cheaply. Purchase a large plastic flower pot drip saucer. I would suggest one with a diameter of at least 12″. Level an area in your yard somewhere where shade will be during the hottest part of the day. Place the plastic saucer on the leveled area and fill with fresh cool water, not more than 3″ deep. I suggest changing the water daily!

A few stones places in the middle of the plastic saucer will give smaller birds a place to perch, as they do not like the deeper water.

Try to stay away from glazed crock-type flower pot drip saucers. They are slippery and birds can slip and injure themselves or fall in the water and possibly drown. The plastic saucers has enough of a rough surface for birds to safely perch.

There is nothing like watching birds drink and/or bathe in a birdbath, no mater what type you have!

Try to stay cool and safe, and as always…. Happy Birding!!!!

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2 Responses to “Remember our feathered friends during the heat wave”

  1. Birding in Maine » Blog Archive » Birding Videos on February 24th, 2007 7:14 am

    [...] If you have read my article “Remember our feathered friends during the heat wave“, you will remember my instructions on building a birdbath with a plastic drip saucer. In the video “Birds drinking from birdbath“, you can see my aforementioned birdbath being used by birds. [...]

  2. The Best News Portal » Helping Birds With Heat on April 10th, 2007 1:29 am

    [...] Birding in Maine has recommendations for bird bath maintenance. Like with hummingbird feeders, these need to be cleaned regularly and the water changed. [...]