Birdbath duties

Nile

I love watching wild birds visit my garden for food and water.

The birdbath is requiring daily attention at the moment. It's not only that it needs topping up with water. Thanks to the dirty (pooping in the dish) habits of the wood pigeons it also needs cleaning daily.

So I say to our resident blackbirds, to the visiting robins and other small birds.........."you are very welcome to the food and drink."

Are you looking after the birds?

Le_Kirk

Like you, I find it is daily cleaning and topping up that is required. It is just part of the tub and pot watering schedule. We have a blackbird chick that has started using the plan pot saucer that is under the olive bush as it's own personal water supply.

another_casualty

Good question.
I've just moved into a small flat, by a busy main road.
The hedges get trimmed regularly , or so it seems.
I'm thinking of putting a small birdbath by the living room window.
Not sure if I need permission from the managing agents/ freeholder.
Bird baths are essential in winter also

Davesnave

An alternative viewpoint.

It's possible that badly-tended bird baths do more harm than good, if my experience with chickens is anything to go by. Currently, I have two which have picked up canker from wild birds. One has just died and the other is being treated. The chicken's water is changed at least daily, and often more frequently in hot weather.

I imagine these wild birds will also be drinking from the relatively small volume of water in local bird baths, and a similar scenario may play out, except that there won't be anyone on hand with veterinary anti-fungals.

I understand a related form of canker is the main reason behind the disappearance of my local greenfinches. There used to be dozens.

I don't know what the answer is. Drinking is only one way in which diseases like this are passed-on. Cleaning-bird baths daily seems very sensible. Maybe there's something that could be added to the water to decrease the risks. Potassium permanganate perhaps?

Geoff1963

How about reusing plastic food trays ? Instead of putting them straight in the recycling, they can have a few days of post-retirement work.

Nile

Geoff1963 wrote: »

How about reusing plastic food trays ? Instead of putting them straight in the recycling, they can have a few days of post-retirement work.

Thanks for the suggestion. I know it wouldn't work in my garden because the dirty (pooping in the dish) wood pigeon sometimes tips the heavy ceramic dish off the plinth and it topples onto the grass below. A lightweight plastic tray wouldn't last two minutes.

no1catman

It's great to see the birds enjoying the bird-bath. I do need to keep it topped up - otherwise they'll try and use the cascade to the pond.

I either, just top it up, empty the dregs, add a bit - then a good scrap with a car wheel scraper, and then the final top up.

Also, have pigeons - saw one just sitting in it for awhile. Other times, it maybe a couple of blackbirds taking turns, or a cluster of sparrows having a good splash.

A.Penny.Saved

Maybe you could provide a shower for the little things. lmao

I believe that birds are adversed to tap water because they disbelieve the rubbish about fluoride being good for their teeth and will only bathe in mineral water. They do not want their nervous systems and intelligence lowered or their fertility reduced as it is in humans........the real reasons why fluoride is added to tap water, to reduce population growth.

BTW this has been statistically proven in the countries where fluoride has been added to tap water. It's a giant conspiracy by world governments.

Do your birds a favour and use rain water....

Davesnave

A.Penny.Saved wrote: »

It's a giant conspiracy by world governments.

It seems to be working. Some people are already daft enough to confuse adjectives with verbs; something the average house martin would never do.

LandyAndy

no1catman wrote: »

Also, have pigeons - saw one just sitting in it for awhile. Other times, it maybe a couple of blackbirds taking turns, or a cluster of sparrows having a good splash.

We had one just sitting in it for a good ten minutes yesterday.

Geoff1963

How about reusing plastic food trays ?

. . . with some kind of clamp to hold it in place.