Much of the country has been experiencing a record-breaking heat wave in the past few weeks. We have all been suffering, but thankfully many of us have air conditioning and water on tap. While we stay in our climate control, the birds outside are struggling in the heat and can have difficulties finding sources for drinking water. For those of you who do not typically cater to backyard birds, you can do one small task that would help your local population enormously. Simply set out a bowl or cup of water for them to drink. I am not speaking to the backyard bird watching community, or habitat gardeners, but the person for whom wildlife gardening is not your thing. Keep it simple! You don’t need to over think it, create a ‘sanctuary’ or even spend time on the project – just walk a bowl of water outside and set it on the ground. That’s it.
The only considerations you need to keep in mind are:
1. Make sure the rim of the container is one that birds can perch on and grip as they bend down to drink. They have small feet!
2. Be certain that the water level is up to the rim of the container. Birds don’t have a long reach!
3. Be certain the container is heavy enough not to tip over when something lands on it.
A simple candle holder filled with water set on a deck rail. It only holds 3/4 cup of liquid but is enough – chickadees and titmice have been drinking out of this for days.
Anyone can do this no matter how busy you are. If you live in an apartment, townhouse or condo you can still set water on a balcony or porch. Again, don’t over think it and worry about rocks, bathing depth or location – birds are very adept at finding a water supply. Use what you have and set it where you can. During a heat wave as we have been seeing the priority is drinking, not bathing.
A ceramic bowl placed on the ground will do.
You do not need to run out and buy supplies, just check your kitchen for whatever container will work.
An instant drinking water supply from an apartment dwelling friend.
Of course if you want to get fancy with your water, go ahead. The above photo is from a friend who lives in an apartment. He came up with a large metal bowl to use and was concerned the rim was too wide and slippery for birds to perch on so wanted to place a rock in it. The first rock he found was large, but it is fine. Go ahead and giggle at his creation – I did, he is my friend after all – but the birds won’t give a rip. They will still drink. This actually will provide a good landing area for them. The gentleman who set this up is not a bird watcher, does not make a science out of attracting birds but wanted to help. His system will. I am willing to bet he gets visitors to his balcony and who knows, he may become interested and add a more permanent water feature in the future.
Even if you aren’t a gardener or not inclined to create a habitat, be kind and please set a container of water out for wildlife. It’s such a simple thing that can do some good. You may even discover you enjoy your bird visitors.
© 2012, Karyl Seppala. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Karyl Seppala
We are surrounded by wetland and there is a lake across the street, but the birds still visit our birdbath to drink and bathe. I really enjoy watching a bird cool off in the birdbath.
Mary Pellerito recently posted..Name That Garden
Such an important message as I get put to fill up my bird baths
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-July 2012
Some of my birds like the bowl placed right on the ground, while others go for the birdbath. I think they share it with the lizards~ To give the bees water too, a shallow bowl w/a few rocks to perch on works well~
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..Stand Up and Be Counted
Karyl, thanks for your encouragement to put out water for the birds and the creative ideas for doing that. I, too, find that small birds often appreciate small containers and I, too, find that water in different places attracts more birds.
Betty Hall recently posted..Purple coneflower visitors
The rock in a bowl is a great idea and actually looks slightly like an artistic item as well!
gaz recently posted..Bright and White
Karyl, thanks for this reminder. While I have my pond well outside the usual banks with the onset of rainy season, there are areas suffering from drought. You’re smart, quick idea is sure to get others involved in helping our wildlife along. Good deal!
Loret recently posted..As one disappears another moves in
Every day I put large ice cubes in the bird baths. The birds flock to them. The ground water bowl is available for the chipmunks and squirrels too. This is the first year I’ve seen flying insects using the bird bath water.
I recently added a new garden. I have a birdbath the birds love and didn’t want to move it but with the extreme heat wanted to add something so I filled a 12 pot saucer and laid it out. Discussing the safety of this with my husband, we have cats, he inverted a plant stand and out the saucer on top. The legs of the stand hold the saucer in place and raise it up. Whole thing didn’t cost a dime, looks adorable and the birds love it just as much as the stone one. Won’t be able to heat it for winter but I’ll think of something else by then.