Ways to Attract Birds with Water

Water increases the chances that birds will visit a backyard—whether in winter or summer. The bird experts at Duncraft offer the following easy and fun ideas for providing water to back yard birds so customers can help the birds and enjoy more of them. Birds bathe in water to keep feathers clean. Clean feathers are more flight-worthy, helping birds escape predators. Clean feathers also fluff up better, retaining heat in winter. Although birds get most of their dietary water from food, they also seem to enjoy a drink at times. In some areas, natural water sources simply aren’t easily available to birds, especially when water is frozen over or water sources are dried up in summer. Birds don’t want to travel far from water, so not having a water supply in the yard might even keep birds from visiting bird feeders. The most obvious way to provide water to birds is with a bird bath. However, another way to provide water for birds and that is with a simple mister attached to a hose. When attached to a tree branch, it delivers a fine, cooling mist in the area. Hummingbirds especially like flying in and out of a gentle mist. Other birds may simply perch in front of the mister to wet their feathers while they preen. Birds will also drink the water-droplets that form on leaves.

Moving water is especially attractive to birds. A product called the Water Wiggler continuously agitates the water and creates ripples. Along with being very attractive to birds, moving water removes the tension on the surface of the water that enables mosquito larvae to develop. Larvae sink when there’s no tension for them to cling to and breathe—mosquitoes hatching in the bird bath are no longer a problem. One more way to accomplish moving water is with a fountain. A solar operated fountain is an eco-friendly option. Source: www.duncraft.com