How Does a Bird Bathe?

At first they will usually lower their breast into the water.  Then they'll dunk their wings and splash water over their backs as they lower their tail into the water.  As you watch them flapping their wings and splashing you'll really appreciate how much they truly enjoy the ritual.  A great example can be viewed in the video below that shows some of Australia's most beloved birds ... Rainbow Lorikeets ... enjoying a bath.

Some birds bathe more than once a day ... these bathing beauties are Robins, Sparrows and Thrashers.  The Flycatchers have their own style of bathing -- they stay airborne and skip across the water on the wing on the way to their next perch.  Some Hummingbirds also like to bathe in flight by skimming over the water or dashing through a mister.  Hummers will also get all the way in and splash around like other birds. 

The Rufus Hummingbird in our photo demonstrates his own unique style of taking a bath ... sitting on the top of a fountain letting the water splash against his chest!

Some birds, like Flickers, are happy to share a bath.  While other birds like privacy.  There is a great deal of pleasure in store when we can watch parent birds bring their offspring to a bird bath ... and the crowd usually attracts others.  Some birds like to sit and wait for others to finish bathing -- they are the shy ones.  Others are not so patient and will dive bomb the bathers.

Providing Water in the Winter

Is water necessary for birds in the winter?  Yes, absolutely!  Life can be harsh when it's really cold outside. 

If necessary, birds can convert snow to water if creeks and ponds are frozen.  But think about it ... the energy needed to convert snow uses up the energy badly needed to stay warm.  As far as the need for water goes, providing unfrozen water in Bird Baths is a great way to help winter birds.

 The Winter Bird Bath

There are several ways to keep water available to wintering birds:

• Refill your Bird Baths with warm water to thaw ice.
• Some Solar bird baths have a covered, insulated, solar-heated bowl that keeps water from freezing down to 20 degrees.  These baths must be kept in the sun.  Birds are able to drink, not bathe, through a hole in the cover.
• There are a variety of heaters available for Bird Baths.  They are either immersion-types or Bird Baths with a heating coil built into the base.  Most of these Bird Baths have a thermostat turn-off in case the bath runs dry or gets tipped over.

Where Should a Bird Bath Be Placed?

The most natural placement is close to the ground.  But that might not be the most ideal spot if the threat of cat attacks are a concern.  A wet bird is no match for a stalking cat or predatory hawk.  Locating your Bird Bath under trees or a patio roof is a security measure if you have predators in your neighborhood.  An elevated water source, such as a pedestal-bsed bird bath, is actually preferred by some species.

There are a couple of points to keep in mind when choosing the best place for your bird bath.  It should be located far enough away from plant cover for the birds to see approaching danger, but close enough to seek refuge.  Keeping these points in mind will allow the birds to bathe and preen their feathers in safety.

It is also recommended to place the Bird Bath away from feeders.

More about Bird Baths on page 2