Photo by Val Cunningham
Drip, Drip, Drip: Nothing attracts bird more than dripping or running water. Birds need a place to drink and bathe; all year long birds need a reliable source for water. If we provide that water source in our backyards, we will attract birds in greater numbers than if we only provide seeds.

By Val Cunningham

If we could conduct an avian poll about what’s the biggest challenge for birds—finding food in the form of seeds or insects, shelter in the form of an inner branch or brushpile, or a reliable source of water–that last item would get the most votes. As we’ve all heard, birds don’t rely on feeders for survival, except on extremely cold days, and they’re pretty adept at finding shelter. But there are times and places where Mother Nature simply doesn’t provide water.

Water sources are popular with birds all year long. In spring and summer birds welcome the chance to drink and bathe—and they teach their young to do the same. In fall, migrants and residents alike relish a reliable source of water. And winter is the cruelest season, with ice or seasonal drought making water unavailable. In winter, when birds really need water, a heated birdbath is the most popular stop in the neighborhood.

Catch the rest of the story in the June Issue of NatureScape News!        Next Highlight