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I put this on Facebook but can I ask those here to not forget water for the birds when you feed them ?

All birds suffer from heat exhaustion due to dehydration very quickly In the weather we've been having which makes them easy targets for cats and even the old wily Fox.

I am privaliged to have an extremely large colony of House Sparrows which have been In decline over the years. I had someone come out a few years ago from the RSPB and they put the numbers around 700 although myself, I believe many were Dunnocks and Tree sparrows.

I took the lid off my can recycling box ( you know that useless green box the council give you for tins ) and filled It with water.... I have been rewarded today with a gaggle of sparrows early morning bathing, a splishing and a splashing.

Later, the Blackbirds came down for a drink and my make shift spa has been active all day.

oscar;1432009 wrote: I put this on Facebook but can I ask those here to not forget water for the birds when you feed them ?

All birds suffer from heat exhaustion due to dehydration very quickly In the weather we've been having which makes them easy targets for cats and even the old wily Fox.

I am privaliged to have an extremely large colony of House Sparrows which have been In decline over the years. I had someone come out a few years ago from the RSPB and they put the numbers around 700 although myself, I believe many were Dunnocks and Tree sparrows.

I took the lid off my can recycling box ( you know that useless green box the council give you for tins ) and filled It with water.... I have been rewarded today with a gaggle of sparrows early morning bathing, a splishing and a splashing.

Later, the Blackbirds came down for a drink and my make shift spa has been active all day.


I am no bird expert, but do see all kinds of feathered creature visit this little spa the Mrs put up.

You can't see it, but there is an electrical cord connected to the bath. It has a heater to keep the water from freezing during the winter. I am always amazed to see birds bathing in freezing weather. Think of it, there is no water to drink, just snow and ice. Next winter I gotta take some pics.

We have 2 bird baths in shady areas of the yard and the birds seem to enjoy the cool water immensely. If word ever reaches them of the set-up in Tude Dog's yard, they'll probably head west!

Sometimes they like to give themselves dust baths in the summer ... any one know why?

Tude.... that Is an awesome set up.... makes my bin lid look primitive.



Tabby

Bathing and Dusting

We have, and will, again, provide at least 1 acre to a pond for ALL fowl,

and ALL of the other animals/creatures,

for they come in all varieties ~

water snakes; turtles; geese; ducks; armadillos; all of the song/show-birds; skunks; wild boar and javelina; deer; fish, mostly catfish and bass, that the water birds bring in the eggs of, on their feet; owls; egrets; herons; etc.

When you live in the country, and it's a peaceful refuge?

LOTS of creatures like to come, and stay, during their seasons.

Such a THOUGHTFUL OP, for city folks!!!

(sorry ~ even going "Advanced" is no help, if the smiley captions are tiny black font on some med/dark green color)

Fyrenza;1432195 wrote:



Such a THOUGHTFUL OP, for city folks!!!




I live In the countryside.

I meant that it was thoughtful to remind the city folks.

No stock tanks/ponds on your land?

Fyrenza;1432271 wrote: I meant that it was thoughtful to remind the city folks.

No stock tanks/ponds on your land?


Yep

I've still given them a bath next to where we put their feeders.

Nice!

We've got five cats, though, so I usually turn on a sprinkler for the birds to actually bathe.