When I clean out my birdbath (only water from a hose is used) and replenish the water the birds won't go anywhere near it. They leave it for several days until it has a few dead midges etc. floating on it and begins to look like a stagnant pond, then think "Oooh Yummy!" and all drink from it (incidentally, they never use it as a birdbath). I have tried cleaning it daily but they then just ignore it altogether and go and find the nearest puddle to drink from. I have to say it doesn't seem to do them any harm but It is healthy for them to drink "old" water?
Squirrel
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Could be that they can 'smell' the chemicals present in tap water. Try filling a watering can, letting it stand for a few hours, then putting it the birdbath.
Must say mine don't seem quite so fussy and rather appreciate clean water!
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Hi,
Squirrel B said: When I clean out my birdbath (only water from a hose is used) and replenish the water the birds won't go anywhere near it. They leave it for several days until it has a few dead midges etc. floating on it and begins to look like a stagnant pond, then think "Oooh Yummy!" and all drink from it (incidentally, they never use it as a birdbath). I have tried cleaning it daily but they then just ignore it altogether and go and find the nearest puddle to drink from. I have to say it doesn't seem to do them any harm but It is healthy for them to drink "old" water? Squirrel
I have a birdbath in my garden and like Squirrel if I use tap water to fill it they won't go near it straight away. I also have a pond which has a shallow water feature flowing into it and the birds readily drink from it and bath in it sometimes it is literally full of sparrows and starlings I also get a pair of Collard doves that use it to drink.
Maybe the chemical theory is correct (we get a lot of chlorine added where I live) and it is what keeps them from the bird bath.
Graham
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Marjus, you could have the answer. I have only just realised that we always fill our bird baths from watering cans that are always refilled after use. (stops the wind blowing them around the garden if left empty.) Birds use the baths immediately after we clean them or top up the water.
A second thought is; Is there too much reflection on the water which could frighten the birds which won't be there after a few things fall in the water ?
Hi Marjus
Sensible answer about the watering can,
The birds are never fussy here at all (or my last house)
It is although the birds are queueing up for their baths in the morning - the Female Blackbirds just love it. The Woodpigeon just sits his rear end into the water and wallows for a while and sticks his wings out like he is having a shower LOL.
So no worries with the chemicals at all.
Squirrel: We have hard water where we stay - so maybe it is the type of water you have in your area?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Unknown said: "... we always fill our bird baths from watering cans that are always refilled after use. (stops the wind blowing them around the garden if left empty.) Birds use the baths immediately after we clean them or top up the water."
"... we always fill our bird baths from watering cans that are always refilled after use. (stops the wind blowing them around the garden if left empty.) Birds use the baths immediately after we clean them or top up the water."
Word of warning here - I also kept the watering can topped up until I found a poor dead frog in it one morning - it must have somehow got in and not been able to get out again. I now leave the watering can empty.
I agree about the chemical thing, although our birds don't seem to mind too much.
Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games [Robert Falcon Scott]
Cartimandua, don't worry the watering cans are always kept with temporary covers on openings, although I must admit, it is to keep out leaves.
Hi all and many thanks for the responses and advices. Re the water quality, ours invariably has so much chlorine in it that it smells like the municipal baths and as to hardness - any harder and it would come out in lumps! Graham has given me an idea though - I wonder if they would like one of those solar powered waterfalls (lots of different size terracotta-type bowls). I've always fancied having one of those anyway and the birds might prefer that if the movement of the water knocks the chlorine out of it more quickly.
Definitely all good advices and thoughts to ponder on.
No offense intended, but I don't blame them I turn my nose up at tap water south of the border. All that Limescale or whatever that you see in drinking cups and kettles eek. : )) I know it tastes fine but.......
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Squirrel B said: Hi all and many thanks for the responses and advices. Re the water quality, ours invariably has so much chlorine in it that it smells like the municipal baths and as to hardness - any harder and it would come out in lumps! Graham has given me an idea though - I wonder if they would like one of those solar powered waterfalls (lots of different size terracotta-type bowls). I've always fancied having one of those anyway and the birds might prefer that if the movement of the water knocks the chlorine out of it more quickly. Definitely all good advices and thoughts to ponder on. Squirrel
I dont know how much water would be pumped by the solar powered type waterfall but I would say it is worth a try. The waterfall that I have creats a small stream that I built and it has over 1000 gallons an hour going over it but the birds love it.
Soosin said: No offense intended, but I don't blame them I turn my nose up at tap water south of the border. All that Limescale or whatever that you see in drinking cups and kettles eek. : )) I know it tastes fine but.......
Hi Soosin
Our water is particularly hard due to being in the Chilterns. Add to that what seems to me to be a very heavy-handed approach to chlorination and you get a fair idea of what the water here is like. When I used to go back home on visits (mid-way between Bath and Bristol) I always had to remember that I did not require half a bottle of shampoo, shower gel, bubblebath or washing up liquid per usage. On the occasions that I forgot, the last always used to particularly amuse my Dad - he would come out to the kitchen and find me with bubbles up to my armpits when I was doing the washing-up for them!