Keep Your Birdbath Cool In The Summer Heat To Attract More Beautiful Birds

While there's nothing like a warm bath after a long day for most of us, birds feel a little differently. After flying around in the heat all day, they appreciate a cool water spot to splash around in. Adding a birdbath is one of the best ways to attract birds to your garden, but regulating the temperature can make it even more inviting for them. It's recommended that you keep the water no more than 2 inches deep in the center and an inch on the sides. With such shallow water, the elements can quickly warm it up or cool it down, especially if you live in a climate with extreme temperatures.

Replacing the water daily can help some, but there are better ways to ensure their baths stay cool all day long. Birdbaths are helpful to birds all year round, though they should have regulated temperatures no matter the season. During the winter, add an immersion heater to keep it from freezing over and getting too cold. But when temperatures rise in the summer, you can use ice to cool their water or add some shade. You should also place some rocks and sticks in the water for birds who want to take a drink but don't want to get their feet wet. Once birds realize your yard is the spot to get fresh, cool water, they're more likely to come back (and bring some friends)!

Although in the winter you want to melt any ice that may be in your birdbath, adding some frozen water in the summer is a great way to cool it down. The water you add in the morning will heat up as the sun comes out, which is where the ice comes in. You can either add a block of ice or ice cubes that can slowly melt throughout the day. Occasionally check the water temperature throughout the day, as you may need to add another handful during intense heat waves.

During warmer months, you'll want to keep your birdbath cleaned and filled up all day and night for the best chance of attracting several species of birds. Replace your birdbath with cold water every day or two to help keep it cool, and also give them fresh, clean water to bathe and drink in. The more successful you are in attracting birds, the more likely the water will get dirty with dropped feathers and droppings. Not only is this gross, but their droppings can carry diseases that can spread to birds and even humans. The best way to clean your birdbath is to mix 1 cup of bleach into a bath full of water. Let it soak for at least 10 minutes, and keep it covered to prevent unsuspecting birds from taking a dip. Empty and rinse thoroughly before refilling with cold water, making sure there's no trace of bleach left behind.

When creating your dream garden, consider adding your birdbath to a spot that will receive plenty of shade. Add tall shrubs or trees near the birdbath to offer a bit of protection, positioning them in a way that provides the most shade during the hottest parts of the day. Even better, add brightly-colored flowering varieties that will attract other winged visitors, like hummingbirds, to the area.

Protection from the hot sun isn't the only benefit of adding plants near your birdbath. Trees provide birds with a spot to land, clean their feathers after their bath, build nests, and take shelter during extreme weather. Some berried plants that will attract birds to your garden include maple-leaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), and pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia). Now, they'll be able to enjoy some naturally delicious snacks when the trees or shrubs begin fruiting. In addition to the other benefits, shielding the birdbath from the sun will prevent water from evaporating as quickly, meaning fewer refill trips from you. Cold water also keeps algae from growing as rapidly and makes the bath less enticing to insects like mosquitoes looking to lay their eggs.