| HOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEHas summer come | | | | looking sources will help attract birds to your yard and |
| in with a bang!Heat waves everywhere.And where is | | | | birdbaths.Earth tone colors.Tan, brown, terra cotta, |
| the rain?Yolanda is at camp this week.She gets so | | | | gray etc.Are you getting the idea now?Natural feeling |
| excited.She can remember that camp is a fun time for | | | | and looking surfaces.Stay away from pretty colors like |
| her, yet she can't remember | | | | bright blues and greens.These bright colors are usually |
| or tell you what she did during the week or her last | | | | found on the glazed baths which as a |
| day there.A few miles west of Grand Rapids is "Indian | | | | BIG NO, NO!Oh sure, the glazed baths are nice and |
| Trails Camp."Indian Trails is a special camp for special | | | | easy to clean, but how often are |
| needs people of all ages.Camp is staffed with a | | | | they getting used?A glazed bath is also an invitation |
| registered nurse and camp counselors.The counselors | | | | to a potential death or two.Birds need something to |
| are college students. Many of them come from other | | | | grip, something to hold onto and feel safe.Too often a |
| countries that are studying and training in a special | | | | thirsty bird or a juvenile will fall in and drown.Young |
| needs field.Last year there was a counselor from | | | | birds are clueless to life's traps and dangers.They see |
| Australia, Yolanda thought he was | | | | water or just a place to perch and may easily fall |
| a HUNK!It's a good respite for all.Mom is dealing with | | | | in.Bigger birds like robins and smaller birds that may be |
| another bout of pneumonia.They brought her to the | | | | perching, lose |
| hospital for a 12 hour stay and she's still at the | | | | grips as well.A soaking wet bird is slow in flight and a |
| nursing home.I just don't know any more, I weep | | | | poor surface impedes flight a |
| every time I leave her.BIRDBATHS.Recently I have | | | | split second longer.In nature, that fraction of a second |
| had several questions on and about birdbaths.So........ I will | | | | can mean life or death.Location, Location, Location.A |
| address many of these questions again.Now for you | | | | common phrase in business.Also an important phrase |
| old timers......... you can still read this anyway.Birdbaths | | | | when it comes to locating a birdbath.Your bath(s) |
| come in many different shapes and styles. From a | | | | should be out in the open yet near protection.An |
| several | | | | oxymoron?Not really.A bath should be placed in an |
| hundred dollar fancy one to something as simple as a | | | | opening or where nothing is growing, yet make |
| terra cotta saucer.All too often, the fancy ones are | | | | sure there is a shrub or a tree near by.Birds need to |
| more of a hassle to clean and keep clean.The | | | | find a safe place to perch while they preen |
| sculpting and flowers are a magnet for trapping dirt | | | | themselves.A wet bird is a slow bird.All of my baths |
| and algae.They can have the proper dimensions and | | | | are within 15 feet of a tree or other protection.If you |
| work great as a bath and a | | | | plant anything around your bath, make sure it is a low |
| quick drink. Just remember they are extra work to | | | | growing plant.Cats will hide in your garden and pounce |
| maintain.The width of the bowl isn't a problem.A | | | | on your unsuspecting birds if |
| problem can occur when the bowl is too deep.A | | | | givin the chance to do so.Danger also comes from |
| proper depth for a birdbath is 1 1/2 to 2 inches | | | | the sky, but birds will be looking for hawksAlso, place |
| deep.Anything deeper without a raised flat surface | | | | your source of water where you can enjoy the |
| (stone or brick) can be asking | | | | action.Place it where it is easy for you to keep clean |
| for trouble in the way of drowning or birds unable to | | | | and filled.I can't number the times I've seen an empty or |
| escape quickly.It's true, I have a clay bowl 3 inches | | | | filthy birdbath that is totally |
| deep for my robins and bluejays.I also have a raised | | | | ignored because it is located as a piece of yard art, |
| flat surface in the middle.A Petoskey stone I found one | | | | not as a birdbath.KEEP IT CLEANWell, you've got your |
| year in the Little Traverse Bay at Bayview, | | | | birdbaths or other sources of water.Now how do you |
| Michigan.It makes a nice added surface and a bit of a | | | | keep it clean?This isn't rocket science, yet many |
| conversation piece for visitors | | | | people neglect this task.Maintaining is more efficient |
| to see a Petoskey stone that size.We also have a | | | | then having to do a total scrub all the time.Yes, it's true |
| two-tiered concrete bath on the tree stump style.This | | | | a good cleaning is needed and you will know when it's |
| is a left over from the years we owned our wild bird | | | | needed.Here are a couple of things that I have found |
| specialty store.It's very functional and gets used, but it | | | | that work for me.Near dusk, if my bath needs filling, I |
| takes more time and care to clean.Still, I like it in my | | | | will refill with fresh water and put a cap |
| yard as an added feature.The easiest one to clean | | | | or two of chlorine bleach into the water.This keeps |
| and the one that gets used the most is a simple | | | | germs and algae down between cleanings and the |
| two piece concrete birdbath.The bowl is 1 1/2 inches | | | | chlorine |
| deep and has a bit of a raised surface in the middle.It is | | | | will have oxidized by morning.My favorite stuff is the |
| a neutral color and a plain surface.My smaller birds as | | | | oxygen bleach products.I use this on a lot of things.I |
| well as my mourning doves are at this bath all the | | | | was reminded by a dear friend that this stuff foams |
| time.We need to fill it constantly it seems and it needs | | | | up some.My apologies for not making that all too clear.I |
| sanitizing more often.THINK LIKE A BIRD.I keep bringing | | | | can use my Oxi-Boost any time of day and feel safe.It |
| that up don't I?Thinking like a bird does not mean bird | | | | sanitizes and kills algae, even when my birds take a |
| brained : )Take notice as to where birds congregate | | | | sip.They don't mind a little foaming action.I sprinkle in just |
| for a bath, some playtime | | | | enough around the edges and a bit in the middle and |
| and a drink.A simple mud puddle or where the | | | | let it |
| sprinklers puddle up on streets and | | | | go to work.Experiment on this one until you find what |
| sidewalks.Nature's way of water for birds.Natural | | | | works for you.I would guess a table spoon full. |