| HOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEHas summer come in | | | | looking sources will help attract birds to your yard |
| with a bang!Heat waves everywhere.And where is | | | | and birdbaths.Earth tone colors.Tan, brown, terra |
| the rain?Yolanda is at camp this week.She gets so | | | | cotta, gray etc.Are you getting the idea now?Natural |
| excited.She can remember that camp is a fun time | | | | feeling and looking surfaces.Stay away from pretty |
| for her, yet she can't remember | | | | colors like bright blues and greens.These bright colors |
| or tell you what she did during the week or her last | | | | are usually found on the glazed baths which as a |
| day there.A few miles west of Grand Rapids is | | | | BIG NO, NO!Oh sure, the glazed baths are nice and |
| "Indian Trails Camp."Indian Trails is a special camp for | | | | easy to clean, but how often are |
| special needs people of all ages.Camp is staffed with | | | | they getting used?A glazed bath is also an invitation |
| a registered nurse and camp counselors.The | | | | to a potential death or two.Birds need something to |
| counselors are college students. Many of them come | | | | grip, something to hold onto and feel safe.Too often |
| from other | | | | a thirsty bird or a juvenile will fall in and drown.Young |
| countries that are studying and training in a special | | | | birds are clueless to life's traps and dangers.They see |
| needs field.Last year there was a counselor from | | | | water or just a place to perch and may easily fall |
| Australia, Yolanda thought he was | | | | in.Bigger birds like robins and smaller birds that may be |
| a HUNK!It's a good respite for all.Mom is dealing with | | | | perching, lose |
| another bout of pneumonia.They brought her to the | | | | grips as well.A soaking wet bird is slow in flight and a |
| hospital for a 12 hour stay and she's still at the | | | | poor surface impedes flight a |
| nursing home.I just don't know any more, I weep | | | | split second longer.In nature, that fraction of a |
| every time I leave her.BIRDBATHS.Recently I have | | | | second can mean life or death.Location, Location, |
| had several questions on and about birdbaths.So........ I | | | | Location.A common phrase in business.Also an |
| will address many of these questions again.Now for | | | | important phrase when it comes to locating a |
| you old timers......... you can still read this | | | | birdbath.Your bath(s) should be out in the open yet |
| anyway.Birdbaths come in many different shapes and | | | | near protection.An oxymoron?Not really.A bath should |
| styles. From a several | | | | be placed in an opening or where nothing is growing, |
| hundred dollar fancy one to something as simple as | | | | yet make |
| a 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 |
| work great as a bath and a | | | | you plant anything around your bath, make sure it is |
| quick drink. Just remember they are extra work to | | | | a low growing plant.Cats will hide in your garden and |
| maintain.The width of the bowl isn't a problem.A | | | | pounce 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 |
| escape quickly.It's true, I have a clay bowl 3 inches | | | | or 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 | | | | not as a birdbath.KEEP IT CLEANWell, you've got |
| one year in the Little Traverse Bay at Bayview, | | | | your birdbaths or other sources of water.Now how |
| Michigan.It makes a nice added surface and a bit of | | | | do you keep it clean?This isn't rocket science, yet |
| a conversation piece for visitors | | | | many people neglect this task.Maintaining is more |
| to see a Petoskey stone that size.We also have a | | | | efficient then having to do a total scrub all the |
| two-tiered concrete bath on the tree stump | | | | time.Yes, it's true a good cleaning is needed and you |
| style.This is a left over from the years we owned | | | | will know when it's needed.Here are a couple of |
| our wild bird specialty store.It's very functional and | | | | things that I have found that work for me.Near dusk, |
| gets used, but it takes more time and care to | | | | if my bath needs filling, I will refill with fresh water |
| clean.Still, I like it in my yard as an added feature.The | | | | and put a cap |
| easiest one to clean and the one that gets used the | | | | or two of chlorine bleach into the water.This keeps |
| 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 | | | | will have oxidized by morning.My favorite stuff is the |
| is a neutral color and a plain surface.My smaller birds | | | | oxygen bleach products.I use this on a lot of things.I |
| as 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 | | | | up some.My apologies for not making that all too |
| needs sanitizing more often.THINK LIKE A BIRD.I | | | | clear.I can use my Oxi-Boost any time of day and |
| keep bringing that up don't I?Thinking like a bird does | | | | feel safe.It sanitizes and kills algae, even when my |
| not mean bird brained : )Take notice as to where | | | | birds take a sip.They don't mind a little foaming |
| birds congregate for a bath, some playtime | | | | action.I sprinkle in just enough around the edges and |
| and a drink.A simple mud puddle or where the | | | | a bit in the middle and let it |
| sprinklers puddle up on streets and | | | | go to work.Experiment on this one until you find |
| sidewalks.Nature's way of water for birds.Natural | | | | what works for you.I would guess a table spoon full. |