This is Birdnode.

Ren or Robin, Finch or Chiquiti, most birds love a good bath.

Bigger birds too.

A Cooper's hawk may stand and splash in a bird bath for half an hour.

Baving helps keep feathers in prime condition.

Some birds get the fluids they need from their food, but many birds need a drink at least twice a day.

In natural settings, birds may drink or bathe at the shallow rim of a pond or stream, or in puddle.

We can recreate this in our built environment by placing bird baths at different heights, including right on the ground.

Small birds may visit only shallow bird baths, an inch or two deep.

Putting rocks in the bird bath gives birds a place to rest and prune and keeps insects from drowning.

Water is important not only during hot or dry seasons when it's in short supply, but also during the cold season, when natural sources may freeze.

Water is essential for birds, and supplying clean water for them to drink and bathe in is a great way to help maintain native bird life.

The Bird Note. I'm Michael Stein.

Did you know you can listen to Bird Note in your podcast app?

Subscribe to Bird Note Daily and never miss an episode.