Hot weather hard on birds - put out a birdbath to help

Birdzilla · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 130 Location: mckinney,TEXAS

The very hot weather across the middle of the U.S. has caused problems for migrating birds. Egrets migrating through Kansas have been reported to be dying of thirst.

Migration puts extra stress on birds, even small ones. Now is a good time to clean up your old birdbath or put out a new one. An upside down trash can lid placed in a shallow depression can look nice and is very inexpensive. There are also many commercial choices.

For backyard birds, shallow is better, one to two inches, with maybe a little gravel for an even shallower area.

Dripping water or misters make birdbaths even better.

A quick rinse and refill with your garden house every 2-3 days will keep the water fresh and prevent the development of mosquito larvae.

The birds will love you for it!

Pamzilla1 · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 47 Location: Hubbard,TX

I've been more consistent with keeping up the bird bath than the feeder. I have to rinse and fill it every day or it starts to grow algae.

What's the deal about birds dying in drought? Can they not drink water from deeper pools?

Tricky Grama · Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: birds/hot weather

We have a bluebird box on a fence post & on 7/4 saw the 3rd clutch of eggs since we put it up in April. Checked it 7/11-eggs still there, as well as on 7/15. Yesterday-7/23-only 2 out of 4 were there, one was broken & empty the other looked broken & COOKED! Is it possible that it got waaaaay too hot this past week & really did cook the eggs? Ugh.

Patty

Tony M · Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1086 Location: McKinney,TEXAS

As you probably know, bluebirds feed primarily on insects which are in short supply right now. I've lost barn swallow babies as well as purple martins even tho I am putting out mealworms. There's just not enough food to go around and with the increased hunting time, the birds are more as risk from cats and other predators.
Tony M