Wild Garden Summer 2019 | Page 5

BIRD BATHS The benefits of bird baths and why everyone should provide water stations in their gardens to help wild birds visiting our gardens. £9.95 Ceramic Bird Bath, Garden4you There are many ways to provide water stations in your gar- den. The easiest is to buy a bird bath. You can find them in every garden centre or online and there are a variety of dif- ferent ones to match each individual garden style. Also, you can provide water by simple putting a container or a large flat bowl, that has shallow sloping sides and ideally the depth should vary between 2.5cm and 10cm to allow more species of bird to use the bath. It is important that the surface of the bath is grit so the birds can grip with their claws and not slip. Birds will only use the bath if they feel safe so when deciding where to place your bath you need to bare a few things in mind. Firstly, birds need to have clear visibility of the bath as they bathe. Make sure that cats won’t be able to jump on the bath, simply place it away from bushes or fences. It is very important that you do clean the baths regularly and provide fresh water daily. Providing fresh water daily during the summer is very import as well. Many people provide a wide range of food in their gardens but not many provide a water source. Back door birds need water for drinking and bathing especially in the hot months during the hot summer days. The birds that feed themselves with seeds have a dry diet and therefore they need to drink more water. Be- cause birds don’t have sweat glands like mammals they don’t need as much water but they lose water through respiration. By providing water birds can easily maintain a healthy diet. Birds also need to have baths time to Above Long-tailed Tit, left Blue Tit. time and at higher frequen- cies during the summer. That keeps their feathers in good condition and dampening their feathers in water will keep them clean by removing the dirt which makes their feathers easier to preen. If you have larger garden you might consider having a pond. This will attract more bird species and will also create a more natural and wild- life friendly hab- itat. Also, ponds often attract birds that are shyer and don’t use bird baths. £24.99 Bird Bath with 3 Glazed Feet, Primrose Summer 2019 Wild Garden 5