Birds that don’t normally come to feeders can be attracted to a bird bath, like this Yellow Warbler (photo by Paul Konrad).

Water is a natural attraction for birds, for drinking and bathing, and by providing bird baths and other water features we attract a greater variety of birds to our yards – to the benefit of those birds. At times, your bird bath might be the only water source in your neighborhood, which gives it added importance. Because birds locate water sources when they hear the sounds of moving water, by adding some ‘action’ to water provided in a basin or bird bath it should be visited by a greater variety of birds. You can try adding an economical source of ‘action’ – a small fountain, mini-waterfall, dripper, mister – or all of these options.

Not only will one or more of these accessories create water sounds and add a bit of action to water, but they will also make your bird bath, water basin, or water feature even more attractive to birds in the area. It can also make your existing water feature more interesting for you, your family, and visitors too. All birds are attracted to water, especially moving water, so consider the importance of using the moving water accessories that you think will serve you and the birds best.

In nature, birds locate springs, streams, and other water sources by listening for the movement of water. Therefore, it makes sense to include moving water as part of a feeding station, flower garden, or a center point in your yard. You don’t even need an electric connection to keep a motor running if you opt for a solar-operated mini-fountain to add to your bird bath.

Your local birding store may have some options, but not all of us have a birding store nearby. There are a variety of options available online, and we found that a well-known birding products company has a lot of options including mini-fountains and mini-waterfalls, misters, drippers, bubblers, and more. Check out a variety of water feature products offered by Duncraft at Water Misters & Drippers (duncraft.com) And any time you are using extension cords outdoors, it’s best to buy and use a ‘safety cord shield’ too.

The mini water feature options offered by Duncraft could also give you some ideas for making your own water feature, and there are a couple small electric water pumps for sale on the Duncraft website that will power a small water feature you may wish to build using some decorative rocks in a bird bath or a larger water basin. If bigger is better for you, you can get a larger silent electric pump to enliven a water feature you dream up – a small waterfall, short recycling ‘stream,’ or a personal fountain. It’s easier than you think, and you will feel the satisfaction of making a larger water feature for your yard and for birds that you attract – local birds, nesting birds, migrating birds, and eventually, wintering birds.

Simple Sprinkler Action

We had an interesting insight during a recent heat spike when the temperature topped out at 85 degrees. We decided to run water through our drip line positioned in one flower garden, and a sprinkler on the other flower garden to give the plants a reprieve from the drying conditions. When we checked on the backyard flowers that were being watered via the drip line, we found 3 adult robins in an open spot, drinking and maybe grabbing an earthworm or insects displaced by the water.

Walking to the front yard, we were delighted to see 3 more robins bathing on the edge of the little sprinkler that was watering the front yard flowers – an adult, a fairly new fledgling judging by its very short tail feathers, and an older fledgling that was the size of an adult. That watering session turned out to be the beginning of a fun activity of running our sprinklers for the birds (and the flowering plants). At times we position the sprinkler so some water reaches one of our bird baths that’s already filled with fresh water, and the sprinkler action seems to make the water basin all the more attractive for birds to bathe in.

It’s great fun to see what birds appear and to appreciate their behavior with the availability of sprinkling water, which includes foraging under the sprinkles. Some birds become very animated and we imagine they are genuinely refreshed by the experience. We are still in the early stages of adding sprinkler action to our yard, but who knows, it seems to be becoming a regular part of our backyard birding activities – pull up a chair and give it a try, if you haven’t already (it’s not like we are the only ones who have seen this kind of sprinkler action).

We encourage you to run a small sprinkler near your feeding station, or anywhere really, and see what birds react to it on a hot sunny afternoon as we approach the first days of summer. Enjoy this beautiful time of the year!

Share your backyard birding experiences and photos with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com