Birdscaping your garden

This is the first in a series of short posts that will explain some of the best ways to attract, principally, indigenous or native bird species to your garden. Topics covered will include landscaping suggestions, plant lists, nest boxes, benefits that birds bring to your garden, and more, plus today’s topic …

Just add water

Perhaps the simplest and easiest way to attract birds is to provide them with a water source, but there are a few cautionary points to note.

In the shade, nearby foliage, rocks and sticks for access, easy to top up, etc.

A water source for birds can be from a small bowl on the ground, (not highly recommended), to a properly installed bird bath, a pond or even a dam if your garden is large enough.

A small Brown Thornbill using a wire 'ramp' to access a deep water bowl.

As part of maintaining their feathers, many birds need to bathe before preening. Preening is the process of cleaning and re-arranging their feathers into their correct positions – birds have several types of feathers that play different roles such as display, camouflage, controlling flight, insulation, water-proofing, etc.

Generally, a garden water source for birds should be shallow, as most garden variety species do not like deep water. Water in a shallow bowl can heat up and evaporate quickly, requiring frequent topping up. An easy solution to this dilemma is to place a secure branch into the water or include a small collection of rocks and stones for the birds to make safe access.

Musk Lorikeet enjoying a bath and emptying the bowl in the process.

The arid species of South African Sandgrouse allows its breast and belly feathers to soak up water at a waterhole and then to fly up to 30 km to its nest to let its babies suck the moisture from the specially adapted feathers.

A garden bird bath is best located in a shady, quiet corner of the garden, but not too remote or too well hidden. It is nice to be able to observe the birds using the water source from within your house. A well hidden bird bath might encourage cats to approach unseen. Some nearby vegetation however, allows the birds to approach carefully and to escape quickly if they are disturbed.

Rainbow Lorikeets having a party at the water bowl

A remote bird bath requiring several hose connections in order to flush it or top it up can mean this slightly time-consuming exercise gets overlooked. A regularly cleaned and topped bird bath becomes quickly well known by the birds and can become an everyday drink or bathing place.

With nearby vegetation New Holland and Crescent Honeyeaters are among regular visitors to this dam at Wonthaggi Heathlands.

Birds do not have sweat glands like mammals, but they do lose water through respiration and their droppings. Most garden-variety birds like to drink twice a day.

Note

The friends of Drouin’s Trees will be launching their new booklet, Birds of Drouin on Thursday 14^th of February in Civic Park – Drouin, at 530pm. This is a free public event however to help defray design, printing and binding costs, the booklets will be available for $2 each. (The third reprint of the very popular Drouin Tree Walks booklet will also be available).