Birds don’t have their own version of Airbnb, but if they did, you can imagine the comments they might leave behind.
“The yard was lovely, with lots of seed and a relaxing vibe . . . until the Sharp-shinned Hawk arrived.” Or maybe: “Post advertised a beautiful, glistening birdbath, but when we got there, we found a mosquito-infested swamp bowl instead.”
Now, there might not be much you can do about a lurking Accipiter in your yard, but taking care of your birdbath is easy and important, especially during fall migration, when birds are relying on your yards to recharge.
To keep your birdbath fresh, just rinse and scrub it with nine parts water, one part vinegar. Skip the synthetic soaps and cleansers; they can strip the essential oils off of bird feathers. And make sure to refill the water every other day to keep it from bugging up.
Neglecting your birdbath doesn’t just make for a filthy experience for your birds: It could also do more harm than good, Geoffrey LeBaron, director of Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count program, says.
“If you don’t take good care of your birdbath, either it will dry out completely, which is no use for birds, or it’ll get fetid,” LeBaron says. “That’s when mosquitoes might become a problem.”
Simply rinse and scrub your birdbath with nine parts water and one part vinegar to keep it fresh. Avoid using artificial cleansers and soaps as they can remove the essential oils from feathers of birds. Additionally, to prevent it from breaking, remember to replenish the water every other day.
According to LeBaron, “if you don’t take good care of your birdbath, it will either get fetid or dry out completely, making it useless for birds.” “That’s when mosquitoes might become a problem. ”.
Neglecting your birdbath doesn’t just make for a filthy experience for your birds: It could also do more harm than good, Geoffrey LeBaron, director of Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count program, says.
“The yard exuded a tranquil atmosphere, abundant with seeds.” until the Sharp-shinned Hawk arrived. Alternatively, perhaps this: “Post showed us a gorgeous, shimmering birdbath, but when we arrived, all we saw was a swamp bowl full of mosquitoes.” ”.
Nobody wants mosquitoes anytime of the year, but they can be really bad news in the fall. While summer may be prime insect time, autumn is an especially high-risk season for diseases, says John Wenzel, entomologist and director of the Powdermill Nature Reserve. With more birds crowding at your bath during migration, there’s a higher chance of viruses being spread.
What’s the Best Way to Clean Bird Baths and Bird Feeders?
Depending on the type of bath or feeder and what you want to clean or prevent, there may be differences in the best cleaning technique. Bird feeders and birdbaths can become contaminated by organic materials, algae, droppings, and feathers. The number of birds that stop in your yard will determine how often you need to clean them, so keep a watch on them and plan your cleaning schedule according to how large your backyard flock grows.
Cleaning Concrete or Stone Bird Baths
A concrete or stone bird bath can be cleaned in a variety of ways, and you probably already have most of the materials you’ll need at home. To clean your concrete bird baths, use hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or distilled vinegar. Regardless of the material you choose, begin by discarding the old water and gathering a few necessities, such as gloves, a bucket or bowl, a designated scrub brush, and your cleaning solution.
Distilled Vinegar: Mix nine parts water with one part vinegar. After adding the mixture to the bird bath, use a scrub brush to remove any debris from the basin’s exterior.
Hydrogen Peroxide: Combine one part water with one part hydrogen peroxide. Similar to the vinegar method, soak the basin in a hydrogen peroxide mixture, scrub it well, and then rinse it well.
Baking Soda: To make sure no baking soda residue is left behind, sprinkle soda over the bird bath, scrub well, hose down completely, fill the basin, dump, and fill again.
FAQ
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