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.”
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.
What Will Happen if I Don’t Keep Bird Baths and Feeders Clean?
Not quite so dramatic as getting your birds sick from stagnant water in bird baths carrying pests and disease, but even worse than that, your crimes will be known to the birds, who will take advantage of any chance to attack! Bird populations are susceptible to rapid disease spread, particularly if they share a food and water source.
Do I Need to Clean My Bird Bath and Feeder?
Yes, you do! By purchasing bird baths and feeders to draw lovely birds to your yard, you also pledge to maintain the safety and cleanliness of wildlife. Maintaining clean bird baths and feeders will not only make your birds look good, but they will also keep them healthy. Providing food and clean water for birds on a regular basis fosters a cooperative relationship.
They enthrall you with their plumage and songs when you supply them with the goods. Birds will become dependent on you and continue to be drawn to your yard. For the birds’ health and wellbeing, it is imperative to keep the feeders and baths clean.
FAQ
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