California’s drought replaces regular water with bare creek beds and depleted reservoirs. For small birds, staying clean and hydrated can be a challenge. Here’s how to help them out.
Designing a water feature for birds transforms a decorative garden feature into a survival aid. With food and water available in the same area, small birds save energy that would be wasted searching for water.
Many birds migrate. Right now, the lesser goldfinches mob the fountain, with frequent visits by yellow-rumped warblers, Anna’s hummingbirds and American robins. Earlier in the year, we had Wilson’s warblers and American goldfinches, along with black-chinned hummingbirds. Scrub jays and phoebes visit the fountain year round.
These features are good to have in a bird fountain:
Audible water
If located under a tree, a silent water feature is a hidden water feature to birds passing overhead. The noise doesn’t have to resemble a major waterfall, but there should be enough sound for birds to locate the fountain, even if it’s hidden under a tree. This works best for migrating birds who don’t know the area and have not memorized where they can find water.
Rough surface, curved edges and sloping sides
Many birds – especially hummingbirds – prefer to perch on the side of the fountain in a stream of running water. Sloping sides let them grab hold and still access the water. This also increases capacity for goldfinches and warblers.
Recirculating water
It’s a drought, so using potable water flowing from a pipe is not only wrong, it’s probably illegal, too. Recirculating the water also keeps it moving, allowing filtration and oxygenation.
Deep reservoir
The bottom basin should be deep and ideally buried in the ground. This limits evaporation – as do plants growing on the surface of the water. Our fountain uses sedges to shade the water, keeping it cooler in the summer and further reducing water loss.
Biofiltration
This process uses natural systems to purify the water. Bacteria convert waste provided by the birds into nutrients for the plants growing in and on the fountain. The inside of the pot is filled with broken pots, increasing the surface area for the bacteria. The outside has become covered in moss, increasing surface area and feeding on the nutrients. The water needs to keep moving, since the bacteria involved need oxygen to thrive.
No chemicals
Obviously, adding chemicals would defeat the purpose of a bird refuge. The biofiltration system – bacteria, plants and moving water – will keep the water clear.
No fish
Even one goldfish will turn the water green and opaque, at least until a passing egret devours the fish. If you see mosquito larvae, add mosquito fish. These fish are too small to attract herons and will multiply in the fountain. If the filter system is strong enough to prevent mosquitos, it might be strong enough to suck up mosquito fish, so don’t add them unless you see mosquito larvae. Predatory insects, such as dragonfly larvae will move into the fountain over time, further reducing the risk of breeding mosquitos.
Nearby perches
As you can see in the photos, having perches available near the water allows birds to wait for their turn. The perch is also a place to look for potential danger before flitting down to the water.
Nearby shelter
Where the perches should be open and have good visibility, shelter shrubs and trees should be more opaque, better for hiding. Birds use these areas to preen their feathers after taking baths and sometimes watch the perching area to see if it looks safe.
Our birds
A benefit of fountains is that they attract insect eating birds as well as seed-eaters. Birds that would be difficult to attract to to a feeder will readily visit a fountain for a drink. These birds are common visitors, depending on the season:
- black phoebe
- western scrub jay
- lesser goldfinch *
- yellow-rumped warbler *
- Wilson’s warbler *
- Yellow warbler *
- American robin
- Northern mockingbird
- Anna’s hummingbird
- Black-chinned hummingbird *
* migratory, not around all year