Needs of Wildlife: Water

Water is a key element to your backyard habitat. Several sources of water can be added to your yard that are sure to please your critters. Use a pedestal birdbath, a shallow water dish located at ground level, or even a small pond. Any of these will provide the necessary water source for drinking and bathing and can also become an aquatic habitat for dragonflies, frogs and other aquatic life.

Keep the Water Flowing

The water source that you provide to birds and other animals should be reliable. To establish a habitat in your backyard, animals will depend on a clean, fresh and constant water source. Flush out old, stagnant water from your source with a hose and fill it up with new, fresh water. Clean the birdbath regularly, especially in warmer months, using a brush and a solution of one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the birdbath before refilling it with fresh water. Keeping clean, fresh water available also prevents mosquitoes from breeding. It is critical to have water during the winter months when most of the natural water sources have frozen over and are inaccessible to wildlife. Electric immersion heaters constructed for bird feeders are helpful.

The Noisier the Better

Most wild birds will come from great distances when they detect the sound of moving water. Their acute senses draw them to the source like a magnet. Adding a mister, dripper or circulation pump to a birdbath or other source of fresh water will provide just the right sound to attract wild birds.

Very Important: Please thoroughly rinse chlorine bleach/water cleaning solution from water sources and let dry completely before filling with fresh, clean water.

 E-mail to a friend