Reminder, it is really hot outside and our small animal friends do not have access to water like we do. So help them out and put out a bowl full of fresh water in your yard, on your balcony, or on your window still and do a small creature a good turn by keeping them alive and hydrated. Added bonus: doing this, you will get to see what comes for the water like your own wild nature TV show but in real life and outside your window.
We have three little ponds and it's fun watching which birds creep through the vegetation to get to the edge of one of them and sip at the water. Strangely enough it isn't during this waether that it happens so much. It is during winter that the Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds do it. But in this weather the Blackbirds sometimes have a bath in the little water feature on the patio. After they have done so the water is spread all over the place and it looks as though a Polar Bear had been splashing about.
As you know I made the 'beach' at one end of the pond for the birds to gain access and they do (particularly now that I've cleared away a lot of the water mint at that end. However it is the rock pools in the waterfall that really attracts them by the dozen.
ReplyDeleteI really must proof-read my comments before I post them: punctuation and grammatical errors in so few lines is not a Good Thing.
DeleteNot only do we all do it, GB, but often we notice one at the split second that we press the 'publish' button! Does one go back and delete the comment and do it again (as I did on one of yours recentlly) or leave it? The problem with deleting is people always wonder what it was you deleted - something spicy perhaps that you thought better of....
DeleteOh wow! I have done that way too many times. lol
DeleteFortunately, rain has been plentiful this spring and summer in Central Florida. Nevertheless, I always keep two birdbaths on my property filled with fresh water and several species of birds use them regularly as do squirrels, a raccoon, armadillo and possum. I love to watch the show! Good night to you, John, and have a nice Sunday tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteWow - what a wonderful set of visitors you have. The only mammals we have are Grey Squirrels and Wood Mice. We have a little dish that the Wood Mice can access but I've never seen them near it and I can't recall ever seeing the Squirrels drink in the garden.
Deleteexcellent idea, CJ!
ReplyDeleteWe are thinking alike today; I posted on Facebook asking people to put out water for wild birds and critters during heat waves. We put out bowls full of water that are on the ground so small animals like possums can reach the water in addition to the tall bird baths. You are blessed to have ponds.
ReplyDeleteI'll put a bit of water out for them, although I have to say they steer clear of my back balcony like the plague! I have no idea why unless it's the cat next door, but he doesn't usually come out and even if he does, it's rather far for him to jump!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this timely reminder CJ. I do feed them Brownie's leftovers, but sometimes I must admit, that I do forget to put out water for the birds.
ReplyDeleteGreat and much needed reminder. Thanks for sharing this with everyone.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this reminder! I will place at least one bath in our garden today!
ReplyDeleteA timely reminder. We are lucky in that a mountain river runs through the garden so I don't have to put water out for the dog or birds etc. However we have just acquired some chicken and they have water feeders as they can't reach the river - they are getting through a lot in this hot weather.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any comment more designed to make me jealous, Cait, than "a mountain river runs through the garden". Sigh.
DeleteThanks for the reminder. We do put out water but sometimes forget to refresh the water in the birdbath too. In this weather it can get very slimy. I'll fix that right now.
ReplyDeleteSeen many a pretty cottage garden during my week in Yorkshire, John, and many friendly people keep their birdbaths well cleaned and replenished with fresh water. It was a joy to see birds coming for a drink or bath, and I had the impression that they were less shy than here in Germany. Or maybe more desperate?
ReplyDeleteOur birds love the waterfall on the pond and ignore the 2 bird baths. The Blackbirds also get moisture from the apples we leave out for them.
ReplyDeleteWe've had so much rain, I don't think our feathered friends are needing any help..but last week was very hot and humid so I made sure the bird baths had water in them..and refreshed it often so the mosquitoes wouldn't thrive! I enjoy watching all the birds we have living in our pine trees, but my faves to watch are the bats at dusk! Love them! (they eat mosquitoes!)
ReplyDeleteI love watching bats as well but we don't have any round here. We used to have a caravan in N Wales and they swooped through the garden and around the tree tops all the time. It was delightful to watch.
DeleteWith the ampount of flooding you've had I doubt the birds will need extra water for a while yet! They are more likely to need stilts for their nests!
We tend to forget about them when we have problems of our own facing the heat of summer! Good reminder, John! The bonus of seeing them drinking more than off-set the little favor to them. Nicely!
ReplyDeleteHank
Wow. I just heard the longest continuous rumble of thunder I have ever heard. I think the good weather just broke at 6.30 a.m. on Tues 23rd.
ReplyDeleteGandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." By showing such simple kindness as supplying daily fresh water to the wild birds and small animals who share our planet and choose to visit us, we are showing that better side of our humanity. During this brutal hot spell we are having, the robins, blue jays and mockingbirds sometimes sit on our fence with their beaks open in distress. They so appreciate the cooling birdbath and sprinkler!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite wild birds are Eastern Bluebirds. They return around Christmas Day, braving the cold and snow the rest of winter. We have a heated birdbath because they need water then as well, and we feed them homemade suet and live meal worms. Before long they invite their friends. Soon our deck is filled with cardinals, blackbirds, chickadees and dark-eyed juncos who join the party. It's fun watching them squabble over the treats, and our three cats join in by "talking" and flashing their tails from their perch inside on the windowsill. It's all quite entertaining on a cold and gray winter day, but last year we spent so much on meal worms that my husband, Bob, said he thinks we should try claiming them as dependents on our tax form!
Every spring for the last 8 years, two bluebirds pair off and check out our bluebird box that Bob made me awhile back for Mother's Day. They must like the real estate because they've nested and raised families there every summer since. Last summer, they produced four broods, and one so far this year. Bluebirds are a glorious bright blue with orange and white on their chest and underside, with a beautiful soft warble. In return for our survival aid in winter they help themselves to harmful insects in my flower garden each summer and fall. A good deal I think!
We also have Cottontail rabbits, gray squirrels, field mice, opossums, a fox or two from nearby fields and skunks (thankfully not very often!) in our yard. I almost forgot the occasional newborn calf from the dairy pasture next to us who wanders from its Mama. Bob and I are getting a bit old to wrangle them back under the fence, but we do our best! I absolutely love them all!
Wow, what a fantastic collection of animals, Kathy. We break the ice on the ponds in winter but I've never thought of a heated birdbath - what a good idea.
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