Backyard Update #3: Birdbaths

Splish Splash Taking a Birdbath

by: Emily

A lot of birds like using my bird bath. Well sort of... It's actually a tray for planters. It's a little shallow but it will do for a small yard. Lots of birds like drinking from it.

California Towhee

Lesser Goldfinch

The occasional American Robin.

Mourning Dove and American Robin.

 Sometimes birds like to bathe in it too. Below: Golden-Crowned Sparrow

Splashing around a lot. Well that's what birds do. They need to get water all through their feathers and on their backs. Then they start to preen.

Mourning Dove Preening. When preening, birds take each feather and hold it with its beak stroking it from top to bottom. They need to preen to take out all the dirt, dust, or parasites. It will be healthier, and easier for them to fly.

Here are some videos of birds taking baths. They are soaked. They don't seem to care about privacy much!

 

House Sparrow Bathing.

Here's a White-crowned Sparrow drinking. It steps into the water and drinks. Then it walks around in it. I wouldn't do that. Would you?