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Providing Water
Providing clean water for your garden birds is as important as providing food and in all seasons - even in the wet winter months. There are two main reasons garden birds need daily access to clean water:
Clean water for birds to bathe in
Bathing is essential for most birds as it is an important element in keeping their plumage in good condition.
Clean water for birds to drink
Most birds need water to drink as there is insufficient moisture in their food to keep them hydrated.
Ensuring the water is clean is absolutely essential, as water which is used for bathing can quickly become dirty and therefore be prone to passing on disease. In the summer months it may be necessary to change the water several times during the course of the day – in particular if you have Starlings visiting your garden who love to bathe together and as many times in the day as they can manage!
In the winter months when the water may become frozen, be sure to take out the ice and replace with clean water. Under no circumstances use anti-freeze, salt or glycerine in the water as this can be very harmful to birds.
Bird baths can be on stands or sat on the ground, but in all cases position them away from vegetation and other areas cats could hide in – birds are vulnerable when they bathe as they’re fully occupied and their vision may be impaired when splashing.