Putting out water for the birds.......Importan t!!

Yes I second that. We also get hedgehogs using it at night.

We have an orb water feature and the birds love it . They sit underneath and cool down and drink the water too . I’ve managed to find a spot for my bird table that next doors horrible cat can’t get to, so keeping that well stocked too .....not to mention the juicy worms they are pulling up out of the lawn . My garden must be like a luxury bird spa !

If I was a bird gilly I would definitely want to live in your garden!!

I have a large pond and have even put a pebble beach in the shallow end for the birds to perch on and if any wildlife falls in they should be able to scramble out. I had a cat of my own until last year, they're not horrible they're just following their instincts. I used to frustrate all of his attempts to catch the birds, he was however a very good catcher of rodents. I shall miss him this winter I think.

We have a small (very) waterfall thing running down into a little pond and its amazing the variety and number of birds which come in to use it. They all prefer the running water and queue up very politely.

Thanks, DanniRae, I’d never thought of that, and neither had my other half, who’s a birder. Our old girl is your original scaredy cat and rarely ventures out, so our garden’s a safe zone for birds.

They don't seem to come to our running water NfkD. DH just filled up the bird bath (again) and I have put a large planter saucer on the ground filled with water.

Important to tip out the dregs and top up frequently too. I'm noticing my two birdbaths are being used more than usual perhaps as other local water resources are depleted. The water levels are dropping rapidly due to use and evaporation and the sludgy remains look sludgier than usual.

We are constantly topping up our bird bath - I’m thinking of taking readings off the water meter and charging them ! We have mostly sparrows, but a few goldfinches are visiting now, too. The ground under the plum tree is very dry and the sparrows love to have a communal dustbath in there.

I fill the birdbath and also put a shallow dish for hedgehogs. When it is nearly dark outside I put a little water on the small area that the hedgehogs visit. I think they like it a bit damp. Only a small amount from a jug not the hose.

The hedgehogs seem to like any spare mealworms that go astray under the bird table.
I've been putting extra down on the ground for them.
Assuming this is alright? Should have googled it perhaps.

Indeed we in the household can get as much pleasure from this simple thoughtful............and much needed act in this prolonged period of heat..............we have both a bird bath and fountain which we keep topped up and both are in constant use,the fountain more so because of its depth of water presumably.
Such joy watching the activity and happy twittering.
It costs us nothing......well not that much....... and hopefully it gives our birds a quality of life in this scorching heat.

I'm guessing your back garden inst a crappy little yard in Salford then.

Our house is urban, but I've seen sparrows and blackbirds.
and lots of noisy seagulls.
Put some water out in our tiny back 'garden' anyway, keeping an eye out for takers. Should have done it sooner, because the wind has moved round and we might have some rain soon.