Don't let out little feathered friends dry out.

I drink when I’m thirsty which is fine but as we age the 'thirst signal' weakens and older people are often not drinking enough fluids if they rely on that signal. By the time someone feels thirsty they can already be in a measure of dehydration. Far better to drink little and often to avoid dehydration, which will be a real possibility in this present heatwave.

It’s currently the crazy to keep swigging water all day and to worry about our kids, pets and wildlife getting dehydrated. Of course this was started by the manufacturers of bottled water.
I drink when I’m thirsty and always have water down for the animals but they seldom drink at all. Even in this heat I’ve only seen one cat drink once and the other, and the dog, not at all.

I just have to share that around 20 sulphur crested cockatoos just landed in a tree in our garden last night. Never seen so many here before,they usually gather like that in fields or open country. Very noisy but lovely .

Couple of large terracotta saucers here which I fill each day. Magpies, wood pigeons (who use it as a bidet 😳). Robins are a delight when they have a bath. Blue tits. Sadly, so few blackbirds. Naughty fox family also - rubbish on lawn etc.

We don’t have a bird bath so I have just ordered one to be delivered tomorrow.
I put fresh water in a shaded place for our dogs each day but forgot about the poor birds .

Rosie51 The pigeons just wallow in the water and leave a greasy slick on the surface when they finally get out of the bath! I keep a couple of pebbles in mine so the little birds don't have to swim! 😂 There's plenty of cover nearby too.

I have a terracotta one ( it was once an outside ashtray from some much loved but long gone friends) which is washed out daily and appreciated by local bees as well as the passing cat or cats. I’ve had a grey tabby and a young ginger tom there this last couple of weeks as well as the most frequent black one.
The birds thoroughly enjoy their baths, the youngest sparrows emerge looking a bit bemused but soon settle their feathers again and we have visiting collar doves that seem better mannered than pigeons in that they don’t usually poo in there.
The birds that most surprised me are the blue tits, they have such a thorough wash that you can almost see them wash under their wings, then a little shake and order is restored and they fly off again.

I have two pedestal bird baths and two large on the ground. The starlings keep emptying them having a splashing time and the pigeons just sit in them then go on the lawn with wings spread to dry out.

I have a bird bath and a garden pond. I very rarely see a bird drinking from either and the pigeons constantly poo in the birdbath. I worry about bird flu so have stopped filling it.

Plus don’t leave your dog in a car. It reaches incredibly high temperatures within minutes. Same applies to babies and toddlers, even 30 seconds is dangerous in extreme heat . Every year we get a tragic event involving little ones during the extreme heat.

Son filled up our birdbath yesterday. I definitely see less birds this summer which is sad.

Don't forget something at ground level too. Mice might be a nuisance but they are part of the eco system and need a source of water, as do hedgehogs.

I have a large plant pot saucer at the top end of the back garden - we have no pond but do get the occasional frog for some reason and I do like to keep the birds hydrated. It has three stones in it to add some ballast and to help any little creatures to climb out.

Mine is almost overgrown by perennial geraniums but the birds seem to like the seclusion. Lots of young starlings using it at the moment, and a rather proprietorial blackbird who sees off all comers but he lets the sparrows sit on the edge, so they get a shower while he’s having a bath!

I have a burdbath and a couple of low sided containers with watering sorted around the back garden. I the front the bird feeder rod has has all bird bath suspended from it. I have a low sided containers the path but twice a fox has pooed in it and getting it spotless was a horrendous task.

Mine is heavily used by daft wood pigeons.

This is ours. Had a robin here earlier

I have a large plant saucer on the patio right outside our French doors for the tortoise to drink from when she needs to. Yes, tortoises do need to drink as well, contrary to what most people think! It is big enough for her to climb into and wallow around and fairly deep as tortoises have to submerge their whole head in order to drink.

On several mornings recently a magpie has used the saucer for a good old splash around, even though we have a bird bath further down the garden which is filled with fresh water daily. It is lovely to see him (or her) when I am having my morning tea inside at the table!

The bird bath is used by lots of birds daily too. Tits, finches and the lovely robins appreciate a cooling drink in this hot weather.

Thanks for the reminder. Will do it now.

Desdemona

Shinamae

I have….in the distance …

Bumping your post because of how vitally important it is for our little feathered friends (not forgetting to remember little water dishes for insects as well.)

Thankyou Desdemona, they need all hands on deck(ing or grass) at the moment!

Shinamae

I have….in the distance …

Bumping your post because of how vitally important it is for our little feathered friends (not forgetting to remember little water dishes for insects as well.)

We have put a 50cm plastic plant tray on top of our bird bath as it was bigger and deeper. All year round we’re entertained by numerous sparrows and blackbirds have a good ablution.
The pigeons seem to prefer the fountain.

We have an old frying pan , full of water, just on the patio, in the shade. It is used constantly , by the young jackdaws. For drinks and the occasional bath. Noisy things that they are.

Just remember to clean the receptacles and change the water daily. My birdbath is getting plenty of varied visitors we see on the wildlife camera angled to view it. Just wish the pigeons would refrain from pooing in it!

Thank you for the reminder keepcalmandcavachon