Adding a birdbath to your yard will provide your feathered friends will clean water to drink and a safe and handy spot in which to bathe.
If you do not clean your birdbath regularly, harmful bacteria will begin to grow, causing a danger to the very birds you are hoping to attract and enjoy. Birdbaths quickly become dirty and can harbor pests and bacteria and require a thorough cleaning. The best way to keep your birdbath clean is with regular care and maintenance. Does this Spark an idea?
Cleaning
The first step in keeping your birdbath clean is to give it a thorough scrub down. Remove the old water and debris with your water hose set on "jet." Mix 1 gallon of cool water with 1 cup of oxygen bleach. Oxygen bleach will clean and disinfect your birdbath without using toxic chemicals that could harm wildlife. Dip a scrub brush in the mixture and scrub the inside of the birdbath -- the basin, lip and other areas that birds land on -- vigorously. Rinse the birdbath thoroughly and refill with cool, clean water.
Maintenance
Cleaning your birdbath and adding fresh water will cut down on the buildup of grime and help reduce the amount of pests -- such as mosquitoes -- flying around your yard. Furthermore, adding an enzyme to the water designed for birdbaths will reduce the amount of algae growth and mosquito larva in the water. You can purchase the enzyme at garden centers and online (see resources).
Tips
Birdbaths in direct sunlight will have a large amount of algae growth and the water will evaporate more quickly. If you place your birdbath in a shady location, you will not have to refill it as often or deal with an overgrowth of algae. According to The Humane Society of the United States, keep the birdbath away from bird feeders. Birds can be messy creatures when feeding and will spill an abundance of seeds underneath the feeders. If the birdbath is located near a feeder, the seeds will clog it up.
Considerations
You can use chlorine bleach to clean and disinfect your birdbath by diluting it at a ratio of one part bleach to nine parts water. However, it is best to use organic and all-natural products -- such as borax, baking soda or oxygen bleach -- that will not cause harm to the birds.
If your yard is home to the feline species or you have an abundance of cats in your neighbor, position the birdbath in an area where cats cannot hide. This gives the birds a chance to see the threat coming.
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