It has been a tad warmish around my place recently. Downright hot as a matter of fact.
It’s so hot I saw a bird pull a worm out of the ground with an oven mitt.
Chickens are laying hard-boiled eggs.
Hot water comes out of both taps.
And you find out that seat belts make a pretty good branding iron.
Of course, most of us have air conditioning to help us survive the brutal summer weather.
Birds are not so lucky. And that brings me to a few suggestions for helping our feathered friends beat the heat.
Assuming you have a yard, buy yourself a birdbath. Preferably a nice sturdy concrete unit that can’t be easily tipped over.
Place the birdbath in shade if possible and make sure you keep it filled with clean water. Give the bath a good hard squirting every now and then to dislodge any leaves or other debris.
It’s a real treat to see birds splashing around in the bath, obviously having a most enjoyable time. And it’s amazing what all species are attracted to, everything from chickadees and cardinals to mourning doves and house wrens.
So remember when it’s hot enough that fire ants are really on fire, it’s a great time for a welcoming birdbath.
