Date: 8/17/26 10:20 am From: Resa Pace <resagrpace...> Subject: Re: Birds and Water
Thanks for the reminder, Jerry. Yesterday, I observed a new Red-bellied
Woodpecker at one of my water bowls. He was not yet fully feathered and
had trouble reaching the water. I had left it low in a big bowl on
purpose, afraid of making it too deep. I wanted big birds to be able to
bathe, but be safe. Later, I put in a couple of bricks.
BTW, the birds favorite water dish is the very expensive Yeti bowl I got my
dog (me) for a Christmas present. For some reason they love that bowl.
Canine visitors also prefer it.
Next, there was a new female Cardinal drinking from the low spots in my
flagstone path. Her mother would visit the bird feeder and then fly
straight to her to feed her whatever she had gathered from the feeder. A
very rewarding morning!
Resa Pace
On Mon, Aug 17, 2026, 10:39 AM <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...>
wrote:
> During this extreme heat bird lovers need to remember to provide water for
> the birds for drinking and bathing. In our hectic lifestyles, this is one
> important habitat element that may not come to mind. Birds need water every
> day of the year
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerStart
> External Email
>
> ZjQcmQRYFpfptBannerEnd
> During this extreme heat bird lovers need to remember to provide water for
> the birds for drinking and bathing. In our hectic lifestyles, this is one
> important habitat element that may not come to mind. Birds need water every
> day of the year for drinking and bathing. In my surveys over multiple
> states, only one birdbath in 100 had water. Are you the one percent that
> always has water available? It helps to have water placed in a shady
> location with perches close by so birds can access and wet birds can escape
> predators. If such a location in not possible, at least make sure your
> sources contain water all of the time.
> Most of my birds are relatively quiet now. This makes it more difficult
> for me to know what species are still in my yard. The Carolina Wrens,
> Tufted Titmouse, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers, and
> Northern Cardinals are still pretty vocal. The calls of the Summer
> Tanagers, Blue-gray gnatcatchers, Red-eyed Vireo, Great-crested
> Flycatchers, Yellow-billed Cuckoos and others are now infrequent. My four
> waters are in the backyard where I can see and monitor the birds and water
> availability at all times. Birds also come to the sprinkler when I am
> watering the hummingbird and pollinator flowers. Do your birdbaths have
> water? It is critical for their survival.
> Another reminder, it is not too early to start preparing for Fall and
> Winter habitat needs. Skip mowing and let the seed heads develop for Fall
> and Winter feeding. Be working on making sure your brush piles are well
> developed to protect the birds in winter weather and provide another
> foraging substrate.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
