Bird baths

["Philip Veerman" <>]

I think the observations about ravens dunking bread and whatever are fairly typical. And yes it does make it hard to keep clean. I can say I have given up on having a bird bath. Or that happened when a few years ago I accidentally drove the car over it and wrecked it. I used to just scrub it out with a brush every few days when I felt in the mood. They require much more maintenance than you might think at seeing one in the landscape shop and think oh that is a nice idea. For a start, even on a slightly sloping block, it is hard to get them to stay upright. The idea of using bleach etc to clean it seems a bit over the top. First I have heard of going to that extreme.

 

I think the designs of most of these things are terrible. They are usually shallow bowl shaped and smooth surfaced and thus minimally useful for small birds as they are much too deep.

 

Philip

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sue Beatty [
Sent: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 8:58 AM
To:
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] RE : Bird baths

I’m glad someone has brought up the subject of bird baths! The ravens who nest each year in a tree next door have got into the habit of bringing bread from another neighbouring garden, and dunking it in my bird bath.  I‘ve spoken twice to the neighbours who kindly leave out bread for the birds (sigh!) twice over the last couple of years, but it still seems to appear. Now I find that every morning, the ravens dunk whatever they get to eat in my bird bath – beakfulls of dog food, dismembered prey, donuts, lollies…. It’s such a foetid mess that other birds have stopped using it – alas. My latest plot is to cover the bath after dark so that when they come in the morning they can’t dunk. Of course no other birds can use it either. I wonder what time it’s safe to remove the cover? Does anyone have a better idea?

 

Sue

---

From: Judy Corp [
Sent: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 8:40 AM
To: 'Trish Munro'; 'Canberra Birds'
Subject: RE: [canberrabirds] RE : Bird baths

 

Hi

 

We aren’t as diligent as that but fresh water every day is important. I’d be interested in others opinions on this too.

 

Judy

 

From: Trish Munro [
Sent: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 7:32 AM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] RE : Bird baths

 

Hi COGers,
 
Can I have some advise please?
 
I read in the Sunday Canberra Times 'Relax' supplement that bird baths should be cleaned and disinfected with a weak bleach solution and then, after rinsing out and placing in the sun to thoroughly dry for a while, they are safe to replenish and use for birds again.
 
Is this regime OK by COG standards?
 
Please can I have some guidance before I do this.
 
Thanks,
Trish Munro
Garran