Bird baths - and mozzies

["Margaret Leggoe" <>]

I was about to have my penny’s worth with a comment about mosquitoes when Peter’s email popped up.  I would like to add to that by stressing the importance about completely emptying them and refilling regularly (circa once a week in warm weather) to interrupt the mosquito breeding cycle.  If the mozzies ever spoil your barbeque, go and look for stagnant water containers around your house, they need not be big or obvious, e.g. saucers under pot plants, bottles, old tyres etc.  This summer, with all the water lying around, mosquito-borne disease such as Ross River virus may well be on the rise.

 

I have a large plastic tub under my only eucalypt tree, and it has to be tipped over and refilled regularly in the summer.  Amazing how the eucalypt responded to the extra bit of water.

 

From: Peter Ormay [
Sent: Tuesday, 14 September 2010 9:50 PM
To:
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] Bird baths

 

Hi Trish.

 

I empty my bird bath when the mossie wrigglers become visible and refill it so that I'm not adding to the mossie population in the area. I figure that no-one empties and scrubs small pools in the bush so why should I clean the bird bath regularly but I don't have a raven problem and the currawongs usually disgorge their crop near it not in it. Lots of small birds use it nearly daily. I clean it when it looks like it needs it.

 

Cheers.   Peter

 

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