If you’re trying to create a bird-friendly garden and enjoy seeing bird activity outside your window, adding a water source is one of the best ways to support backyard birds—especially in the hotter months. Seen here these Western Bluebird fledglings are making do in a pet’s water dish. (Photo by Tony Woo) Birds will return again and again if your space meets their needs for food, water, and safety.

If you’re looking to attract backyard birds like towhees, finches, chickadees, or wrens, a clean, well-placed bird bath can be great for that. Birds drink water just like we do—but they also need it for feather care. Bathing helps keep birds’ feathers clean so they overlap properly. And moving water can attract more birds! A product called, the Water Wiggler can help with that. Available at the Los Gatos Birdwatcher, this battery-powered device creates ripples in the bath that helps prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs and helps to attract the birds attention. To make your bird bath both safe, keep it shallow at about 2” deep. Add a stone or pebbles if needed for perching. Clean regularly. A quick scrub every few days. At the Los Gatos Birdwatcher we carry Water Wigglers, birdbaths, and cleaning accessories. Come visit!