Drinking and Bathing-Fountains

Need of Water. - Water in large quantities is a necessity for bird life. Especially during hot weather do the birds require a large and constant supply, at a time when frequently the small pools or other common sources of supply may be entirely dry. In winter, snow may serve as a substitute ; and in summer, dew and juicy food may furnish some of the necessary water; but these at best only partially provide the needed supply, which can be adequately furnished only by pools or streams, and more especially when the birds use the water for bathing as well as drinking.

During the dry part of the summer birds must often find it difficult to secure sufficient water, and this must be particularly true of young birds just learning to fly and unable to go on long journeys in search of water. To just what extent this is a factor in the mortality of birds, it is impossible to say, but that at times it may be a contributing factor there can be no doubt. The unusual places to which the birds have been observed to come for water indicate the straits to which they are at times driven.

In case one has a brook or pond near, there will not exist the need of furnishing drinking-fountains to save the birds from thirst; but these natural drinking-places are often surrounded with shrubs or tall grasses which furnish a lurking-place for cats, so that a fountain may be so arranged as to be better protected from the birds' enemies, and this will furnish opportunity for watching more closely the birds that come to it.

Essentials of Fountains. - The two essentials to be considered in providing fountains are the depth of water and the location of the fountain. The water should be very shallow. In most ornamental fountains the water is deep, and the sides so slippery that the birds are afraid to enter. The proper depth is about two inches in the deepest part, in the centre; and from there it should gradually slope to about a half-inch at the edge. Care should also be taken that the edge of the fountain is of roughened material so that the birds will not slip.

Location. - In deciding upon the location, the important matter to consider is protection from cats. When the birds' feathers are wet they fly with difficulty, and are easily caught. The fountain may be constructed in the ground, but if so, there should be no bushes near, from which skulking cats can jump out at the birds while they are bathing.