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c/backyard-birding-tipsemerydixonemerydixon3mo agoOG Member

PSA: Your birdbath water is probably too deep

I watched a chickadee slip and almost drown in my 4-inch deep bath last spring, so I swapped it for a shallow dish with pebbles. Now I see way more small birds using it, especially the warblers that pass through in May. Anyone else find a specific depth that works best for different species?
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lisa_grant
lisa_grant3mo ago
Read that shallow water with rocks helps birds feel safer while drinking.
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kelly_coleman61
Honestly, I heard somewhere that birds have a hard time seeing standing water, but the rocks break up the surface so they can spot it easier. Tbh it makes sense, they're pretty skittish about anything that might be hiding under the water. Ngl I've noticed way more birds drinking from my own birdbath since I tossed a few flat stones in there.
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wade_hall
wade_hall3mo ago
Guess that explains why @lisa_grant, my birdbath is basically a puddle with pebbles.
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