Around here its fledgling season and the babies are learning to fly. Well, trying to learn how to fly, but they hop around real well. I had a whole flock of baby gross beaks perched on the fence taking a shower in the sprinklers. They havent quite figured out the pond but they are loving the birdbath fountain. Of course with the puppies in the pond there isnt much room even for baby birds. When the heat is on outdoors its a big help to keep the garden fountains and birdbaths running on high, even better put a little ice in the water to help them cool down. The babies still dont quite have what it takes to keep themselves cool.
Make sure you clean out the fountains and birdbaths regularly. In this heat they can get very dirty quickly and can get deadly as well. You also want to make sure you arent raising a bumper crop of mosquitoes either. Make sure there are ways for clumsy babies to get up out of the water, a little pile of rocks or a ramp helps. It is especially sad to see a drowned baby in the water fountain. I prefer birdbath water fountains with moving water than just simple bird baths. The yard fountains seem to stay cleaner and the water cooler because of the movement. They make such a lovely sound as well.
In this heat it seems a little easier for the birds to share diseases. We have been having problems with salmonella here. Clean everything well with a little chlorine bleach in the wash water, then rinse thoroughly. When they move out of their rental birdhouses give those a good scrubbing as well then set in the sun to dry and remember to wear gloves and wash your hands well.
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