Small Birds and Water
Many people feed birds, but far fewer provide water for them. Birds need clean water to drink and bathe in. Water is especially important in winter when the natural supply is frozen, as well as during dry periods in summer.
Water for birds increases the number of visitors in the garden by 50%
Birds satisfy their need for water through their diet or by drinking. Many birds that feed on insects meet their needs through their diet, while birds fed with seeds have a dry diet and therefore need to drink more. If you provide your birds with water, you will increase the number of visitors by 50%.
Birds need to drink at least twice a day
Since birds do not have sweat glands, they need less water than mammals. However, they lose water through breathing and their excrement. Most small birds need to drink at least twice a day to cover their lost fluids.
Water is available to birds in nature in the form of shallow streams and puddles. Forest birds can drink water droplets that collect on leaves. Swallows and swifts that spend their days in constant flight can swallow water droplets while flying.
How do birds drink?
Most birds drink by dipping their beaks in the water and then tilting their heads back to swallow. However, pigeons can dip their beaks and drink continuously.