Anyone who has a bird bath in their garden is being urged to take action as soon as possible to help birds survive this August.
While the weather isn’t currently as scorching as the peak of the June heatwaves, August is typically the hottest month of the year in the UK as the summer reaches its warmest conditions, according to weather experts.
According to Kennedy Wild Bird Food, providing fresh water is ‘essential’ for birds during the hot summer months in particular and is urging anyone who has a bird bath to clean it and refill it now.
Kennedy’s bird food supplier Richard Green says gardeners should leave fresh water at least one to two inches deep, adding: “Providing fresh water is essential for wild birds, especially during the hot summer months. Birds lose water through various means, including respiration and excretion, which can become a serious issue in high temperatures.
“Bird baths don’t need to be fancy, even a shallow dish with 1-2 inches of water can help them stay hydrated and regulate their body temperature. It’s important to keep the water clean and place it in a shaded area to encourage more birds to visit.”
If you don’t have a real bird bath, you can stick a plate of water somewhere in your garden, as long as you leave it out of the way of predators.
Richard adds: “Placing water dishes near bushes or trees may attract predators, particularly cats, which often hide in shrubs waiting to ambush birds. To reduce the risk of predator attacks, place water sources away from areas where predators might be lurking.”
In hot conditions, birds need high energy foods like dried mealworms, suet and sunflower hearts, Richard urges.
If you’re concerned that the water in your bird bath is becoming contaminated, you can leave an old penny in it.
The copper in a penny – as long as it’s pre-1992 – helps disinfect the water and stop it from becoming contaminated.
In the summer, especially when the weather is warm as it’s forecast to be this weekend, sources of clean drinking water can be hard to come by. The coins slow down the growth of bacteria in the water thanks to the copper inhibiting bacterial growth.