Water: More Important than Ever!
Water is always important! So, what’s changed to make it more important than ever?
Well, if the past few years are any guide, there appear to be many more circumstances occurring in nature that are making water…especially fresh, clean water…harder to come by for birds and other wildlife.
Depending on the geographic location, birds have had to deal with extreme heat events, extensive wildfires, and widespread areas of severe drought. Needless to say, under these life-threatening circumstances, water is more important than ever for birds.
Even under normal circumstances, birds need water.
Water is vitally important during the high temperatures of a routine summer, when a bird’s ability to regulate its own body temperature can become stressed. Birds do not sweat and must remove excess body heat through their respiratory system. When temperatures rise, their respiration rate increases, sometimes to a point that birds seem to pant like a dog. This leads to an increased rate of dehydration and the need for a quick and reliable source of water to replace the lost fluids.
Equally important, bathing in water helps birds to keep their feathers in top-flight condition. Their lives depend on it. They need to be flight-ready at all times and bathing is a crucial part of feather maintenance for many birds.
No matter whether they are regular visitors to your feeders or not, all birds need water. Offering a dependable source of water in your yard is probably the simplest and most important step you can take to help provide this lifesaving necessity for your birds.
It will also significantly increase the variety of birds in your yard. Water, especially the sound of water, is nothing short of a bird magnet! Birds of all types (think warblers, tanagers, thrushes) are likely to stop by to drink, bathe, and preen.
So, whether it is to help birds or to up the entertainment value of your hobby, providing a safe, clean source of water is truly more important than ever.
Be sure to check out the WBU Nature Centered Podcast episode, “Water. More Important than Ever.” Our expert and entertaining hosts, John and Brian, will share the best ways to offer water to attract the widest variety of birds to your backyard this summer.
July birds to watch in Central Illinois
By July, bird families are in full summer swing. Youngsters are testing their wings, parents are working overtime, and backyards are buzzing with activity. It’s part soap opera, part sitcom—and all playing out in your trees and shrubs.
American goldfinches are just getting started with nesting now, waiting for summer thistle to fluff up. You’ll spot their lemon-yellow flash around feeders and fields, especially if you’re offering Nyjer seed. Meanwhile, indigo buntings are still belting out their cheery songs from the treetops like tiny blue rock stars.
House wrens and chickadees are wrapping up their parenting duties, but that doesn’t stop the kids from begging. Watch for fledglings fluttering after their parents, making a racket over every meal. Downy woodpeckers do the same thing, with a little more sass and a lot more wing-flapping.
Robins and cardinals are going for round two or even three, proving once again that parenthood is not for the faint of heart. Keep an eye out for slightly scruffy, spotty young birds hopping awkwardly through the grass like they own the place. (They sort of do.)
It’s hot, it’s loud, and it’s wonderful. Keep feeders clean and stocked, birdbaths filled, and if you haven’t tried a mister yet, your feathered neighbors would vote yes. We’re here with everything you need to keep your yard summer-bird ready—just swing by and say hi!
What's on Sale?
Head over to our Monthly Specials page to find this month's deal on seed cylinders!
Live Raptor Series
The Illinois Raptor Center of Decatur will present every other month starting February 22. Our February program kicks off at 9 a.m. and features a live Red-Tailed Hawk. Seating is limited, so please call or visit the store to reserve your spot. If you’re unable to attend after reserving, we kindly ask that you let us know so others can take advantage of the opportunity.
Dates and raptors for the year are:
April 26 Barn Owl
June 28 Ferruginous Hawk
August 30 Great Horned owl
October 25 Snowy Owl
Red Tailed Hawk
The Perfect Gift for Every Nature Lover
Every nature lover is different, so finding the ideal gift for them can be difficult. That's why our gift cards are the perfect gift for every occasion. They allow your friend or loved one to choose what part of nature he or she wants to enjoy. The best part: our gift cards are redeemable at every Wild Birds Unlimited location.