Birds Need Baths, Too: How to Help Feathered Friends Beat the Heat

Summer heat waves can be brutal—not just for us, but for the birds and wildlife that call our neighborhoods home. While many of us turn on fans, pour a glass of ice water, or head indoors to cool off, birds have far fewer options. Access to fresh, clean water can literally mean the difference between life and death during stretches of hot, dry weather.

That’s where you come in.

One of the easiest, most impactful ways to help is by setting out a simple bird bath in your yard or garden. You don’t need anything fancy—in fact, you can make one in just a few minutes using items you probably already have at home.

DIY Bird Bath in 3 Easy Steps

1. Find a shallow dish – This could be a plant saucer, pie pan, old frying pan, or even a sturdy plastic lid. Look for something about 1–2 inches deep.

2. Elevate it safely – Set it on top of an inverted flower pot, an old stool, or a few stacked bricks to keep it off the ground and reduce the risk of predators. Want to keep it even simpler? Place the dish directly on the ground in a shady spot with a few stones inside for perching.

3. Add fresh water daily – No need for filters or fancy fountains. Just change the water every day or two and give it a good rinse weekly to prevent algae or mosquito buildup.

🌡 Why it matters in the heat:

Birds use water not just for drinking, but also for keeping their feathers clean and regulating their body temperature. During extreme heat, they need to bathe more often—but puddles dry up fast, and natural water sources can be hard to find.

🌧 What about the rain?

It’s easy to assume nature has it covered when storms roll in—but heavy rains often bring debris, bacteria, and even mosquito larvae into bird baths. To help wildlife safely, bird baths need regular rinsing and refilling, especially in humid conditions. A quick daily rinse (no soap needed!) goes a long way.

A few quick bird bath tips:

☁️ Place in a shady or partially shaded spot

💧 Change the water every 1–2 days

🌿 Scrub out algae or dirt buildup weekly

🐈 Keep it out of reach of roaming cats, if possible

🌼 Bonus: Add a few native plants nearby, and you’ll create a mini oasis that supports birds, butterflies, and other pollinators all summer long.

Small acts like this make a huge difference. In a season where the sun shows no mercy, your backyard could become the safest place on the block for a weary winged traveler.