Bird Baths

From: Caroline
Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2002 7:04 AM
Subject: Bird Baths

Pre-script – If you aren’t interested in birds, skip this one.

Bird Baths and other water holding containers– In this time of drought part of the morning ritual is to see that all of them are filled. A large, shallow terra cotta saucer by the fish pool is almost always empty and I wonder if the deer come at night for a drink as the little pond in the wild garden has almost disappeared. Then there’s a little stone basin on a wall and I know this gets sploshed out by robins, who use it for baths, not drinking. In the walled garden there’s a low green ceramic dish and a tall frog carrying a dish on his head – both of these are always low. Along the entry path a dripper attached to the house water faucet keeps a wide cement birdbath full. Catbirds and doves love this one for bathing and drinking. The overflow drips into a copper pan and I like to picture the numerous chipmunks leaning over the edge with their copper colored coats and drinking. On the deck there’s a large, Italian bowl with flaring sides that probably was meant for bread making and is now used by Zoë and English sparrows. However it is eschewed by the gold finches who are suddenly on the scene. They prefer a white enamel pot with straight sides and it is a treat to see them gripping the edge as they lean forward to drink.

The baby quail were released and I don’t worry about their water as I read that they were dew drinkers. I saw a little group going up the driveway and Zoë has brought in at least ten who didn’t survive but other than that no sound or sightings. I miss them.

I’m off to water. Love to all Caroline