Dry weather means bird baths

A male cardinal enjoys a drink

The Lehigh Valley has had 16 days without any appreciable rainfall. We have to go back to Thursday, August 20, to recall a truly soaking rain. One-quarter of an inch of rain fell in some locations on Friday, September 4, but that was barely enough to dampen the dust.

This coming week doesn't bode well. It will be sunny on most days. Thunderstorms have been forecast for Wednesday through Friday but they are expected to be of the isolated or scattered kind. You may miss the rain entirely.

Which turns to the issue of bird baths. It's never too late to have a bird bath.

Like all living creatures, birds need water. While some moisture can be extracted from food, most birds drink water every day. As you know, birds also bathe, cleaning their feathers of dust and parasites.

If you have a bird bath in your garden, make sure it is filled with fresh water every day. And be sure to keep the bath clean. Baths that are dirty or slimy are of no benefit to birds. Birds are looking for clear water.

The dome-shaped Water Wiggler creates motion on the water

A good way to make the bath even more attractive to birds is to provide some motion on the water's surface. A low-cost solution is a Water Wiggler, which has small paddles that gently create motion. The device is operated by a D-cell battery. A battery usually lasts most of the summer before needing replacement. The Water Wiggler is silent so as not to disturb the birds.

If you don't already have a bird bath, consider buying one now for this dry period. Some baths can be used all year long; others are meant for warm-weather use only. Look at it this way: If you buy a warm-weather bath right now, you'll have a head start for next spring when there is so much to do in the garden. And for now, as this season's flowers begin to fade, having an attractive bird bath will give you something new and exciting for your garden.