Bird Bath Drippers and Wigglers

A raindrop simulation

If you love the sound of falling water or enjoy the feeling of raindrops “falling on your head,” then you're not alone - birds also enjoy the refreshing feeling of the rain on their feathers. In the summertime, little birds can get very uncomfortable, so providing them with water during this hot period can help them keep clean and hydrated. Plus, a dripper attracts more birds to your bird bath - maybe even birds you didn't know were in your area.

Drippers , which in their simplest form are small hoses, hook onto your bird bath and provide a constant drip of water into the bath. A dripper keeps the water moving, which is good protection against West Nile Virus, caused by mosquitoes breeding on stagnant water, and other avian diseases that can spread with bird traffic. They are excellent ways to attract birds. Some say that the sound of the water is like a magnet - birds will come to have a quick drink or indulge in a bath. It does great things for your yard, as well - often, drippers are decorative and can resemble a climbing plant, like ivy. If the sound of dripping water annoys you or you want to attract smaller birds like hummingbirds and warblers to your garden, you can try a mister, which sprays a constant light mist that birds will love. Beware, though - misters will make a difference to your water bill.

Drippers make a great gift for any birdwatchers in your family and turn your bird bath into a water feature.

Bird bath wigglers create ripples in an otherwise still bird bath. This is also a great mosquito deterrent as well as a great year-round addition to your bird bath. Because the water is continuously moving, you won't have to worry about your bird bath freezing over in the wintertime. This ensures that your wild bird friends can get hydrated - and the wiggler will attract more of them than a feeder alone.

Wigglers don't need any electrical equipment or plugs - they run on two D-cell batteries, which means that you can leave them running for as long as the batteries last without worrying about your electric bill. The drippers work on a pump system that is electrically run. However, it doesn't use a lot of electricity so you shouldn't see too much of an increase in your bill.

Whatever you choose for your bird bath, be it fountain, mister, dripper or wiggler, your birds will be happy, and most importantly, comfortable and clean.