Having a birdbath is the most important way to help support birds over winter, as it gives them access to water when ponds and puddles have frozen over. However, spring is just a few weeks away, and gardeners need to be aware that birdbaths can make birds sick or even kill them if they are not cleaned at this time of year.
Bacterial growth tends to slow down in cold weather, but as it gets warmer, germs, algae and even mould will multiply quickly in standing water. Tracy Crosland, a gardener who goes by Hey Honeysuckle online, has shared that attracting birds to your garden can be “as simple as cleaning the birdbath”, as they will not drink out of mucky water. It is important to note that most cleaning products cannot be used on a birdbath, as they can leave a residue that harms birds, and it is much easier to use vinegar.
Tracey said: “Vinegar is a great natural cleaning agent for your birdbath…and is safe for your birds. I always make sure I rinse well after cleaning. And I don’t dump straight vinegar into my soil. Instead, I water it down considerably before dumping.”
Vingar is non-toxic, so it is safe to use around animals, but it is also highly acidic, so it will break down algae and other grime without much effort.
It is also antibacterial, so it can get rid of germs, kill mould spores, and help deep-clean a birdbath without using a harsher product like bleach.
Birdbaths should be cleaned at the start of March, just as peak bird season begins, as they will be more attracted to gardens when insects and seeds start appearing.
A neglected birdbath full of winter residue can become a breeding ground for diseases such as Salmonella, which can quickly spread and harm your local wildlife population.
How to clean a birdbath properly
It is incredibly easy to clean a birdbath, and it should take roughly 10 to 15 minutes, as all you need is a bottle of white vinegar, which can usually be found in the condiment aisle of a supermarket.
Simply pour all the water out of the birdbath and remove any debris, such as leaves or twigs. Then, use a hose or a bucket of water to rinse the birdbath and get rid of any algae build-up.
Next, mix one part vinegar to three parts warm water in a bucket. Pour the solution into the birdbath and use a sponge to lightly scrub the surface.
If your birdbath is particularly grimy, pour some vinegar directly over the bowl, leave it for 10 minutes, and then scrub again. The white vinegar will have dissolved much of the build-up, making cleaning easier.
Finally, rinse the birdbath several times with clean water until there is no longer any smell of vinegar. You will then have a gleaming birdbath, ready to be filled again for spring.
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