Anyone with a birdbath in their garden urged to place 1 simple object in it before summer (Image: Getty)
Observing birds having fun in a sparkling bird bath is truly one of the greatest joys of gardening. However, if you’ve noticed that the splashing and playing have decreased around your birdbath recently, the cause might be closer than you think. Cleaning a bird bath often doesn’t make it to the top of many gardening to-do lists, particularly during the busy growing season when numerous other tasks take priority. However, a filthy birdbath can swiftly lose its charm for both gardeners and wildlife, frequently becoming cloudy, odorous, or even slippery during warm weather.
It turns out that one simple item placed in your bird bath can help slow the build-up of algae and grime, keeping the water cleaner for visiting birds. The experts at Gardening Know How shared that using copper pennies is “one of the cheapest and easiest ways to keep your bird bath clean so you can attract more birds to your garden”.
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A dirty bird bath can quickly become unappealing to both gardeners and wildlife (Image: Getty)
They explained: “To put the science simply, the presence of a copper penny disrupts conditions that would make algae more likely to develop and thrive.
“The copper ions in pennies leach into the water and create a chemical barrier that prevents algae from building up. Algae relies on photosynthesis to thrive, and copper renders algal membranes weaker – to the point where they collapse and fail.”
If you want to know how to clean a cement bird bath or metal-based equivalent, this little penny hack could make “a big difference to a wider cleaning routine”.
You don’t need to add a lot of pennies to the bird bath to make a difference. Just one or two can enhance the water’s ability to keep algae growth in check.
Bird enthusiast and owner of The Rocky Safari Rocky Trifari, agrees with this method. He said, “Copper is a natural biocide with properties that interfere with the biological processes algae and other microorganisms rely on.
“When copper ions leach into the water, they promote an environment that discourages the growth of green algae, one of the main causes of that slimy, dirty water found in birdbaths.”
Before adding any pennies to your bird bath, make sure to clean them thoroughly with natural methods and inspect them closely for any signs of rust or corrosion.
Birds enjoy drinking and bathing in the water of bird baths, but extended or excessive exposure to dissolved copper may present a health hazard, particularly for smaller species.
For this reason, it’s advisable to use only a limited number of coins, and it’s important to clean the bath with this hack. Plus, providing fresh water for your birds every day is essential, too.
Even with this technique, consistent upkeep is still crucial. Particularly in warmer weather, standing water can swiftly turn unattractive to wildlife and may promote the growth of algae or bacteria.
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