By Jade Greene
With soaring summer temperatures, it’s important to provide water resources for birds, insects, and other wildlife to keep them hydrated and cool. The key to all outdoor watering stations is to change water frequently or keep the water moving (e.g., install a bubbler). Place your station in the shade to keep it cool. Locating your watering station near native plants is great for pollinators who stop by!
Ideas for wildlife watering stations:
- A shallow dish or frisbee is perfect for bees and other insects – make sure you leave rocks in so they can climb out easily.
- Bird baths are great for birds – leaving a few rocks inside is good for the bees to climb out. Make sure to replace the water every day to prevent mosquito egg development and keep the water clean.
- Place a bird bath low for other animals like squirrels and rabbits. Replace water daily.
- A slow-dripping water bottle can provide water: small holes in a plastic water bottle, fill it and set outside. The slow trickle of water will make a small puddle, you can also place your bottle so it drips into a shallow dish.
- Water features: small bubbling ponds and fountains.
- Mud puddle: if you have some bare ground, you can pour water on it to create mud. Butterflies frequent muddy puddles.
- Create a mosquito attracting bucket with mosquito dunk to deter mosquitos https://homegrownnationalpark.org/mosquito-bucket-challenge/
- Bubbles: use a bubbler to keep your water moving.
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