Splish Splash! The Bethpage Birds Are Taking Baths!

  Ever hear of the expression "No rain, no flowers"? 

Well its been raining for days and days and days so one could expect that Bethpage State Park will most likely have a summer of healthy, flourishing greens and gardens! Although, one does not need to wait all that long to witness the benefit of rain and the joy of nature...

Focus your attention and you will notice that a vast amount of wildlife thrive when it pours. What seems like a rainy gloomy day for us humans is a positive and productive day for other species! 

One group of animals I'm thinking of in particular is the birds!

Captured on the left is two male Red-Winged Blackbirds. I had to laugh while photographing this scene because one of the birds had the expression of someone relaxing in a pool. To say so, is not much of a stretch either. Just as humans enjoy a dip in the pool to cool off, so do birds when there are puddles around!

Pine Warbler talking a break!

       Beyond just using water to cool down, birds soak in puddles to help with feather condition. Studies find that taking time to wash off helps birds remove dirt, parasites, and bacteria from their bodies. Bathing also keeps feathers from staying tousled and helps eliminate the looser ones. Overall, cleaning feathers will inevitably improve flight agility! What is interesting about bird bathing however, is that the behavior is expressed differently amongst different species. Each bird species seems to have a unique ritual. 

 For the Killdeer, bathing looks like a "bobbing" motion, almost reminiscent of a dance.

 

Other birds such as the Pine Warbler and Chipping Sparrow douse themselves more vigorously.

         

Some bird species will work at this task swiftly and solo. Other birds, take their time and gather in flocks because there is safety in numbers against predators!

 American Robins gather together to enjoy a puddle and a Red-Winged Blackbird crashes the party!

 

While the birds are enjoying endless amount of puddles and bathing time this season, you can offer them this oasis permanently and all year long... by putting out a birdbath structure! Find a shady spot in your backyard (to keep the water cool and prevent algae from festering) and also replace the water every couple of days to ensure its clean. Birdbaths require very little management and offer quite a big reward: the joy of providing for birds and the outlet for watching their enjoyment. 

 

Happy Spring!

 

 

Photography and writing by Yael Weiss.