This bird blog will answer the major question, “Do birds drink water?” we will also discuss how birds get water in extreme summers, how birds get water in extreme winters, and how you can provide clean and enough water to your pet birds.
Do birds drink water?
Yes, birds do drink water. It is an essential element of life for birds they usually drink twice a day. Seed-eating birds need more water as compared to seabirds which live near the seas. Moreover, there are different methods of drinking water for different types of birds in different atmospheres.
How do birds get water in extreme summer?
Following are the ways by which birds get water in extreme summer:
Birds get water from ponds and lakes
In extreme summers birds tend to remain near the lakes and the ponds to keep themselves hydrated all day long. Some birds like sparrows and pigeons can drink water by dipping their beaks in the water until they are finished.
Some birds take a sip of the water and then keep their beaks up so that they can drink it and after that, the whole process of drinking is repeated.
The birds that remain near the water beds tend to get more water as compared to birds that live in the forest.
Birds get water from moisture on leaves
Birds can also get water from the moisture on the leaves because the water from the ponds and the lakes is not available at the moment. Water beds have no water in the extreme summer and birds need to find another way of getting water from nature.
Birds do not have sweat glands so they do not lose enough water but they do need water for drinking and bathing. Bathing is necessary for the feather health of the birds. Feathers are clean from the dirt and it is easy to preen the feathers.
Birds lose water through respiration and droppings so they need less water as compared to other mammals. It is to be noted that the loss of water also depends upon the type of diet your bird is consuming. If your bird is consuming leaves then the loss of water does not harm the bird as the leaves have a high amount of moisture.
On the other hand, seed-eating birds need more water because seeds do not have enough water and they have to drink more water in order to fulfill their needs.
Birds get water from rain
Rain is another source of water for the birds. This source of water is not enough because rain does not happen daily and in extreme weather birds need water daily for their survival.
How can a bird get water in the extreme winter of the year?
Following are the ways by which a bird can get water in the extreme winter of the year:
Birds get water from the hot ponds
In extreme winter the lakes and ponds are frozen which limits the use of water of the lakes and ponds so the birds need to find another source of water for themselves. Hot ponds have water that is not frozen so the birds can get water from it but hot ponds are not easily available in every region of the world.
Birds get water from the food they eat
Birds can get water from the food they eat. It is easy. It is necessary to give food containing a high amount of moisture content to your bird so that the bird can fulfill its water needs from it. Moreover, fruits having high moisture content are also best for your birds.
How can you give clean and enough water to your bird?
Following are the ways by which you can provide clean and enough water to your pet birds:
- You should warm the water in extreme winter by dipping a thermostat in the water.
- You should keep the water clean in the water bath of the bird by cleaning the water bath daily.
- Water baths can have algae and fungi which need to be cleaned with a powerful disinfectant.
- It is important that you check the temperature of the water in extreme conditions as the extreme temperature can limit the water intake of your bird.
- The ponds and lakes are excellent sources of water but they might have certain pathogens which are capable of causing diseases in your pet birds so avoid water from ponds and lakes and give them clean water from your home.
Conclusion
In this blog, we answered the major question, “Do birds drink water?” we also discussed how birds get water in extreme summers, how birds get water in extreme winters, and how you can provide clean and enough water to your pet birds.
