Birds will rarely visit a bird bath that’s turned red, even though it isn’t harmful to them. Thankfully, there are things you can do to make sure your bird bath stays clean.
Bird baths turn red due to the growth of algae that become red in the sun. There are many solutions for a red bird bath, including the following:
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Why Bird Baths Turn Red
Bird baths turn red due to the growth of the algae Haematococcus pluvialis. This algae turns red when it’s exposed to sunlight, causing a change in water color.
Red algae is the most common kind of algae you’ll see in an outdoor bird bath.
Insects and birds can introduce the algae to a bird bath by carrying their spores from another location; then, the algae quickly reproduce, taking over the bird bath.
Hosts can carry the algae long distances from ponds, rivers, and plants.
Even though red algae is not harmful to birds, they will likely seek out alternative sources of water if they see that the water in your birdbath has turned red.
You’ll often find birds drinking and bathing in naturally occurring sources of water at or near ground level.
How To Keep Your Bird Bath From Turning Red
There are numerous ways to reduce algae growth in your birdbath, from regular cleaning to the installation of fountains to keep the water moving.
1. Relocate the Bird Bath
If you notice your bird bath has turned red, you should quickly relocate it to a shaded area — it shouldn’t go under full sunlight.
This is especially important in hot weather when the red algae are especially likely to grow.
However, you should not place a bird bath directly under a tree. Algae spores can drop from trees into the water, initiating the growth of new algae.
2. Clean with Vinegar
One of the best ways to clean a bird bath is with vinegar.
Simply scrub away the algae, rinse the bath with water, then fill it with diluted vinegar.
Then, leave the vinegar solution in the bird bath for approximately 10-15 minutes, long enough to kill all the algae.
Ensure that you cover the bath while the solution rests so that birds don’t try to use the vinegar water as a bath.
After your bird bath is clean, rinse the bath and then allow it to dry completely.
Then, you can fill the bird bath with new, fresh water.
3. Replace the Water Regularly
You should regularly change the water in your bird bath, preferably every day or two, to prevent algae growth.
Replacing the water regularly also prevents the buildup of other unwanted substances in the pool, like droppings or feathers.
And it prevents mosquito larvae from making a home in the bird bath.
4. Dry the Bird bath in the Sun
Each time you clean your bird bath or change the water, you should also allow it to dry in the sun.
This is a clean and simple way to make sure that the bath dries completely, making it less likely that any leftover algae or bacteria will transfer to the fresh bowl of water.
5. Use a Fountain
Another way to prevent algae growth in a bird bath is by installing a fountain or aerator to keep the water moving.
This is also an effective way to keep mosquitoes at bay, as mosquitoes need water to reproduce.
There are many different bird bath fountains that you can install, including the Aisitin 3.5W Solar Fountain Pump from Amazon.com.
This particular pump is solar-powered, so it will recharge in the sunlight each day.
6. Add Enzymes
You can also use a solution of enzymes to clean your bird bath, like the MICROBE-LIFT Bird Bath Clear for sale on Amazon.
The material is biodegradable and prevents all forms of contaminants from forming. The 4 oz (118 ml) bottle is enough for 17 treatments.
Will Copper Pennies Stop Your Bird Bath From Turning Red?
Some birders recommend using copper pennies to halt the growth of red algae; however, there is a debate on whether this is an effective strategy.
Those who claim the method works say that pennies made before 1982 are best to use because they contain more copper than other pennies.
It’s important to note that copper is toxic to fish, so you shouldn’t add copper to a fish pond or other large water source.
Is It Safe to Clean Your Bird Bath with Bleach?
Despite being a popular cleaning agent that effectively removes red algae, bleach is toxic to birds and, therefore, a dangerous choice for cleaning a birdbath.
If you clean your bird bath with bleach, make sure that you rinse and dry the bath thoroughly before filling it with water and leaving it out for the birds again.
Why Aren’t Birds Using My Bird Bath?
In addition to algal growth, there are numerous reasons why a bird might avoid using your bird bath. These include the following:
- The water may be too deep. It should be a maximum of 2 inches (5 cm) deep at the middle of the bath, sloping to shallower depths at the edges.
- The bath may be situated too high. Birds prefer baths that are at or near ground level.
- The bath could be too close to a predator’s hiding place. Put the bath out in the open, rather than near shrubberies where cats may be hiding.
- The water may be too hot. If your bath is placed in direct sunlight, the water may overheat and be uncomfortable for bathing or drinking.
- There may be no available perches near the bird bath. Many birds prefer to have a place to perch near the birdbath so that they can ease their way in and observe the area from up close.
Making Your Bird Bath Attractive to Birds
Regular cleaning is one of the most important things you can do to make your bird bath attractive to birds. Birds love to drink and play in fresh, clean sources of water.
You can also add stones to the bird bath, which gives the birds a place to stand and drink, or you can add a dripping water source above the bath to create a shower.
You can either buy a dripping water source or create one using an old bucket or container with a hole in the bottom.
