BIRD STUDY 19 



THE BIRD BATH 



Nothing will do so much to bring different birds about 

 the premises as a bird bath. This is especially important in 

 South Dakota, for in most places it is a long way to open water. 

 The bath should be contained in a wide, shallow dish, so that 

 more than one bird can drink or bathe at a time. This is not 

 necessary from the bird's standpoint, but it makes the bath 

 much more interesting to watch. It also makes it much more 

 instructive, as it gives ampler opportunity for birds to reveal 

 their characteristics and their relations to one another. 



If the bath will admit of it, it should be lined with sod, 

 for in nature the favorite bathing place of birds is a grassy pool 

 beside a running stream. Cut a piece of sod well under the roots, 

 wash all the dirt out of it, shear the grass close, cover the floor 

 of the bath with this sod rug, and then pour in water until 

 it is an inch deep above it. The grass will grow in the water 

 and should be cut regularly with the rest of the lawn. 



The bath should be placed in the open and raised about 

 two feet above the ground. Birds are off their guard' to some 

 extent when drinking and bathing, and the raising of the bath 

 helps to protect them from prowling cats. 



