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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Perking up the Ashland Plaza Mail Tribune 100 Since You Asked: Stewart Meadows driving range days are numbered Woman given 60 doses of antivenom for rattlesnake bite Business mural gets a reprieve Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Dad admits to endangering children by failing to secure loaded gun No cause determined in fire that destroyed historic house Semi carrying glass bottles crashes Rogue River Drive fire 50 percent contained Emergency Services Politics and Elections Commissioner Skundrick plans final four town hall meetings Medford eyes electronic sign visual pollution Medford council veterans plan exit Medical marijuana patients run for council seat Former colleagues laud Atiyeh's 'practical' leadership Education A test of mettle: GED tests are more rigorous Middle schoolers get a taste of college living Abraham Lincoln Elementary parents raise money for new playground State treasurer stumps for educational endowment measure Free meals program expands in Grants Pass Environment Stressed but off life support Rogue watershed councils plan to merge West Nile Virus found in mosquitoes collected near Central Point State news Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Clarence "C.A" A. 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Or how not to get stranded on the trail Fishing Report: Friday, Aug. 15 Denman parking scofflaws get reprieve Food Community blog: Spur quicker consumption with quick pickling Dutch ovens are a versatile way to cook outdoors Matt’s Favorite Pie Crust Peach Pie Southwestern Baked Chicken Home and Garden Lawn talk Tips for keeping backyard birds cool this summer Bath time for the birds: You can help them stay cool and clean Learn to pick produce at the peak of ripeness Support the mycorrhizae! It could help your plants Health Community blog:Can We Define Quality Health Care? 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The same is true for birds, but because they can't just go in the house and get a glass of water, we need to help them a bit. By Carol Oneal MailTribune.com By Carol Oneal Posted Aug. 3, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Carol Oneal Posted Aug. 3, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News When people are hot and thirsty, they know that some water and cool shade will help them feel better. The same is true for birds, but because they can't just go in the house and get a glass of water, we need to help them a bit. While we may think that a birdbath on a pedestal is the only way to go, that isn't true. The best reason to use a pedestal is if there are outdoor cats roaming about. The most natural source of water is on or near the ground, and that's what birds prefer, but without a running stream, how do we do that? Use a shallow container — even a plastic saucer like kids use to slide on the snow — or the cover from a plastic garbage can will do. Birds do not like to bathe in deep water, so it should hold only a couple inches of water. Set the container on the ground or up on a cinder block if your dog thinks it's a new drinking dish for him. Put a large rock in the container plus some gravel so that the bottom is not slippery. Birds don't like slippery bathtubs any more than you do. The rock provides a landing place and helps to keep the birdbath in place. A good-sized stick or two leaning against the container also gives your feathered friends a place to land and supplies a place to dry off and preen their feathers. Situate your birdbath with two things in mind. Place it where you can see it from your patio or a window — part of the reason we like birds in our yard is so we can watch them — and put it in the shade, which will keep the water cooler and slow evaporation. Also, put the bath where birds can have some protective cover nearby. This gives them a place to fly if they feel they are in danger and gives them a place from which to survey the situation and determine whether it's safe to approach the area. Ideally, we would provide running water for the songbirds. Moving water sparkles in the light and attracts them. It also prevents mosquitoes from using the birdbath as a place to lay eggs. You could use a mister or dripper fastened to your hose (keep it turned on low). If you really get into this, you may want to use a recirculating pump built into a larger basin. Leaves, feathers, twigs and other litter, plus bird droppings, will accumulate in the bath, so clean it with a brush or a strong stream of water every few days. This is especially important if you don't have moving water, as you don't want the mosquitoes using it for a hatchery. Besides, birds like to bathe in clean water. If you become interested enough in this project that you want to make it usable all winter, check with bird supply stores about special heaters, solar-powered birdbaths and other options. Coming up: Water conservation specialist Julie Smitherman will teach a class on sustainable irrigation practices from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11. She'll cover the influence of soil types, drought-tolerant plants and more. The class, which costs $10, will be held at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, 569 Hanley Road, Central Point. Call 541-776-7371 to sign up. Carol Oneal is a past president of the OSU Jackson County Master Gardeners Association. Email her at [email protected]. By Carol Oneal MailTribune.com By Carol Oneal Posted Aug. 3, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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