My water feature is a bird bath on ground near feed station.   Savannah, 
Song and Chipping Sparrows have been seen along with the resident Bluebirds. 
But it is the Crows that come every day.  At first I thought I had a 
Raccoon, I kept finding items in the bird bath! Stones, wood chips, apples, 
a piece of landscape fabric.  Caught on my critter cam, it is the Crows that 
keep bring these items and leaving them in the water!?? Nancy at Danby Four 
Corners.  PS had my own warbler wave come thru Saturday am , they are 
finally getting this far south from your northern sightings, yeah!

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Kaye Danforth" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 8:43 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [VTBIRD] Sprinkler birds

> Our fussy well won't permit watering of any kind, but I can add a few 
> antics at our pedestal fountain to the mix.  During the hottest summer 
> weather, American Goldfinches line the rim, dipping in and out, or  cling 
> to the side of the pineapple form where water bubbles forth on  top. 
> American Robins seem to think it's their personal "bidet",  standing and 
> straddling the top and letting the water course beneath  their- ahem- 
> privates.  Ruby-throated Hummingbirds also cling to the  top, dipping 
> their heads into the flowing water then shaking it all  over themselves in 
> apparent ecstasy.  But one of the more fascinating  events occurred when 
> three of our resident American Crows stopped by  for a visit.  One adult 
> perched on top of the nearby shed, closely  watching as two others (an 
> adult and juvenile) landed on opposite  sides of the fountain rim.  Slowly 
> they walked along, maintaining  their opposite distance, looking for all 
> the world like the start of a  tango.  The adult then dipped it's head in 
> the bowl, and the juvenile  mimicked it.  Then the lead Crow slowly got 
> into the water filled  bowl- looking quite uncomfortably wedged in, I must 
> say- ruffled it's  feathers and climbed out again.  Cautiously, the other 
> Crow did the  same.  Meanwhile, the adult on the shed was leaning forward 
> from it's  rooftop perch, turning it's head from side to side, intently 
> watching  their performance.  After another slow walk around the rim, all 
> three  flew off.  This is the only time I've ever seen Crows at the 
> fountain.
>
> On Aug 27, 2012, at 6:29 AM, Mona Bearor wrote:
>
>> I can add House Finch and Northern Cardinal to your list of birds  that 
>> enjoy
>> the late-day watering I do on my gardens.  My fan-type oscillating 
>> sprinkler
>> puts out a lot of water, but the birds have all learned to park in the
>> hawthorn tree and bathe in the water that drips from the leaves. I  have 
>> to
>> admit that we have allowed the birds a bath on days that we didn't  need 
>> to
>> water the garden!
>> Mona Bearor
>> So. Glens Falls, NY
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vermont Birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian A. 
>> Worley
>> Sent: Monday, August 27, 2012 5:41 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: [VTBIRD] Sprinkler birds
>>
>> These persistent days of searing sun, arid humidity, and bone dry  soils
>> means lots of watering of perennial flower beds at our house in the 
>> driest
>> part of the Champlain Valley.
>>
>> Of late, when I use a mist-spray waterer in the gardens, in the heat  of 
>> the
>> day numerous birds have been congregating in the mist.  Some just  sit on 
>> the
>> ground in the mist, others on branches.  Chipping and Song Sparrows 
>> spend
>> time on shrub branches constantly fluffing their soaked feathers, 
>> flapping
>> their wings, and preening as they might in a puddle
>> bathing.   The Hummingbirds fly through the mist, and also sit on wet
>> twigs appearing to drink from droplets.  Downy Woodpeckers just park  on 
>> the
>> bark of a tree, soaking.
>>
>> So far these species have regularly availed themselves of the mist
>> sprinkler:
>>
>> American Robin
>> Eastern Wood Pewee
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> Song Sparrow
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> Ruby-throated Hummingbird
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> House Sparrow
>>
>> Ian
>> Southern end of Snake Mountain, Cornwall
>