Mosquitoes are drawn to standing water in the same way as moths are to lights. If there is a birdbath or a fountain in your yard, it will become the ideal breeding habitat for hundreds of these pests. People usually seek standard solutions such as draining any stagnant water in and around their home, which, of course, includes emptying any water baths and fountains.
However, if you enjoy seeing and hearing the beautiful birds singing in your garden every day and do not want to shoo them away by emptying your baths, here are some tips to keep mosquitoes out of your birdbath. All you have to do now is find the proper way of getting rid of the mosquitoes without harming the lovely birds.
The birdbath mosquito control techniques can be summarized as follows:
- Change the water regularly
- Maintain a bacterial-free environment in the water
- Maintain moving water
- Maintain a mosquito-free environment throughout your yard, not just around the birdbath
- Make use of natural treatments
However, it may get more complicated in reality, and I’ll explain these methods in detail in this article on how to keep mosquitoes out of bird bath.
Table of Contents
Why Must You Keep Mosquitos Away from Birdbaths
Because birdbaths are placed outside in your garden, you might be questioning how mosquitoes in the birdbath influence you and your family. The mosquitoes produce their eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into larvae in the birdbath and become pupae. Afterward, they turn into adult mosquitoes that make their way into your house.
The problem is not simply avoiding itchy insect bites, but also preventing the dangerous diseases that these mosquitoes carry and spread, such as Zika virus, malaria, or dengue. So, it is best to make sure that they can’t get into your home.
When Should You Be Concerned About Mosquitoes
Some mosquitoes are active throughout the day, but others may prefer to appear when it gets darker. Often, spring brings with it swarms of mosquitoes. However, mosquitoes are most active during summer.
As such, during spring and summer, you must keep your birdbath clean. Mosquitoes usually die when the temperatures go below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). At this time, when they aren’t buzzing, draining your blood, and spreading illnesses, they begin laying eggs. When it gets warmer, they hatch and increase in substantial numbers.
How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Bird bath
In certain situations, the birds, like swallows, songbirds, or purple martins, near the birdbath can help take care of the mosquitoes by consuming them and their eggs. However, because birds do not solely rely on insects, they will only solve a small part of the problem. You still need to take specific steps on your own.
1. Change the water daily
Mosquitoes breed in birdbath’s water, but it usually takes around seven to ten days for those eggs to hatch into adults. Replacing old water with fresh water in the birdbath every five days is enough to prevent mosquito eggs from maturing.
Aside from keeping insects at bay, clean water is better for the birds. You can use the old water to water plants in the garden. Besides purifying the water, you need to get rid of fallen leaves or any debris that could become organic food and shade for the larvae in the birdbath.
2. Make the water move
Mosquitoes require calm water to lay their eggs. The addition of an agitator keeps the water circulating and inhibits mosquito breeding. You can also have a little waterfall integrated into your birdbath. Having a water pump is a good idea to keep the water moving and free from pests. And guess what, the sound of running water can attract more birds to your yard.
3. Maintain a bacterial-free environment in the water
Note that using chemical insecticides in the birdbath might seriously harm the birds. Commercial bacterial insecticides can be powerful enough to kill yet are left untouched by birds and others. You can try ones that include Bacillus Thurnigiensis Israelis (BTI).
These are known as mosquito dunks and are very effective when it comes to removing mosquito larvae. Usually, these solutions last up to one month, so you have to continue using insecticide once every month. However, it is not a viable long-term solution, so it’s best to try to keep the water moving.
Bleach is helpful to remove mosquito larvae, but you have to clean the birdbath by scrubbing it so the birds won’t drink the bleach. Since this chemical harms both humans and animals, it’s better to consider other natural options.
4. Maintain a mosquito-free environment throughout your yard, not just around the birdbath
Probably, the birdbath is just one of the reasons causing the mosquito issue. In fact, besides taking care of the birdbath, you have to remove any standing water in the whole yard or garden. All waste cans should be shut and emptied, drain all water accumulated in crevices, any spaces such as dividing in the courtyard from which rainwater or water can come from the garden hose. You can fill up these spaces by adding sand.
5. Make use of natural remedies
Certain cooking ingredients are effective in bird bath mosquito control. You may, for example, add a little cinnamon oil to the water to create a thin layer on the birdbath to kill the larvae.
Any other vegetable oils are effective if you don’t have cinnamon oil. Apple cider vinegar can also help, but it is not strong as cinnamon oil. Natural treatments do help, but they last around only 15
Interestingly, although this may seem like a large-scale approach, you may try to apply it in your area. If you live near parks and streams, you rely on dragonflies, fish, or even bats to eat up all the mosquitoes. Therefore, you’ll not only be defending yourself from bites, but will also be safeguarding the natural ecology.
Summary
While mosquitoes can come directly to your yard from any place, you can make sure that they remain away from your garden and can’t fly into your house by a few easy actions like cleansing and replacing water regularly. Stick to natural methods to protect yourself and your family. If they don’t help, then you can try other options.
Did you enjoyed this tutorial on how to keep mosquitoes out of bird bath, please let me know in the comment box below. I am glad to hear from you!
George and I became friends after a birdwatching trip with our new group. And we have been enjoying every adventure together. When he told me the idea of establishing a site that shares our experiences and fun, I immediately agreed. After trials and errors, here we have Thayerbirding.
