rodsatt: Fountains for Birds

Birds are a large part of our Southern California gardens. We have a plethora of native plants that attract them and if you design your garden correctly, you can have them around all year. But once they have their food, they will always appreciate some water (especially once the rains have stopped). At our Topanga office, we have several different fountains which attract many visitors. During the dry season, we have to fill them up on a daily basis. Hummingbirds and finches are the most common. During the migratory season there are all different kinds of birds. Occasionally, the mourning doves will come over, scare all the smaller birds away and take over the prime real estate of our largest fountain. It's funny we haven't ever been able (or had the patience) to photo document the constant activity. But one day, a few years ago during a particularly hot, dry summer, we had a very special, rare visitor, what we think was a juvenile Red Shouldered Hawk! (Who subsequently ate our favorite squirrel, go figure!)