Should I put water out for birds
No doubt about it, there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't offer a reliable source of water for your backyard birds, every day of the year.
You should put out water as its vital common backyard birds have accessed to a water source in times of need. It could be in sunny States all year, or in spring through summertime in the rest of the US. Winter can be a big issue as their water source freezes up, so offer water you can be sure is always accessible.
Refer to local Audubon information when it comes to offering water to wild birds in sunny States only, as you'd need to receive actionable advice right away.
In other parts of the United States, a water source in your backyard must be a priority, as birds need to hydrate more often to stay alive.
Bird bath on its own is the go to water resource but the more the merrier; a bird bath centerpeice is an option, but additional water sources in a hanging, mounted or dish bird bath can be situated in places that cater to more timid, or more shy birds in your yard.
Drought leads to loss of natural resources in food and water, so make sure to offer both in this time.
The winter can cause the ground to freeze, locking in insects and natural resources, but puddles, ponds and other places to drink and in many cases to bathe - simply become inaccessible overnight, with plunging temperatures.
Be aware our delicate backyard birds cannot survive without our intervention in times of need, we can offer them a better chance of survival if you offer water every day of the year.
Should put out in sunny States
To put out water for native birds of the United States, should be prioritized primarily for wild birds in sunny States.
You must then offer water in a safe location in your yard for backyard birds to come and go as they please - in order to re-hydrate under the heat of the sun.
Long, drawn out days in sunny States of Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Kansas and backyard birds of Oklahoma, among others - has a harsh environment for vulnerable birds, but their survival rate is helped with water sources left out in backyards.
Absolutely are common backyard birds capable of withstanding such hot and humid conditions, but they still must be able to re-hydrate many times a day.
When water resources become a little more scarce certain times of the year, to put out water would be a must, but understand you can help many more birds survive throughout the year, if water is left out 365 days of the year.
To receive birds from the tropics would be more of a priority for putting out water, so to help rarer backyard bird visitors, still do leave out water for migrating birds.
Drought in summertime
Other than northern States that generally receive a fair and regular summertime, drought is rife in States than receive extreme temperatures come May or June.
This can also cross over with sunny States of Oklahoma, but survival rates for birds in southern States such as: Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida - have temperatures rising up to a scorching 81.3 F.
The State of Texas with its backyard birds are likely to suffer more, as its measures the highest temperature of them all.
While all these southern States and more can receive remarkable high temperatures in which your backyard birds will suffer in - drought and in turn forest fires and damage to their natural habitat will eventually kill many birds.
You should put out water for birds in any State that is in a middle of a drought, but more so any time throughout spring and summertime that has a long spell of dry weather.
Birds don't want to wait to be offered water in your backyard for the summertime or sunny days only - so its vital a water source is left out at all times.
Offer water in cold weather
When the weather improves the likelihood of birdsong emanating in your backyard is heard, early morning to the evening - so its time to encourage birds to your backyard.
Absolutely should you offer food hanging up bird feeders during cold, blustering winter months - but despite no lack of rainfall during the winter, wild birds natural water resources often freeze over in this time.
If using a bird bath in wintertime as a source of water for birds in your backyard, you would need to constantly interfere with this water source to break the ice, so to speak.
What that entails on your part is making sure the birds can continue to access the water, without a sheet of frozen water preventing them doing so.
You cannot put any chemicals in a bird bath to prevent it freezing over, but a light plastic ball that can float around on the water surface can prevent ice settling - but its not a sound solution so you'd need to work to keep the water free from ice.
This would probably not be possible in a pond or large water source, so its important to setup a bird bath with a smaller water bowl to manipulate on your part.
Double or triple resources
You may feel a bird bath would be the go to resource to hold water intended for your backyard birds, and you would be right, with a few conditions.
Bird baths tend to not get used unless the weather forces wild life to re-hydrate more often, so in that respect make sure the bird bath is always seen in the yard.
Further to that, you may need to buy an additional one or two bird baths - so three bird baths all together - in order to force birds to use it.
Location is key as well as it must be seen, so there's not much use in locating said bird baths near to one another, nor in an identical water source.
I would therefore recommend using a bird bath on a stand if you wish - centered in the middle of the yard to be seen - all while catering to more timid wild birds who would happily drink, or bathe - out of a bowl setup on a high point near or in vegetation.
Put water out for your backyard birds all year round, but for the fun of it you may need to invest in more bird baths or bowls to actually see one or another bird bath used.
Monitor water condition
If you have doubts about putting out water for wild birds, remember your efforts while not often witnessed, will benefit your birds for sure.
And if in doubt, I hope a little more effort on your part is not going to put you off as you put out fresh water for birds.
To offer water in a bird bath or a makeshift water bowl can indeed feel like more effort than its worth - but be patient as it can be rewarding.
In high winds or an unstable bird bath, the water level will indeed drop so must be refilled to maintain a reliable water level.
To offer water around the clock without it drying up, can only increase the likelihood of birds returning - despite how hard it can be to attract birds to use a bird bath.
Level of water will dry up quickly in summer but more so in times of drought, so do keep it replenished twice daily if need be.
When summer ends you'd need to continue to monitor the bird bath or water source to prevent it freezing over, as you'd need to break the ice.
Do put out water for your backyard birds but do understand you must put in the time and effort.
Reward comes in when birds visit your yard that you can observe and enjoy, but this must be in combination with a food source in which, would just be as important.
To summarize
If you are living in a sunny State, then its imperative you prioritize a water source, just as much as offering food hanging up in feeders.
Birds burn up a lot of fat in harsh summer months, so need to re-hydrate along with topping up on suet in the feeders.
When a drought develops anywhere in the United States, this can have a drastic effect on backyard birds, so to offer a reliable water source can sure up their survival rate, but they still must be offered water at all times.
Similarly, winter time brings issues of its own for birds, including freezing conditions that regularly ice over all natural water resources.
You should put out water in a bird bath if you have one, or make do with a saucer or a shallow dish, providing the water can't evaporate quickly.
Regardless, to offer birds water in your backyard must include a regular checkup on the water level, by making sure its always filled up.
Monitor the water condition while cleaning it out every couple of days, or change water twice a day in times of extreme heat.
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