Definitely not in my case! But when the water looks green like it did yesterday after just 2 days, it's time to change the water and get rid of the slippery slimy algae. Even with a heavy coat of sealer inside the bowl part, the algae (I get the red and green types) will stain the concrete if left for any length of time. And then it's a lot of work and soaking it in various solutions and scrubbing to get those stains out. I'd rather change the water when just spraying it with the nozzle will clean it off quick and easy so I don't have to kill myself later trying to get the stains out.

I can't comment, and for sure won't judge-- Murky, your bowls get SO much more action than my one seems to.
Mine's over dirt so I am free to tip, as best I can (it's heavy) to rinse. I use a little bleach now and then.

I don't care about the stains in my old cracked concrete birdbath. Can't imagine the birds care, either. I suspect some of these issues are regional. Mine never ever smells even though algae occasionally forms along the bottom. I learned long ago that no amount of bleach, vinegar or scrubbing prevents it, so I just hose it out when I fill it, which is daily in the summer because it evaporates daily. Once a year I do scrub off the top layer of crud with just a brush and clear water, but until I invest in a beautiful piece of art, that's it 🐦.

The bowls on the ground (on soil) for the ground feeders and four-legged guests also get dumped and refilled daily. Racoons really do muddy the waters!

Birds are trying to get a snack. The stellar jays are bully's. Chasing the other birds way.

DH got excited the other day. He got to see a male goldfinch for the first time. I've seen them before, but they're not a regular so he hadn't seen one before.

It looks like one of the chickadee fledglings may have moved on. Hopefully anyway. They were both chasing one of the parents yesterday (and well, the last several days) but I only spotted one today.

Ham, I love goldfinches!. @bumplbea posted a picture of an American Goldfinch* above you showing that beautiful back pattern — I think that's the species you have. Here in New Mexico we see the Lesser Goldfinch, more black, but also has the wing pattern 💛


Edit to add: actually, not positive about the ID of Bea's GF. Oregon has both American and Lesser.
Bea, do you know which it is?

I don't think that one is ours. But then again, I'm not sure I ever get a good look at their backs.

Their winter plumage and the females are entirely different. Here's an overview of Georgia finches
https://birdwatchinghq.com/fin...

NMoasis said: Ham, I love goldfinches!. @bumplbea posted a picture of an American Goldfinch* above you showing that beautiful back pattern — I think that's the species you have. Here in New Mexico we see the Lesser Goldfinch, more black, but also has the wing pattern 💛


Edit to add: actually, not positive about the ID of Bea's GF. Oregon has both American and Lesser.
Bea, do you know which it is?

Both Bea's and your photos appear to be the American goldfinch. The Lesser goldfinch's head has a more gradual change from the black on the top of the head (and may have the black continue all the way down the back). With the American, the black is just on the crown and has a sharp definition when it meets the yellow.

Here's what I get in droves late summer: Lessers

If a few Americans have infiltrated the mob occasionally, I haven't noticed 😆

NMoasis said: Their winter plumage and the females are entirely different. Here's an overview of Georgia finches
https://birdwatchinghq.com/fin...

I was aware of that, but I've apparently never seen their backs. I didn't know it was so... stripey.

I had a really cool (The weather and my attitude) day today riding around the area where they're building Pinehurst #10 looking for Plants. I also picked up my Memory cards for the weekly download on the way. I saw a lot of cool plants today. The one I liked especially was the rose pogonia orchid which I've never seen in person in the wild before.

Beautiful video, Web! And they keep looking more professional each time.

New visitors to the bird baths yesterday... a baby robin with mom or dad late evening, and a Baltimore Oriole... don't see those much here at all.

Looks like Dad.

Where you have one Oriole, you'll have more. But you need to put up a feeder with the right food.
I have an Oriole feeder that features 2 wooden spikes. Half an orange goes on each. Then along the base of the feeder are two holes made to hold 2" plastic, fluted cups. I fill those with jelly. Grape, Strawberry, Raspberry, it doesn't matter.
Then later this month I switch over to mealy worms as the parents instinctively know that the babies require more protein.
This year I have two juveniles, two females and two males. I am going through jelly like crazy. But they are so pretty!

I tried putting out jelly and an orange but never saw them on the feeder. Maybe I need to give it more time. I'd love to see those here daily.

I am in Baltimore and I have never seen an Oriole (except on the baseball field).

Murky, the oriole is so pretty. and what a nice clean bath.
Jillz, they are rare for me too

Orioles do not eat bird seed.
Insects and berries form the major part of their diets.
In my six years here, this is the start of my seventh, I have not seen them pay any attention to mixed seed, sunflower or suet.
I never saw the my first year in Michigan until I was stopped at a traffic light about 2/3 of a mile south of me. I glanced over to my right because in my perrifferal vision I saw something colorful. It was a Oriole. Some one had a Oriole feeder hanging off of a wooden clothes pole. That is what gave me the idea.
I ordered the "Oriole feeder", not a conventional bird feeder, from Amazon and within a week, I had Orioles!!! Exciting.

Just google Oriole feeder. They are even painted orange to help attract them.
That was May of 2018.

I do have an oriole feeder, that's what I used when I tried once before. I know they are not seed eaters and wasn't thinking seeds would attract them at all. I'm going to give it another try though, maybe they didn't like where I placed it, under the garage eaves. Maybe I'll try in the middle of the grass, but I'm afraid of what the full sun will do to an orange and jelly.