It Was One Of Those March Days

It was one of those March days

when the sun shines hot 

and the wind blows cold:

when it is summer in the light,

and winter in the shade.

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens' verse aptly describes the weather we had today, and it was scrumptious! It was the kind of day when you throw open the windows and hear a choir of songbirds outside no matter where you are in the house. After several months of on-again
off-again hot dusty Santa Ana winds, it was delightful to turn off the AC and feel a spring breeze drift through the kitchen. 
I've been reading through some old issues of       Birds and Blooms magazines and came across   a tip to help keep a birdbath clean.

You need to begin with a clean birdbath, of course. Ours gets pretty icky with slimy rust-colored algae which is difficult to remove. Some people use cider vinegar or bleach to remove the majority of the gunk, and then give the bath a scrubbing and good rinse with clean water. I've found that using pebbles works like a charm! You can also use a handful or two of sand. 
I put on an old garden glove then scour the bottom and sides of the birdbath with a handful of pebbles. Rub the pebbles all over the dirty surfaces and you'll be surprised how well it removes the algae. 

Did you know that copper is a natural algaecide? Once the bowl is clean, drop half a dozen pennies onto the bottom. Take note, however, that the pennies must be pre-1982 for them to be effective. Newer pennies don't contain the copper needed to do the job.

I need to add more coins but didn't have enough pre-1982
pennies. You can also use a small piece of copper pipe. 

One swallow does not make a summer

but one skein of geese, cleaving

the murk of March thaw,

is the Spring.

Aldo Leopold 

I'm happily anticipating the return of a pair of Orioles that frequent our backyard. It's time to put out some oranges for them. Are you doing something to welcome migrating birds? Have any tips to share?

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