Drippers can be one of the most effective means of attracting birds to your yard in hot weather. As the name implies, drippers drip fresh water, typically into a bird bath or pond. When used with a pedestal bird bath, drippers create appealing ripples in the water’s surface which can be seen from a long distance by the birds.
Birds will be drawn to a bath with a dripper far more often than to just a stagnant bird bath. Frequently birds will perch on the dripper tube to inspect the bath, and drink the fresh water from the dripper tube as it drips out.
When drippers are used with bird baths or ponds that already have moving water, their primary function is to add fresh water to replace water lost by bathing and evaporation. This water replenishment function not only keeps the pump from running dry, it also insures that clean water is constantly being added to freshen the bath water.
Some Frequently Asked Questions about drippers and their answers:
How much water does a dripper use?
When adjusted down to about one drip per second, a dripper only uses about one pint per hour of fresh water. If allowed to run for 24 hours, this would add up to 3 gallons of water per day.
What components are in a typical drip system?
Typically one would have a Y valve on the outdoor faucet, and adaptor on the Y valve to reduce down to 1/4 inch tubing, 50 or 60 feet of 1/4 inch tubing, a dripper regulating valve, a support base or equivalent for the dripper tube, and finally the dripper tube out of which the water drips.
Can I run a dripper off the pump that is running my waterfall?
Yes, BUT when you do this, you are not gaining the benefit of adding fresh water, and if you have a waterfall, you already have ripples in the water. Thus the normal benefits of a dripper do not exist. Additionally, the water being recirculated by the waterfall pump has lots of particulates in it which will quickly clog the dripper regulating valve and thus require that you clean it frequently.
My water comes from a well, won’t the dripper cause my pump to cycle on and off too often?
A little more yes, but if you have the flow set low, like one drip per second, and you have a good functioning accumulator tank on your well system (as you should), then the increase in the number of pump on-off cycles will be quite small.
Can I have a dripper without a faucet connection?
Yes, you can make a dripper using a suspended reservoir with a drip valve in the bottom of it. The reservoir should hold at least one gallon of water so it can be set to drip for about 8 hours. You will need to refill the reservoir each day before you turn it on. You can also have a recirculating dripper powered by electricity and a small pump. Just remember that a recirculating dripper does not add fresh water to a bird bath, and the dripper regulating valve will need to be cleaned frequently due to particulates in the water.
What kinds of birds like drippers?
Pretty much all birds that might visit your backyard would be attracted by the addition of a dripper. The best thing is that this includes LOTS of birds that are not attracted by bird feeders, such as warblers, tanagers, vireos, flycatchers etc.
Recent Comments