Asked on Oct 10, 2014
Sand in bird baths - mosquitos?
by
Tammie S
+6
I heard recently that you can put sand in the bottom of a birdbath to help keep mosquitoes. Any validity to this?
9 answers
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We just empty and clean our birdbaths most everyday. The sand would be poured out if we did that.
R.V.R. Farris
on Oct 10, 2014
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I do not see how since sand in the bottom could hold just enough water for the mosquitoes to lay eggs. They do not need pools of water to multiply. As R.V.R. states cleaning water everyday is beneficial to the birds and other insects who visit (plus if you lay some rocks in it so the butterflies can land on them and get a drink because they drink droplets)
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Oct 10, 2014
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I would not trust this advice, Tammie. We live near sandy salt marshes that are teeming with mosquitoes! Sure doesn't work there!
Barb Rosen
on Oct 10, 2014
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It is likely that the sand is used more for aiding the birds in digesting their food than helping to keep the mosquito population down.
AvonelleRed
on Oct 10, 2014
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How about sand paper lol --- I made a funny
John stark
on Oct 11, 2014
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while sand is good for many birds, it does not do anything about mosquitos. but as mentioned above cleaning daily or a tiny fountain to keep the water moving will. eggs cannot hatch in moving water
April E
on Oct 11, 2014
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Copper Pennies have seemed to help in our birdbath.
Yvonne B
on Oct 12, 2014
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Yvonne, I like that idea. I have made some penny balls that sit in bird baths. I wonder if there is science behind this? As for washing the baths out daily...to much going on in my life and too many baths. Sometimes there is just rainwater in them and I would like like to not have to worry about the mosquitoes. Also, didn't realize that sand can be good for birds. Interesting. Thanks!
Tammie S
on Oct 13, 2014
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This looks interesting for baths in the sun. I have a lot of solar lights / solar chandeliers, etc.
Tammie S
on Oct 13, 2014
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