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We will call this;
"The Dripping Water Effect on Birds"
Over the years, as I have traveled photographing the birds, I have always noticed one thing in particular about them.
Where ever you find moving water, that is where the birds will go to drink. You can have flowing water, water oozing from a crack in a stone wall, dripping from one source or another, and you will see a bird getting, or trying to get a drink.
One day while in a wooded area off the beaten path, and away from the all, I decided to try what I call a controlled dripping water effect on the birds.
I had filled several gallon jugs with water and punched a pin hole in them so as to let the water drip out. However, and much to my surprise, I found a garden hose. Following it back to where it was connected to a hydrant, I cracked open the water valve and allow the water to start dripping out of the other end. This I thought was much better than my jugs of water. I tied the end of the hose to a tree limb a few feet above the ground and regulated the flow of the water so it just barley dripped from the end of the hose. Then, some times I would turn it off just see what the birds would do.
Stepping back some 20 feet or so, and into a bush, I started my vigil. In just a matter of minutes, no more than 5 or 10 the birds found that dripping water. It seemed to be a free for all as to who was going to get to take a drink from that dripping hose first.
Now this I thought would be a good show and tell for my web site. So, back to the car I went. Got out all of my camera gear and headed back to where I had set up the dripping water. I also brought a bucket to fill up just to see it they go and drink from it. I also let the water run on the ground and got a nice small puddle to see it they would drink from it.
The following images are what I recorded as the water dripped, and the birds came to drink. I also found out that I did not have to hide my self. I don't think the birds even knew I was there.
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All set up and ready to go!
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What's this?
I don't believe it!
It just can't be!
My favorite drink, dripping water from a, looks like a tree,
it's green like a tree, oh well, it's water and that's all that counts.
I better get over there before some other old bird beats me to it.
Above bird is a Red-napped Sapsucker.
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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
This bird would catch the drops as they would fall. |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 
Hurry up, the rest of us want a drink too, ya know. |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
OH, this is cool & refreshing. |
Red-napped Sapsucker. Note red on nape.
Note the bird has caught the drop of water just as it is leaving the end of the hose. |
 Note how the bird is drawing the droplets of water right into its bill. |
Others who came to partake of the dripping water.