Last week, my daughter Mary, who's 10 years old, researched then informed me that koalas get all their water from their only food source — eucalyptus leaves, and only in times of drought do they actually drink water. This thought, and maybe the fact that it was about 95 degrees at the time, made me thirsty and also got me thinking about water for the birds, and how hot and thirsty they must be during this very hot, dry season.

Not all birds eat seed, they don't all eat suet, but they all need water every day. I don't know about you but (as of Sunday morning, when I wrote this column), I don't have a clear memory of the last time it rained. Maybe it just seems like it's been a long time. I'm a Midwesterner and having no rain for a few weeks just doesn't feel right. Even if we do get some precipitation, it's short-lived. Our birds are used to it, though, and find water wherever they can — creeks, puddles and your birdbath are all good options, but as dry as it's been most of this summer, they have fewer and fewer watering holes.

Summertime in our high desert is a good time to offer your birds other options for drinking and bathing. You can't have too many birdbaths. Baby birds are beginning to leave the nest, so your bird population is exploding; the summer baby boom is here! Adding another water source or two can be quick and easy.

The key to a well-used birdbath is depth. Shallow is best. Use a birdbath no more than 2 inches deep. Smaller songbirds are afraid of drowning, so are comfortable bathing only in a shallow bath. They also like to gradually enter the bath, so sloped sides are nice. If you already own a "too deep" bath, try adding a piece of flagstone to raise the bottom of your bath and to create a place for your birds to enter slowly and safely. You might want to use just one or two large flat rocks rather than lots of little rocks — easier to clean.

Granite, ceramic, concrete and plastic birdbaths all work fine. Your budget will help you decide, but the birds don't care what you spend as long as they have a steady source of fresh, shallow water. One of my favorite favorites — and the birds concur — is a simple, inexpensive 20-inch plastic dish just about 2 inches deep. You can place this dish on a stand or simply on the ground; since birds are used to bathing in creeks and puddles, they come easily to a ground bath. I always keep a large rock in my plastic baths to keep them from blowing away if the water evaporates.

When choosing a spot for your bath, copy nature. Imagine a small, shallow creek in the woods and copy it. Try putting an old branch across your bath or sticking a branch in the ground next to your bath for a natural-feeling perch. A dead piece of cholla cactus works well. This also gives you a clear view to watch your birds preen after bathing. Shaded birdbaths are a bit cooler and may be more appealing to your birds. They will also keep their water longer.

Position your birdbaths where you can easily see them and where they are easy to fill. Make sure to keep the water fresh and clean. With bird activity and evaporation, this could mean filling your bath(s) every day or two, but this time of year it's important. I always keep a birdbath brush outside next to my hose, so giving my baths a quick scrub when I fill them is easy.

Moving water is a bird magnet, so adding a solar or electric bubbler to your bath can increase bird activity. If you have a sprinkler system, you've probably noticed that birds show up as soon as the water begins. Birds love moving water.

During our recent heat waves you may have seen some of your birds perched with their beaks slightly open. Since birds have no sweat glands, this panting is necessary on hot days to help expel built-up heat. You also may not see as many birds when it's really warm. Just like us, birds try to lay low in extreme heat, preferring to stay in the relative cool and shade of the treetops.

Anne Schmauss is the co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Santa Fe and the co-author, with her sisters, of the 2008 book For the Birds: A Month by Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard. She also writes for Birds and Blooms magazine.