Abandoned Birdbath

Birds have ignored our birdbath ever since we painted the rim yellow (it used to be bright blue). Do birds see "in color"?

—Alyce Person, Ponca City, Oklahoma

George: Birds see the same colors we do. This explains why hummingbirds flock to red flowers and why most male songbirds use their brightly colored plumage to attract females. This may also explain why the birds are ignoring your birdbath—when it was blue, the color was more like water. However, it's more likely the birds are avoiding it for another reason, such as the threat of new predators in the area.