I have the same problem, David. I've noticed that most birds line up along the stream to get a drink and take a bath. But occasionally, one might go to the edge of the pond where he has to bend down to take a drink, and well...the result is tragic. I don't know what the answer is, just thought I would share that this happens to me also.

Bullfrogs will eat birds, by the way.
Be sure you have things in your pond that a bird could get up to......like a plant, a branch, etc.
Can you put up a couple bird baths near the pond, so they would go to those instead of the pond?
Were the birds younger ones?

Whenever we find small birds dead by the pond I know I have a large bullfrog nearby. I remove the bullfrog and the killing ceases.
---David

Poor birdies!

I don't know anything about bullfrogs (don't have 'em here) but I would say the same as laurieoh. Is there an area of the pond that you can make shallow so that there's no danger of them getting too deep & drowning? they're probably young birds as well. I created several areas around my pond & the birds love it!

I agree, make a spot where it is shallow enough they can stand. I love watching the birds bathe in my ponds. I have a couple shallow spots they like to go to. We used to have a problem with young birds drowning in our swimming pool when I was younger. I guess they just don't realize how deep it is.

If it were the bullfrog, I really dont think you'd be seeing the dead birds..they'd be eaten..all you'd see is a few feathers.

A bullfrog can drown a bird and then not be able to swallow because the bird is too big so they abandon it. Then it floats (or worse, sinks) to the bottom. I occasionally get dead full grown, or mostly grown, Grackles. Grackles routinely bring the whole family to the pond edge. Smaller birds that get caught by bullfrogs will get eaten. My pond is not bird friendly as to depth and edges as it has straight sides and no beach or shallow areas. It does have lots of plants. I've seen a bird or two take a spill but they got themselves out before I had to race into rescue mode. A bird that falls into the water does not necessary drown automatically unless there is absolutely nothing for them to cling to (like the swimming pool story above). I have four bird baths of varying types nearby where most of the birds bath or drink.

In winter, I make a space where the birds can walk up to the edge and get a drink at any time, but at that time of year I don't have big frogs in waiting, nor heavy foliage where other predators might hide. That space (in summer) for walking to the waters edge would be a death trap as it would not take long for the frogs/snakes, etc. to figure out to wait in that spot.

Comettose is right. Bullfrogs can drown birds that are too large for them to swallow.

Get rid of the bull frog. They are not welcome in my pond and always get escorted back to the bog down the road. I have driftwood and plants in my pond so that anything that falls in has a way to get out.

Some of you say you moved the bullfrog. How in the world did you catch it? I've been trying all sorts for two weeks, and this thing is really cagey. Is there a best time of day? Flashlights at night haven't worked, as it seems to feel the vibration of my careful footsteps and disappears under the waterlilies. Any suggestions would be so helpful. I can't take much more of this carnage, and am ready to try anything.

The frogs are noisy. You'd know why the birds drown in the pond

I was feeding my koi fish and we suddenly Had a hummingbird land on the side of my preformed come later flew over to the Lillypad and took a drink of water then flew to my other pond with no koi fish in it and landed right in the water and drowned very sad but why did this happen and will this Affect the water in anyway because I’m planning on putting my bigger koi fish in it soon or do I have to do a whole water change?

Apart from ducks and other water birds, many birds which fall into water can't fly out as the feathers get wet, misshapen and too heavy to fly. If they can't get up the sides of the pond clear of water, or onto a branch, rock or whatever they drown. Water containers, ponds and the like need something in them to allow any animals that fall in to be able to get out.

One dead bird in the water wouldn't affect it significantly, no reason the change the water. Fish defecate in their water and some of the food you throw in also rots. The water is never "pure".

We also have a small pond that attracts a lot of wildlife, but mostly ducks, geese, frogs and even an egret, or at least that's what I think it is and my neighbor agrees. The only time we had a dead bird was when we first bought the property and found an owl floating in the water. It was so sad because it is such a beautiful large bird. Not sure what could have caused this. Could have been diving into the water for its prey. But I also think the pond was dirty. We poured organic pond dye in the pond because it acts as a shade or covering for the fish. Makes it harder for birds or other animals to spot the aquatic life. Haven't had another incident since. The pond dye also helps to reduce algae growth and it makes the pond look life a tropical lagoon!! This picture is after pouring a 1/4 cup into the pond.

Please, send any bullfrogs you don't want to MY pond!!! Just can't keep them or regular frogs. It's all nature, we build a water feature and then don't like it when nature is attracted. It's ALl .

This is an old post but an ongoing problem for people. We have a pond and we were losing birds from drowning. We built a frog bridge. If they fall in, they have something to grab on to and get out