Bird baths have made great center pieces in yards for many years. Birds, especially wild ones, are a good source of entertainment and peace. Who has ever hated hearing the amusing chirps of the birds in the evening? What's even better is to see them hopping around bird baths while you are on your patio, sipping your coffee and gearing yourself up for a new day.
Let's dive right in.
The Attraction of Bird Baths
The absolute charm of birds never fails to entice many homeowners to keep on placing items to attract them to visit their backyards every so often.
If you are one of those who enjoy observing the beauty and amusement these little creatures give, one logical step is to put a bird bath in your yard.
Birds can put up one fun show while they are bathing and drying off in various manners. Some do their bathing timidly, while some can be really gregarious.
What to Look For in Bird Baths
1. The Depth of the Bathing Basin
Less than 3 inches; that should be the depth of the bathing basin. It should allow you to fill it with only 2 inches or 5 centimetres of water.
Any deeper than that and you risk not having many birds to enjoy and frequent your bird bath. Most songbirds prefer to hunker down in a depth that does not reach the bottom of their bellies.
2. The Surface of the Bottom of the Bathing Basin
It is advisable that you get bird baths with bottoms that have a rough surface. This is because several bird bath bottoms are usually too slick and they don't provide a secure footing for birds.
This could be aggravated if a coat of algae forms on submerged surfaces. If you can't find bird baths that have a rough bottom surface, you can either use sandpaper or a clawed hammer to rough it up before putting water on it.
This is applicable to plastic basins only, though. Or you can put some textured materials such as sand, pebbles, stones, and concrete to provide a sure footing.
3. Tips for Maintaining Bird Baths:
- Place your bath somewhere sunny, away from shrubs and trees, so birds can keep an eye out for the neighborhood cat or other predators.
- Make sure that you place bird baths somewhere where they are visible and convenient for you. Your indoor view should be given consideration too.
- Keep the bird bath close to a faucet for cleaning and refilling. Every 2-3 days in the summer, empty it out and scrub it to prevent the formation of algae and bacteria.
- To keep the birds coming to bird baths even during the winter, use bird bath heaters to prevent the water from freezing.
- To attract more birds, provide something that will produce the sound of gently moving water. A simple dripping hose or an artificial water fall can be very good sources of that little water noise.
- Ensure a constant supply of water is available for bird baths or refill them regularly. When birds run out of a water source, they might go to dangerous places such as aircon units and even a pet water dish.
- Don't place bird baths under perchers or feeders. Droppings may fall into them that can cause the fouling of the water.
4. The Fit of the Bird Bath on the Pedestal
If the basin does not fit securely on the pedestal, it will be subject to tipping by thirsty animals, i.e., raccoons, dogs, deer, or even bears. It would be a great hassle to keep picking up overturned bird baths every morning. They could even get broken.
5. Your Budget
You don't have to break the bank when getting bird baths. It should provide you cheap entertainment, not a pile of unpaid bills. Many furniture stores have bird baths that don't pinch your wallet that much. Just shop around.
A One Piece Bird Bath
It would be good to get one-piece bird baths, or attach the basin to the pedestal with a waterproof adhesive. You can also use a weight to secure the base or you can simply sink it in the ground to avoid it getting tipped over.
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