What to look for in Backyard Garden Bird Baths

Lizard Birdbath

I found an article recently on what makes a good birdbath so I thought I could use some of the information to pass on to you. We sell so many birdbath molds as they are by far the most popular cement garden art items people purchase.

 A bird bath is one of the simplest ways to bring wild birds up near where everybody can get a good view of them. You can attract more species of birds with water than with a feeder as water is often more hard for birds to find than food. A bird bath is a simple idea, it is an artificial puddle on a pedestal made from a shallow, water filled basin for bathing and drinking. A birdbath is a strong attractor for wild birds, particularly so during hot summer months or droughts. A very shallow, gradually deepening birdbath located safe from predators, kept clean and freshened often with clean water to avoid contamination and mosquitoes may attract several various species of birds. Two inches of water in the middle is all that is needed for most backyard birds since they do not submerse their bodies, only dunking their wings to splash water on their backs.

What kind of birdbath is best?
Shallow
The depth of a bird bath is important. It should be no deeper than two to three inches at the center. It ought be even shallower at the edge so that a bird can ease its way in to the water, as they will not simply leap into deep water. If you already own a deep birdbath, it can be made shallow by adding rocks to the bottom.

Rough bottom
Birds don’t like slippery surfaces where they can lose their footing and they will pause before wading into a bath with a glazed, smooth or slippery bottom. If you already own a slick bottomed bird bath, you can add the non skid stickers or rocks.

Construction

A firm and stable platform for the birds works best. Also you should take into account the weather as the wind will blow over the resin ones and sun will bake the toxic chemicals right out of the plastic as well the winter will freeze and break almost anything. So a solid concrete birdbath will last you many years.

 Sound
The splash of moving water is an absolute attraction to birds. Bird ponds and waterfalls, along with water misters and drippers are made just for garden songbirds and there are many decorative alternatives for drippers, misters, fountains or water wigglers. Adding water movement or sound can dramatically increase the amount and variety of species that frequent an area.

Zen Birdbath

Where should a birdbath be located?
For bird bath placement, make sure that it is set in a space that is not where cats can hide. Cats like to lie in wait under shrubbery or lie in wait, hiding behind an object such as a garden ornament or statue, then jump on the birds once they’re wet and can’t fly easily. Locate a birdbath at least five to ten feet from hiding places.

At the same time, a bird bath should be located with a perching area nearby. After getting wet and cleaning themselves, songbirds will want to find a spot to perch, preen and fluff their feathers. A nearby tree or shrub is perfect for this, so long as the bottom limbs of the tree or shrub do not touch the ground allowing for predator hiding places,

Within reach of a hose
Make your birdbath in an area which is accessible to you when it is time to clean and refill. But place your bird bath at a distance from feeding stations, since seeds and droppings would soil the water rapidly and birds prefer to bathe away from activity. Change the water every few days, or even every day in hot weather. Pour it out or squirt it out with the hose. Brush out any algae that begins to form with a scrub brush.

Dragonfly Birdbath

Remember concrete is best !