One of the cheapest, most effective, ways to attract birds is to provide water for bathing and drinking. However, many people who love watching birds, and put up feeders, neglect this simple method. Water is important, and sometimes it's harder to find than food, especially during droughts.
A bird bath entices all kinds of birds, not just the seed eaters that come to your feeders. Some especially colorful birds that only rarely visit feeders are likely to make use of your bird bath: orioles, bluebirds, robins, bobwhites, indigo buntings, brown thrashers and cedar waxwings.
Bird baths come in all shapes and sizes, and they don't have to be expensive; the six to twelve inch earthenware saucers used for potted plants work fine. They can be placed on the ground, or on your patio or deck. Basins can be mounted directly to your deck rail if your yard space is limited, or mounted on a pedestal as a centerpiece in a garden setting. If you have a handy tree limb, or an eave overhanging your deck, there are bird baths that can be suspended.
There are several important things to keep in mind:
It must be shallow no more than 2-3" deep with a gradual slope to the deepest point. If you already have one that is too deep, add some rocks to raise the bottom.
It must have a rough bottom surface for good footing. If yours is too slippery, add some non-skid stickers, like the kind you put in your bathtub.
Keep it within easy reach of your garden hose, as you'll need to keep it refreshed with clean water every day or two to avoid contamination and mosquitoes.
There should be at least two feet of open space around the bath, with trees or bushes nearby for perching and preening. Pedestal types are best for any area where there are cats as birds can't fly as well with heavy, wet feathers. Also, the birds get so involved in bathing activities, they're not as alert.
Birds need water in winter also, so keep your bird bath open year-round with a de-icer.
Regular maintenance is critical. Occasionally, you'll have to clean out any algae by scrubbing with a stiff brush. Never use chemicals or common dish soap you can mix a weak bleach solution with cup of Clorox to 1 gallon of water, or use a bird-safe birdbath cleaner. Rinse very thoroughly before refilling with clean water.
Fountains add to the attraction, but can be expensive. All it takes is one drip per second to provide a sound that is considered irresistible and may attract more birds than would ordinarily come. You can arrange this cost-free, using your garden hose. A water wiggler is another, fairly inexpensive, solution. The drip sound is missing, but the movement of the water enhances its appeal.
Watching birds can be endlessly entertaining. You'll see that they all have a different approach to bathing and drinking, but there is no mistaking how much they enjoy it.
Susan Woodward inherited her love of birds from her grandfather, whose hobby was photographing and banding birds. She has enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in her own backyard for decades. She is the owner of It's a Bird's World, an online store featuring bird feeders, bird houses, bird baths and accessories. To view the bird bath products mentioned above, visit http://www.ItsaBirdsWorld.com/birdbaths .
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this was an interesting, well written article. i love birds, so i was especially intriqued. i do have a birdbath, and love watching them as they even get under their wings:)thanks for sharing, and i hope you continue writing,
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