Bird Baths
If you’re big on birds and would like to attract them to your yard, consider putting up a bird bath. Indeed, clean, fresh water is a survival necessity for birds and they often have a hard time finding it. A well-maintained birdbath will be considered a hot spot for all bird species that find themselves in the area. Place your birdbath close to your window or buy a deck mount birdbath to secure a front row seat for great bird watching. You could also purchase hanging bird baths and hang them close to a window or sliding door.
You can actually attract more species of birds with a bird baths than with feeders. Feeders usually only appeal to certain types of birds, mainly those that eat seeds, and exclude birds that eat things such as insects or fruit; water, on the other hand, is something all birds need. You can give birds a precious gift even in winter months by installing a heated bird bath or by putting a bird bath De-Icer in your bird bath; a birdbath DeIcer will keep your bird bath free of ice and usable throughout the coldest months.
Whether you make your own bird bath or buy something like a polyresin bird bath, there are a few essential characteristics that you should keep in mind. First of all, make sure that the bird bath is shallow; it shouldn’t be any more than three inches deep at the center. Make it shallower at the edges so birds can wade in. If you think your store-bought bath is too deep, you can put rocks at the bottom; this will cause you a bit more difficulty when it comes to cleaning the bath, however.
Another good idea is to try and make or purchase a bird bath model that includes some kind of fountain or drip effect; a solar copper birdbath provides a fountain powered by solar energy. To achieve the drip effect yourself, you can either place a hose over the bath and run it so that water drips into the bath, or you can hang a bucket over the bath and drill into its bottom a small hole; fill the hole with cloth and fill the bucket with water to let drops trickle into the bath. Not only does dripping water seem to attract birds, but bird species that don’t wade into birdbaths, like hummingbirds, will come running (or flying) as well.
Finally, make sure the bottom of your bird bath isn’t smooth; though a copper bird bath looks pretty, it is often too slippery for birds to get a secure grip. A cement bottom is a good option; if you’d like to make your own birdbath, you could always go for a mosaic bird bath that will ensure a non-slip surface. Use bits of pottery and/or tiles for your mosaic birdbath; get creative with interesting patterns and create a seahorse birdbath. For a simpler solution, add non-skid stickers available for your own bathtub.
