Bird baths are a great way to attract birds to your garden as it provides a safe and reliable source of water. As they drink and bathe, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy watching your garden visitors.
You can buy bird baths, but you can also make DIY baths very easily with things you might already have! There are a few important things to consider though. Firstly, the dishes that create the bath should ideally be below 10cm deep and as wide as possible with shallow slopes. This will make it easy for the birds to get in and out.
If you have a dish that’s deeper than 10cm, you can add some large rocks or bricks to the middle to create an island for the birds. Secondly, the location of your bird bath is important. They should be in the shade away from midday sun to reduce the water evaporation and minimise algae growth. It will also help hide smaller birds from birds of prey. This leads to the final point to consider, to make bird baths safe they should also be raised off the ground away from ground predators.
In a similar way to bird feeders, different styles and positions of bird baths will attract different birds. Below are instructions to build a standing bird bath, but you can also have hanging bird baths or ones on the floor.
Extra: Below is a garden bird spotter guide you can use to identify and tick off your visitors!
What you will need:
Large dish, under 10cm deep, such as a terracotta pot saucer.
Bricks to stack for the base
Small pebbles and rocks
Rain or tap water
How to make a bird bath
Find level stones or bricks that you can stack to make a sturdy base. Think about ways you can make the base more stable or secure it to the ground.
After you have stacked your bricks or stones, place your dish on top and test if it’s stable.
If the dish is slippery inside, you can add some small pebbles and rocks to the bath to provide some grip. Furthermore, if the dish is deeper than 10cm, you should add some large rocks to the middle to create an island. This will help them to not get stuck in the bath.
Fill your bird bath with water and see what birds come to visit it! Make sure to keep it topped up with water when it’s warm and free of ice when it’s cold.
Share your bird bath creation with us using #DiscoverLearnPlay
To make a hanging bird bath, simply repurpose a hanging planter by placing an upside-down planter saucer on the top. Hang the bird bath from a sturdy branch. Then, add stones, glass beads or rocks and a couple inches of water. If you'd rather buy a prefabricated hanging bird bath, we get it.
To make a hanging bird bath, simply repurpose a hanging planter by placing an upside-down planter saucer on the top. Hang the bird bath from a sturdy branch. Then, add stones, glass beads or rocks and a couple inches of water. If you'd rather buy a prefabricated hanging bird bath, we get it.
These materials are incredibly durable, resistant to weathering, and maintain their appearance for years. Granite, in particular, is resistant to scratches and damage from the elements. Stone bird baths can be heavy, which makes them stable but difficult to move.
Arrange stones (or branches) in the water so birds can stand on them to drink without getting wet (this is particularly important during freezing weather). The water should be no deeper than 0.5 to 1 inch at the edges, sloping to a maximum of 2 inches deep in the middle of the bath.
Shallow basins are best. The water should be no deeper than 2 inches in the middle and ½ to 1 inch at the edges. Place rocks or stones in the middle of your bath for birds to perch and drink without getting their feet wet.
Start with anything that will hold an inch to 2 inches of water. A handcrafted stained-glass bowl, a pottery platter with edges, or even an oil-changing pan will work.
How to Prevent Algae in Bird Bath Water Features. Copper pennies may help if they're from before 1982 when copper was still the main material. You can also use other copper coins or copper tubing. Do not include fish in any water that has copper added to it.
The birdbath and fountain must be completely dry before sealing. Fill in any cracks with a concrete crack filler where water may be leaking through. Use a penetrating concrete sealer or durable concrete coating to seal the birdbath and fountain.
Running a small recirculating pump into the birdbath also works well. My favorite water-mover, however, is the mister. Misters release a fine spray of water into the air. They seem to work best in spots where the mist bathes nearby foliage.
Doing so will give the birds a safe place to stand while they bathe. Use a garden hose to fill the sink basin with water. Water will naturally evaporate and may drain out if the drain plug isn't sealed tightly, so make sure to check water level every few days.
A reservoir tub, about 40-gallon capacity. Two or three flat, stackable rocks, each drilled with a hole. (“A top stone with undulating surfaces can create tiny pools for birds to bathe,” says Sorenson.)
Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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