Attract Birds And Accent Your Patio Or Yard With A Bird Bath
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 your yard while you are in your pation, sipping your
coffee and gearing yourself for a new day. 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
can do the bathing timidly, while some can be really gregarious.
1. The Depth of the Bathing Basin
Less than 3 inches; that should be the depth of the bathing
basin. It should allow you ti fill it with only 2 inches or 5
centimeters of water. Any deeper than that or you risk not
having too 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 a bird bath with a bottom that has
a rough surface. This is because several bird bath bottoms are
usually too slick that they don't provide secure footing for
birds. This could be aggravated when a coat of algae forms on
submerged surfaces. If you can't find one that has a rough
bottom surface, you can either use a sandpaper or hammer claws
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
sure footing.
3. Buying Tips:
- 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 the bird bath somewhere it is visible
and convenient for you. Your indoors views 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 and scrub it to
prevent the formation of algae and bacteria
- To keep the birds coming even during the winter, use birdbath
heaters
- 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 music
- Ensure constant supply of water or refill the bird bath
consistently. When birds ran out of 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 on
picking up an overturned bird bath every morning. It could even
get broken.
5. Your Budget
You don't have to break the bank in getting a bird bath. It
should provide you cheap entertainment, not a pile of bills
unpaid. Many furniture stores have bird baths that don't pinch
your wallet that much. Just shop around. It would be good to get
a one-piece bird bath, or attach the basin to the pedestal with
a waterproof adhesive. You can also use weight to secure the
base or simply sink it in the ground to avoid its getting tipped
over.