Having set up my brass bird bath and a pedestal dripper, I was glad to see the sun come out today. I am looking forward to the birds noticing and coming to try it out. I think I need to place a few large potted shrubs nearby so they’ll feel more secure. The neighbor’s cat comes prowling around from time to time and I’m not sure how to prevent that.
Visiting with my brother last week-end, I was impressed as always with his creativity. Having dug around some large rocks in front of his log house (which he & his wife built), he created a pond with a waterfall that wildlife birds love to visit. He said they come to drink and bathe, and he enjoys eating his lunch outside to watch them, providing him with a little relaxation time. They’ve quickly became comfortable with his presence and add greatly to his enjoyment of life.
In fact, I found it all so inspiring that I’ve asked my husband to help me create a wildlife bird pond in our backyard. It will be a long-term project that I expect will bring even longer term benefits to both us and the wildlife friends that come to visit.
Bird baths can provide songbirds and other wildlife with a vital source of drinking water and a convenient place to bath, and will draw bird to your yard like a magnet. Here’s a quick guide to picking out the best bird bath for your yard.
First, decide where you would like to place your bird bath. Birds generally prefer a quiet, secluded spot, as opposed to some place out in the open. Place your bird bath nestled in amongst some trees or flowers, and if you have birdfeeders in your yard as well, it’s best to position the bird bath nearby.
The most common type of bird bath is a saucer on top of a pedestal, but this design is actually not very attractive to birds. Birds prefer to bathe on the ground, and a shallow dish directly on the ground will bring more birds to your yard. Wild bird supply stores and garden centers sell a wide variety of ground level bird baths. Another option is to simply invert a clean garbage can lid and fill it with water.
If your bird bath is more than two inches deep, you might want to place a few large stones inside of it. Not only will this stabilize your bird bath, but it will also create perches for smaller birds and will provide traction for any smaller critters like mice or voles that slip into the water. Place the stones near the edge of the bird bath, leaving room in the middle for larger birds to bathe.
Running water is very attractive to birds. Consider adding a small fountain or drip tube to your bird bath. Look for these in bird supply stores.
Bigger is better. If you have room to dig a small pond or other water feature to your yard, go for it. Local birds and wildlife will thank you. If you have a naturally moist spot in your yard, consider turning it into a rain garden. This is good both for the birds and for the soil.
In the winter, birds in the wild will usually eat snow for moisture, but if you live in a cold climate, consider investing in a heated bird bath or an electric bird bath de-icer to provide birds with fresh water year round. A low-tech solution is to purchase dark colored bird baths, which will naturally gather the sun’s heat and will keep the bird bath water liquid when the air temps get chilly.
A pedestal brass birdbath with a dripper will act like a magnet for birds, especially if placed where a frightened bird has quick access to an overhanging branch or other place to rest if in danger of attack.
No more than 2 inches of water are needed in the center, as birds do not submerge entirely. Instead, they dip their wings and splash water onto their backs. The dripper adds a moving water effect that birds can see from afar.
Bird Bath Feather Mister sprays a fine cloud of water that many birds find irresistible. Misters attract a wide variety of Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are attracted to the mist itself and like to fly back and forth through it.
Are you are seeking to attract more wildlife birds to your backyard? Providing clean drinking and bathing water is a sure way to make your garden more attractive to a variety of birds. A
bird pond with a faux waterfall rock will provide both. Your efforts will soon be rewarded.
Flying south for the winter, Cedar Waxwings can be found nesting in Canada and the northern states. Although they eat some insects, wild and cultivated fruits and berries are their foods of choice. Waxwings in the northeast are sometimes called Cedarbirds because they often eat cedar berries.
Quiet birds, their call is similar to a whisper… seep, seep, seep. A flock will appear without fanfare, seen on treetops as well as telephone wires. Females look like the males, and they are the only brown birds with crests.
They’ll be drawn to a pond or bird bath with dripping water.
On a hot summer day, cool running water is a source of delight for your backyard wildlife birds. An elegant addition to your garden, the morning waters copper bird bath provides fresh, cool water for birds. The welcoming environment you provide will be an on-going source of enjoyment for you, too. As they come back time and again to drink and bath, priceless are the moments you’ll enjoy.
With a bird pond in your backyard, placed near shrubbery, Catbirds may come calling. They like to nest in shrubs near houses, as well as in fruit trees and gardens.
Large (8 & 1/4″- 9 & 1/4 “) and dark-gray, Catbirds have a chestnut patch at the base of their tail. Catbirds head north in spring, having spent the winter along the Gulf coast of Florida and Central America.
Birds love to bathe. A bird bath with 1-2 inches of clean water is all that’s needed. Any more and a small songbird is in danger of drowning.
