Where you locate your birdbath is very important for bird safety as well as cleanup issues. Here are some suggestions for placing your birdbath in the best place, as well as for maintaining it wisely.
Place it where you can see it, and near overhanging tree branches or next to a bush to provide a quick escape from any potential predators. At the same time, leave enough open area for a clear view of any approaching hazard. If your shrub has low hanging branches that touch the ground, choose a different spot or prune back the low branches so predators can’t hide there.
Nearby bushes and/or branches provide a place for birds to preen and quickly dry their feathers. A wet bird is a slow-flying bird and therefore an easy target. Also, a bush or tree becomes a place for birds to safely congregate while they wait their turn at the birdbath.
Place your birdbath in a shady area during the hot summer months to help keep the water cooler and cooler. Instead, in winter place it in a sunny location to help maintain an ice-free area for birds. You may want to consider an inexpensive low voltage water heater. Just make sure it’s properly rated for safety. Additionally, there are birdbaths available with built-in heaters. Keep in mind that it’s best to judge how easily your birdbath can be moved before you buy it!
Avoid using birdbaths that have slippery surfaces when wet. Cement is naturally slightly rough. If your birdbath has a slippery surface, you can do what I did in the past. I add a clean, flat rock or 2 to the bottom of my bath to give birds a place to “wade.” This also makes a good gripping surface. Birds don’t like a slippery bathtub any more than we do!
The water level is very important. Fill your bath with no more than 2-3 inches of clean water. Any more than that and the birds will avoid it or risk drowning. Keep a clean birdbath. Do not allow algae, dirt, droppings, leaves, etc. accumulate in the water. Would you like to bathe in that thing? Plus, that’s the kind of dirty water mosquitoes love. Mosquitoes have an average cycle of 7 days from larvae to adults. Be sure to dispose of the old water and replace it with fresh water before those nasty vermin turn into the flying menaces we all hate!
Moving or dripping water is a real magnet for attracting birds to your birdbath. You can make your own dropper. Clean out a gallon jug and make a hole in the bottom. I have used this method and it works great. Use a large nail to poke a hole in the bottom edge of the opposite side of the handle. Use a shepherd’s hook or a sturdy tree branch to hang the dripper directly over the tub. Fill the pitcher with clean, cold water and hang it up. Check for a drip, which should be a slow drip, drip, drip. If the drip is too slow, enlarge the original hole a bit or drill another one until there is a steady slow drip.
Do this carefully. Once the hole is made, it cannot be easily covered. Try a hole and test it, then enlarge it if the drip is too slow. Keep experimenting until your dropper works correctly. Fill your pitcher daily with clean water, or as needed. You should see an increase in traffic around your birdbath using this method.
By following these suggestions, you will have a great and safe place for your birds to splash and drink. Providing clean water all year round is absolutely essential for healthy and happy birds. Seeing all the antics and action is pretty cool too!