How to Choose a Garden Bird Bath

Wild birds will love to come to your garden bird bath especially in the winter or when clean fresh water is hard for them to find. Parents will bring their babies to drink and bathe and you can watch them take their first bath in your garden. Many birds that will not be attracted to a bird feeder, especially insect eating wild birds such as wrens and waxwings but will come to a bird bath so you will see a wider variety of birds if you have a garden bird bath as well as bird feeders. There are a variety of types and styles of bird baths and you will need to decide which type will be suitable for your garden and the wild birds you wish to attract.

What to Consider When Buying a Garden Bird Bath

1. The bird bath should be shallow. Some baths are too deep so make them shallower by placing stones or rocks in the bottom. Garden bird baths should never be more than three inches deep.

2. The bottom should be rough. Many bird baths have glazed bottoms which will cause birds to slip. They will probably not come back! Cement bird baths are usually rough on the bottom but can be heavy. You could also use a resin or fibreglass bird bath which also have rough bottoms.

3. You need some means to agitate the water to attract the birds. This could be a dripper or fountain or a water wiggler, which will also prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the bath. Many birds that do not like to wade will use a water fountain to wash their feathers. Drippers are very easy to set up and some garden bird baths come with integrated fountains.

4. If you are buying a bird bath with a fountain are you going to buy a wired one or a solar powered bird bath? They both have advantages and disadvantages which are discussed further in Solar Bird Bath Advantages

Setting Up Your Garden Bird Bath

The location of the bird bath is important. You do not want to set it up close to garden bird feeders at wild birds need quiet when they are bathing or drinking. It is also a good idea to set it up under some overhanging branches. This will give the wild birds a feeling of security as they have a quick escape route from any predatory cats or other wild life that may attack them. Also make sure that there is not somewhere for cats to hide close to the bath, such as bushes.

If you are setting up a solar bird bath it can be placed away from the house in a convenient spot but make sure you place it so that it is visible from a window if you wish to enjoy the wild bird's visits!