Water is a great attraction for birds and can be offered in any wildscape in a shallow receptacle. An inexpensive upside-down garbage can lid will work just as well as a commercial birdbath. In fact, birds will not bathe in some store-bought birdbaths because the sides are too steep. Birds prefer water depth to increase gradually from edges. A 1- to 2-inch depth is best.
Birds are especially attracted to moving water. Although a natural stream would be ideal, most people don’t have such a luxury in their yards. But you can achieve the same effect in several ways. One way is to drip misting water from overhanging leaves, nozzles, or containers into a birdbath. Thin metal birdbaths magnify the sound of falling water droplets, which birds find irresistible. The best design should include a thin jet of water that shoots vertically into overhanging tree branches and then drips back into the bath.
By attaching an inexpensive mister to your garden hose, you will see a different variety of birds on your lawn. Minimize cost and wasted water by installing a timer at your hose outlet and setting it for when birds are most active – between sunrise and 10 a.m. and in early evening.
Although providing water in winter months can be difficult, it is more critical than at other times of the year. In many cases, your birdbath may be the only unfrozen source of fresh water in the local area. Birds will use the water both to drink and to clean their feathers. If you do not want to refill the birdbath daily during the winter, you might invest in a heater than can be inserted into the water. Heaters should only be used in ceramic or concrete bowls; plastic bowls will melt.
Successful Birdbath Tips
- Mount birdbaths 3 feet above the ground and locate them in shade approximately 10 feet from protective cover.
- A birdbath should have a dry edge around the perimeter and should gradually slope to a depth of 1 or 2 inches in the center. It should also have a rough bottom for safe footholds.
- Clean the birdbath daily using a plastic scouring pad. Algae, droppings, and wind-blown debris can quickly turn the contents of a birdbath into germ-infested slush. You should occasionally clean the birdbath with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach.
- Provide a source of moving water to attract the greatest diversity of birds.
- Keep birdbaths away from bird feeders so that birds don’t deposit seeds or droppings in the water.
- Refill birdbaths daily.
A Note on Dust Baths
Dust baths also help birds maintain their feathers. Birds including sparrows, wrens, quail, brown thrasher, larks, and some raptors enjoy the ritual of dusting their feathers, which helps absorb excess oils and discourages parasites such as mites. When a dust bath becomes muddy, it is still valuable as a source of mud for nest builders such as the robin, purple martin, and barn swallow, besides being a place for butterflies to gather nutrients.
One way to create a dust bath area is to scrape vegetation away from a 3 x 3-foot sunny area and disturb the soil. Keep vegetation from the area. A dust bath can also be created by nailing four 3-foot pieces of 1 x 6-inch lumber together and placing them over a hole 6 inches deep. Line the hole with a heavy-duty plastic liner and poke drain holes in it. Next, add equal parts of dirt, sand, and ash into the frame and rake the mixture evenly. The fine particles in the ash help birds rid themselves of mites and other parasites.
Remember that birds using the dust bath will be vulnerable when dusting, so place the dust bath about 10 feet from bushes, a brush pile, or other low escape cover. Also, place the dust bath where you can watch birds using it. Refill the dust bath with dirt, sand, and ash as necessary and rake it after rains to loosen the dust.
This content originally appeared in the Wildlife Department’s “Landscaping for Wildlife” guide. The full guide can be viewed here.