Best place for a bird bath
Where wild birds frequent the most in your yard will be a big tell where the bird bath must be placed, although direct sun in a well lit up but open yard is better still.
What is the best place for a bird bath to go for most of us is in the middle of a lawn, in a well lit up area in direct sunshine. Bird baths sitting in the sun can be sure any frost is quickly defrosted, while its possible to operate a solar fountain in direct sun only. You can also consider placing a bird bath near to feeders.
What the best place for a bird bath is can really depend on your personal circumstances of course, but for any lawn available you must take full advantage of it.
Sun with a grassy lawn placement is an environment wild birds like, thus are less likely to frequent any type of bird bath set up in a concrete or brick only location.
Certainly a well lit up area under the daily sun can be sure your bird bath water becomes like a beacon to passing birds who will fly overhead or briefly land in your yard.
While at the same time any reflection the bird bath water produces can only go towards attracting birds.
What can be an unexpected but never thought of occurrence is that a direct sun bird bath placement will ensure the bird bath water is less likely to freeze over in winter time. Bird baths featuring a solar fountain will also benefit in direct summer sun. In addition to a fountain, it can help to utilize a vibrant bird bath just to add that extra spark.
How you can really get birds to use a bird bath is to draw them to this fresh water source with a fountain feature, or indeed a fountain bird bath operated by solar or by the mains.
What you must know about bird baths sitting on a stand is it might not be stable at all. In fact a bird bath base could cause the bird bath to lean which could lead to tipping over.
To sit a bird bath directly on the lawn is a technique I don't recommend because the lawn will stain, and eventually damage your bird bath base. Instead, sit your bird bath on a complimentary cement slab that will sit hopefully central to your lawn.
If your bird bath sitting on a stand feels unstable then simply sit it on a bed of sand or fine gravel to keep it steady.
Bird baths can get a little on the messy side mind thus a patio or decking placement could see the area around the bird bath begin to deteriorate. Bird baths can go on a patio or deck still but it must still be in direct sunshine.
Most lit up area in yard
While there's an argument for any type of bird bath to be placed where wild birds in fact frequent the most, I will still recommend you position your bird bath in the most lit up area of your yard - all in an effort to be sure your bird bath is seen by many,
Birds who come to bird feeders do so by returning every day to feed at the same yard.
Birds who will eventually use your bird bath I would expect to be the same wild birds who come to feeders; only this could limit your options when focusing too much on current wild birds - rather than attracting other birds to a bird bath sitting out in the sun.
How you will get birds to use a bird bath is indeed placing it out under the sunshine.
Shade can help in super hot days but for now Its best to place a bird bath in full sunshine because only then can it be found with no restrictions in place.
Most lit up area of the yard I am sure will be the lawn for most of us - or in case you reside in a well built up area - then perhaps the sun only shines down on one side.
With that in mind, its vital to place the bird bath in the brightest, most lit up area of the yard, for the longest time of any given day.
You can attract birds to a bird bath in a well lit up area whereas it can be difficult when positioning a bird bath in the shade, as its likely to be more discreet to wild birds without you realizing it is.
Preferably in center of lawn
I believe for most of you who can afford a backyard - or sometimes only the front yard available to place a bird bath - the center of the lawn must be prioritized.
Similar to how a bird feeder is suspended off a bird feeding station pole; a bird bath sitting in the middle of the yard can benefit both you and your common backyard birds.
Central location like this for one thing can provide plenty of space for birds to take their time in the bath without being disturbed; such as if a bird bath location is sitting too close to an area that is noisy and busy.
For your benefit a bird bath sitting in the center of the lawn can be sure you almost get a view of wild birds comings and goings throughout the day.
What's the point of setting up a bird bath when you can't enjoy watching birds using it?
Center of the lawn tends to be wide open with plenty of clearing - which can allow more sunshine - and if there is no sun beaming down on your yard at all, then don't worry about it, providing you still receive feeding birds at bird feeders.
Do prioritize a center location of your lawn if you can to at least be sure you get as much sun on the bird bath as possible - the reflection in the water helps to attract birds - while at the same time it will provide the space wild birds require to safely bathe or hydrate.
Offsetting bird bath is acceptable
Of course I understand the best place for a bird bath in the center of the lawn, under the summer sun, doesn't apply to all of you.
With that in mind to position a bird bath on a slab to steady the bird bath on the grass must still be prioritized if you can. Bird bath dishes that sit on a stand will see far more success placed above the lawn as wild birds tend to forage in the lawn.
If you find your patio space makes more sense for a bird bath on a stand, then go ahead and give it a go if its in direct sunshine.
Decking's might not see as much success as the lawn or patio but it can be tried.
When I recommend you place any bird bath on a stand in the center of you lawn, I am only referring to those of you who can provide such a space. Even a central location doesn't have to be, as you may find pushing the bird bath to one side of the lawn can be sure its kept open and accessible.
Offsetting a bird bath to the side, top or front of the lawn can be considered for sure, but in doing so keep it out of the way of people and pets.
Centralizing a bird bath location doesn't just apply to the lawn either, as you do so with a patio or deck placement; while at the same time you can still offset a bird bath in these locations within your yard.
You must prioritize direct sunshine all day if you can with the bird bath set up near where wild birds frequent most in your yard.
Bird baths are intended to attract wild birds of course thus its vital the area where you place a bird bath can at least still compliment your yard - much like a statute will or other garden ornaments.
Bird bath align with feeders
Without making to much fuss, do prioritize your bird bath placement in direct sunshine for the entirety of the day, then allow wild birds to find it in due course.
Be it a central lawn or offset location, a bird bath sitting under the sun will be found sooner or later if its in the sun, in a well lit up but open location.
What you can do to be sure your bird bath is given a chance to be used, is to actually sit your bird bath near bird feeders suspended off a bird feeder pole.
Birds will prioritize feed over water more than you could possibly know. If the bird bath is close to a food source like any variety of bird feeder, then it will give your bird bath a better chance of being used.
Do align your bird bath some 10 or so feet away from your bird feeders but do so while keeping both bird bath and feeders in direct sunshine.
Direct sunshine is important for bird baths because a fountain feature can be an highly effective way of drawing birds to a bird bath of any kind. With that, to utilize a solar powered fountain feature, the solar panel must be in direct sun in order to operate.
Bird feeders do often get missed by wild birds thus a bird bath sitting near to feeders with the sound of moving water that should produce glistening water that reflects on the lawn below - can actually be a bonus way of attracting birds to a bird feeder instead.
Summarize
I know the best place where I will suggest you locate your bird bath may not apply to you, but to center the bird bath on the lawn still remains the best location.
Why that is because central to a lawn location usually means this is the most open place in your yard. Birds like to feed in safety thus a water source sitting out of reach of structures and natural vegetation will provide birds an easy escape route.
Birds still like natural vegetation near by although that benefits them more at feeders.
Sitting a bird bath on a stand in the middle of the lawn will also mean the bird bath is probably in direct sunshine.
Shade can obscure the bird bath later in the day but for the most part, any bird bath sitting in direct sun is sure to be found in due course. When water ripples in the wind the reflection can in fact help get birds attention.
And with the winter sun defrosting the water when its placed out in the open, a solar powered fountain bird bath if you didn't know, will only operate in direct sun.
Certainly you can offset a bird bath by pushing to the side of the lawn - or anywhere else in your yard as it happens - providing the bath is still in the sun.
Lastly, with the best possible place for a bird bath to sit above the lawn, there's certainly no harm to position the bird bath some 10 feet or less away from the feeders.
Share this article:
