Bird bath vs bird feeder
When measuring up if to get a bird feeder or bird bath, I can assure you a bird feeder is the only way to attract birds to your yard.
Bird baths versus bird feeders will only see bird feeders come out on top, as a bird feeder is a source of bird feed wild birds must eat daily. Birds will mostly find water in the wild while a bath to preen feathers can wait. Bird feeders guarantee success and will primarily be the only way to attract birds to the yard.
It has to be said bird feeders serve to feed all kinds of wild birds in as many types of accessible bird feeders as possible, that are available on the market today.
Birds who use bird feeders will see a few who will use the adjacent bird bath on occasions to drink or to preen their feathers. Birds can be fun to watch in a bird bath but unfortunately it comes at a price - bird baths are rarely used which is why its fun when it does actually happen out in your backyard.
Bird feeders are a device many of your local wild birds come to rely on as a matter of survival.
Birds can easily find a water source in the wild, as they will drink or bathe around the outskirts of a shallow pond or lake, any time of the year.
Common backyard birds who feed exclusively on the ground - like American Robins or Doves for example - will at times find it hard to discover insects on lawns, or indeed their readily foraged for seeds of weeds and grasses could be covered under 2 feet of snow.
Winter time can be a cruel time for wild birds thus to make bird feeders available all year will ensure a birds diet can be subsidized at always replenished bird feeders.
Where cold will freeze over any water source, certainly a bird bath can come in useful in the dead of winter - and that is if you always attend to the bird bath to stop it freezing over.
With all that said, there's certainly no harm in prioritizing bird feeders to store peanuts, suet and seeds of course - with dried mealworms in a tray if you can - while also providing a bird bath of any kind to tempt birds to use it all when in summer.
Success comes to feeders
What will ultimately be the deciding factor between bird baths and bird feeders, is that a bird feeder will find far more success in your yard.
Bird baths as a whole are far less used as you may know, that is because in comparison to a bird feeder - wild birds prioritize a readily available food source over any device that simply stores water.
Success comes to bird feeders naturally because they store one of many food items that can attract many common bird species to it.
Bird baths are not so important as its essentially a water source only with nothing else to interest birds, or indeed any wild life.
How you attract birds to your yard is via a bird feeder of any kind - whereas a bird bath will be used once in a while - with a bird bath not being something you can definitely attract birds to only, as bird feed must always be available.
Bird baths can be considered to attract birds without food, although that is going to see far less use than the few birds that already don't use the bird bath.
Bird bath use can be rare
Unfortunately for a you a bird bath isn't something that is used a lot, of which you will probably be well aware of this phenomenon by now
Bird feeders are something that are frequently used while a bird bath will be used once in a while.
Birds will frequent a bird bath in times of drought or when birds need to quickly preen their feathers; bird feeders store much needed bird feed that all common backyard birds will come to rely on daily.
Bird bath use is incredibly rare because wild birds can get their fix of water or a place to bathe in the wild with ease.
And while birds still forage for their seeds or insects in nature they do come to rely on a bird feeder, as they remember bird feeders' whereabouts that is in the same location on their daily feeding.
Water can be found on leaves, puddles, guttering, on cars, lake or garden pond sides.
And while bird feed can be scarce in times of drought bird feeders will still be used all year round, without fail.
Bird feeders are used all year including in winter time as bird feeders make feed easily accessible in snowy condition. Whereas bird baths will be used even less in winter - with bird bath water also having a tenancy of freezing over - which a bird feeder cannot.
Bird baths and bird feeders both have their negative sides with feeders in particularly needed to be cleaned often to avoid bacteria building up. Whereas a bird bath will produce mold and of course algae on what is always damp conditions.
Both used for bird seed
When it comes to a bird bath and a bird feeder of any kind, they do have one thing in common that benefits you and your local birds.
While many types of bird feeders can store seeds of any kind, a bird bath doesn't necessary have to be used to store water.
You can use a metal, plastic or stone bird bath as an outdoor ornament only, with a way to avoid filling it with water. What can be placed in a small bird bath in particular, is a mix of wild birds favorite bird feed.
So you see a bird bath can become a kind of dish to hold all types of bird feed.
Whereby a bird feeder can only be used to store bird food its made to hold, yet a bird bath can store more feed while at the same time can attract a wider variety of wild birds, of which a bird feeder will be more restricting in comparison.
Bird baths that sit on a stand and are usually located in the middle of your yard - situated in direct sunshine to be spotted - will be a better option to place bird seeds on, over a bird waterer that is suspended along side bird feeders on a pole or in a tree.
Unable to defend bird baths
When it comes to a bird bath versus bird feeders, fortunately for bird feeders they can be defended against common backyard pests and pets.
Squirrels often visit accessible bird feeders and will be found to eat a lot of nuts or seeds.
Whereby a bird bath will be attacked for less - much like wild birds do - but its near impossible to keep pests from accessing your water source.
Bird feeders are suspended off a bird feeder pole so you can stop squirrels climbing up; bird baths on a stand are unable to provide a way to deter squirrels like this. If it did, a low down bird bath on a stand will just see squirrels jump up to the water dish.
Bird baths that can be hung will be a good idea to keep squirrels, raccoon's and pets off, yet people do prefer an attractive bird bath on a stand that sits on the lawn or patio.
Not only will squirrels try to drink or cool down in a bird bath; snakes, possums, bees, lizards, bears and deer's can usually access a bird bath with ease.
Conclusion - bird feeders are best
When it comes to a bird bath vs. a bird feeder, bird feeders of any kind will win if there was any competition between the two.
Remember that, while bird feeders serve to feed wild birds, a bird bath can still provide much needed water in times of drought or severe cold weather.
Bird feeders are a food source and therefore wild birds will prioritize a bird feeder 100% of the time, over what is a bird bath only providing water. Birds need water once in a while and that is when you will see birds drinking or bathing.
It is rare for wild birds to use a bird bath - while some of you can experience an unusual increase in bird bath use - which is why people don't feel the need to buy a bird bath.
Bird baths may see un uptake in use during the summer, and especially during a summer heat wave; while in winter or in wetter months a bird bath really doesn't need to be used at all.
Bird feeders come in handy all year round, with wild birds willing to visit a bird feeder 365 days of the year... which could be less than 30 days in total for a bird bath.
Success will come to bird feeders with an abundance of native common backyard birds always finding what they like to eat.
With that, bird feeders can be suspended off the ground, put on the ground or a bird feeder tray can be mounted to a wall or fence. Bird baths are usually limited to sitting on a stand - or on occasions a hanging bird bath can be used.
With all that said, if you experience nuisance pests in your yard then remember bird feeders can be defended against such pests with a squirrel baffle. Bird baths on the other hand are fully accessible and therefore can be a source of cross contamination.
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