Bird bath vs fountain
Choice between a bird bath or a fountain can really depend on your needs, a bird bath is made to safely attract wild birds while a fountain feature can deter thirsty birds.
Fountain features will come out top when it comes to attracting wild birds to your yard, because they're loud which will draw birds to the water. Bird baths will win in the end though as birds can utilize a bird bath dish that is shallow and safe. Fountains tend to be too deep with an all too powerful pump.
What is so great about a bird bath is that this simple water device can be a fun way to attract wild birds in to the yard if it features a solar or mains powered fountain.
Fountains operate a little differently to bird bath in that they create a loud running water noise due to what is a strong mechanism that must pump extra water through the tubes.
Birds may find the fountain because it can be noisier yet provides a wider area to find.
Bird baths that feature a more gentle, quieter solar powered bird bath feature is a great way to attract birds to, and in the end will see better results.
Fountains will feature hidden dangers because its a garden ornament after all, thus isn't really intended to attract wild birds. Birds will come to a fountain for sure with a birds stay being short - as they will find out they can't enter the deep fountain to bathe.
Bird bath dishes where wild birds can enter to bathe, cool down or perch to hydrate tend to shallow by default, and if it isn't you can put items in to a bird bath to make it safe.
When it comes to cleaning a bird bath you can do so with a diluted dish soap, yet with a fountain feature soap or a disinfectant solution tends to get caught in the mechanism.
Bear in mind wild birds risk illness if ingesting soap residue, thus to use bleach in a fountain of all things can lead to death. Follow manufacturer's cleaning instructions to be sure you can achieved thus - or you just may find additional costs are required.
Bird bath safety features
What is obviously different between a bird bath featuring a fountain and a fountain that isn't promoted as a bird bath at all, is safety measures applied to either fountain type.
Bird bath fountains are pre-installed features or are wired or solar powered fountains that produce a slow and steady fountain.
When it comes to a proper backyard fountain its purpose its to liven up a rather dull, quiet yard. No attention is usually put on the strength or power of the fountain itself, thus trouble can loom when wild birds decide to enter this powerful fountain.
Common backyard birds can still absolutely use a fountain feature that isn't a bird bath at all, and with that you can be sure danger lies ahead at all times.
Fountains can be quite a deep dish that shoots water into the air, or its designed in a way for water to drop down multiple levels - only to then be pumped back up for the same water to be recycled through the pump.
Power of pump can produce an unseen whirlpool which could be enough to pull small, young vulnerable birds under the water.
Bird bath fountains are less powerful with a bird bath dish that is far more shallow.
Fountain feature dangers
What you must realize with a garden fountain feature is - its a backyard ornament which is designed to compliment your yard landscape - with only a bonus of wild birds and insects visiting to drink or bathe.
Fountains that aren't bird baths can be quite powerful, as the water is sucked through the pipes via the powered by electric pumps.
Birds are small, lightweight and often clumsy around water thus its possible they could drown due to getting into trouble when hydrating or bathing near to where the pumps are positioned under the water line.
With that, fountains are usually made with a deep dish of any kind, in a way for you to add more water to ensure its can't evaporate so quickly in the hot weather.
Bird bath fountains use a weak pump that features small tiny holes on the solar or mains fountain pump.
Bird baths designed for wild birds are mostly shallow too thus there's little concerned about wild birds getting in to trouble in the water.
Custom bird bath dish
Unfortunately for a proper fountain feature you place in your yard - as a way to admire a gentle waterfall - this fountain can't really be made safe for birds.
You see the way a real ornamental fountain is developed, is to allow water to freely flow in the tubes and through the pump to recycle water that makes the fountain flow. To utilize pebbles or rocks to make it safe for birds can block this feature.
Bird bath dishes that hold the many depths of water can be made into a safe 1 to 2 inch depth, in an effort to make it accessible to all.
While a bird bath dish can be only 2 inches deep maximum, a proper fountain feature can be anywhere between 2 to 8 inches deep.
Unfortunately, wild birds will be unable to enter the water to bathe, all while they could be deterred all together, as the fountain is too powerful for birds to perch while they drink.
Bird baths can be made safe by adding pebbles to make it more shallow while additional rocks can be submerged partially in the water to create additional but safe perch placements.
All this can only lead to a fountain feature becoming jammed as pebbles block the pumps while additional rocks create an unexpected overflow.
Bird bath fountain can be added
You can only marvel at a fountain feature, especially in summer, because if you are like me, I just adore the sound of running water.
In fact I just love the rain hitting my window on a summers day, while listening to the rain hitting my window at night as I fall to sleep is just a pleasure.
Fountains made to create a beautiful waterfall or flowing water feature can indeed attract many different birds to what is essentially a water source making pleasing sounds to birds, who are both thirsty or need to preen immediately.
When wild birds do arrive you may notice they will only perch but not use the water at all on a fountain feature only.
What is happening at this point is the backyard birds have come to realize the fountain isn't safe to enter to drink or bathe, thus you will find they mostly perch then fly off before given the chance.
Not so with a bird bath fountain, as a bird bath featuring a solar or mains powered fountain is mostly a gentle, quieter feature yet is still just as effective as attractive birds to the bird bath than a powerful fountain.
Bird bath fountains can be added to attract birds any time down the road, and less so with a pre-installed fountain feature - while a real fountain can only be just that - a fountain that in the end can stop wild birds making the most of it.
Summarize
When its comes to a bird bath versus a fountain, and I do mean a real fountain feature developed to pump out water to create a water flow at multiple levels, or a more traditional waterfall - bird bath fountains will be the safest option.
Bird baths have safety features built in to not only the bird bath dish, but a solar powered fountain or a pre-installed option is made to please birds.
You see a bird bath fountain is small, gentle and quiet on a low level. Fountains can be the complete opposite, as the feature isn't built to attract wild birds in mind but to produce an effective loud fountain to feature in your yard.
Bird baths are often made shallow to accommodate all size wild birds, with an option to use pebbles to make it shallower if need be.
Now, with a fountain feature the depth of each dish or bowl the water flows in to - unless its a single dish fountain - can be far too deep for wild birds to enter.
Result of that is wild birds possibly taking a drink but unfortunately are unable to bathe.
Certainly a wasted opportunity to invite wild birds to a fountain only for them to not be able to use it due to safety.
Prioritize a bird bath with an additional solar powered or mains powered fountain feature when its intended to attract birds only. While a fountain can be used to naturally attract wild birds to, but it isn't so important than an effective fountain only feature.
Share this article:
