Do bird baths need running water
Static bird baths is just the beginning as running water is a must for attracting all common backyard birds to your bird bath water source on a daily basis.
Still water bird baths are bound to go a miss by birds as the water can't be seen; whereby running water in a bird bath can attract birds to it by sight and sound, created via a fountain feature, Dripper or what is call 'The Wriggler.' Still water in bird baths can succeed, only running water can attract birds to it far away.
Bird baths do need running water if setting up a new bird bath in particularly, as a yard with few birds arriving daily are only there to feed. Whereas a busy yard frequented with birds regularly will find the still water all by themselves.
How to keep bird bath water moving to achieve a running water effect is to essentially place a moving water machine in the still water bird bath basin; not on top or on the side of the bird bath... as any machine used will actually sit in the water.
Best option is a cost effective solar powered bird bath fountain feature. It could also be a complicated Dripper that pours a continuous supply of fresh water in to the bird bath basin - or indeed you can rely on a battery operated ripple machine.
Personally, I'd go for the fountain feature as it creates both the running water which in turn, will make a pleasing cascading waterfall sound.
Most birds like to come to bird baths to hydrate where essentially all size wild birds can be allowed to enter the water to bathe.
Do setup a running water device but don't jeopardize the area that is usually reserved for your birds; thus the area must be open for all wild birds without any machine getting in the way.
Running water needed to attract birds
It can be a matter of timing because a newly put up bird bath can indeed be difficult to attract wild birds to initially, whereas a tried and tested bird bath can continue to attract regular birds on a daily basis.
We then must find a way to attract birds to a new bird bath at first, knowing that we must continue to utilize running water for the foreseeable future.
No guarantee wild birds come to a new or old bird bath located clearly out in the open where it should be found. Whereby to fill a bird bath basin with tap water to hope for the best... isn't something we must rely on.
To stand the best possible chance of attracting all wild birds to a bird bath, then it must be heard and seen.
Carefully situating the bird bath out in the open so it remains visible to the occasional bird resting near by - or any birds that quickly pass overhead - must still be prioritized equally, alongside running water.
If you already receive an abundance of wild birds coming to your feeder on a daily basis, then situating a bird bath near to where they feed, can certainly be a way to divert their attention to your bird bath setup.
Still water unseen or heard
Why do bird baths need running water is because there is a huge difference between calm, settled still water; to running water that makes a lot of noise comparably speaking, that can home in birds, or indeed make ripples that glisten on the surface.
Idea behind attracting birds to running water would be to tell them, hey, look over hear... we have a fresh, easy to access water supply for you - which we are letting you know with the sound of water, plus any device making a fountain.
Common misconception most people have when setting up a bird bath first thing, is believing you fill it up with water and that's it.
Well, birds in particularly won't come to a still water bird bath because it doesn't give off any sound they are attracted too - nor can birds notice the water surface moving.
Bird baths need running water to turn an unnoticed bird bath bowl of still water, into a wild bird paradise.
Nothing more a bird loves then frolicking in a bird bath to preen their feathers, or to perch around the rim to drink.
None of which is made possible if you choose to setup a bird bath without due care and attention. Water must be moving alongside pebbles or rocks submerged in the bird bath water.
Fountain feature a must
Now that I have established bird baths really do need running water to succeed in your yard, you can begin the process of keeping the water actively moving with use of a fountain feature.
Cabled fountain feature is a possibility but I don't recommend the use of a solar powered fountain enough.
Fountains operated in direct sunshine really do work to achieve a gentle or forceful cascading waterfall - of which no additional cables or wiring is needed to cause an eyesore in your yard.
Fountain device plus the solar panel is submerged into a shallow bird bath water depth for it to operate, whereby to utilize a bird bath with a flat bottom basin can help also.
Solar powered fountains can be bought to add to an additional static bird bath with no running water feature included; or why not consider one of the best solar powered bird baths money can buy - along with a fountain feature installed into the basin.
Huge advantage with a fountain feature - operated by electric, battery or solar - can create the much needed running water, along with the sound of water birds can pick up at quite a distance away.
Utilize dripper or ripple gizmo
I can't recommend you utilize a solar powered bird bath fountain feature enough, although other options can be considered even though its not as cheap or easy to setup in a bird bath.
Want to create an effective running water setup that is guaranteed to keep the water moving during the day?... then turn your attention to a bird bath dripper.
What a bird bath dripper does is allow you to connect a hose to and from the house and bird bath - then the running water supply will be generated by your own water mains. It isn't as costly as you'd think, as the dripper is used in the day only then turned off when birds disappear before dark.
Great advantages of course because this dripper can be run warm, thus its a great way to keep your bird bath from freezing during the water.
Similarly, what better way to keep your bird bath water cool than with a continuous supply of chilled water directly out of the faucet.
What can unexpectedly arrive at a bird bath is indeed bugs or insects that can use a bird bath to hydrate, like bees - only it becomes an issue with insects like mosquitoes who insist on stopping by.
No problem at all as mosquitoes can only take water at a still water location, with running water possibly keeping mosquitoes from accessing the water or bird bath at all.
Birds love running water because its a great way to attract them, only it can attract mosquitoes, of which - keeping the water moving can keep most bugs and insects off the bird bath all together.
In regards to what is called a 'The Wiggler' which is essentially a machine that creates ripples on a shallow bird bath water surface. It won't make running water noise as it only relies on making ripple effects in an hope of grabbing birds attention.
Running water at shallow depth
Whilst bird baths of any kind continue to be a good idea to offer our wild birds a continuous supply of fresh water, where it otherwise becomes depleted in the wild... even in drought you must still let birds know you have water.
However, for a bird bath fountain feature, dripper or ripple machine to properly operate, they have one common feature - all of which must be added to shallow water.
Unfortunate as it is a bird bath water depth can't be allowed to go too deep as the devices submerged in the water will be ineffectual.
What you must do then is continue to supply a shallow water depth of anywhere between 1 to 2 inches, for all devices mentioned to operate as they should.
Bear in mind smaller birds like Finches who love to use bird baths can safely enter a shallow 1 inch depth without getting into trouble - whereas larger birds like Cardinals can enter a depth of up to 2 inches.
Bird baths do need running water but only if the depth can stay at a certain level.
To achieve that at all times you can line the bird bath basin with pebbles to give you that 1 or 2 inch depth - with no risk of rain water flooding it in the process. In addition, extra water topping up the bird bath will simply run out on its own if the water level rises to high.
Summarize
Its not so much the case of do bird baths need running water, but more so of moving water is part of the daily operation of what will be a successful bird bath setup.
Let me just say a still water bird bath can see success, if only your yard is busy with wild birds on a daily basis. Its only then will wild birds be attracted to the water naturally, with no effort on your part.
Many birds who frequent a yard on a daily basis doesn't guarantee an uptake of use, especially if the bird feeders are the focus of their attention.
Bird baths do need additional functionality because for the most part, wild birds will ignore it as long as water is plentiful in the wild.
What you do to attract birds to a brand new bird bath in particularly, is to make this bird bath setup as appealing as possible.
First thing to do is make running water in order to attract birds by sound and sight. The sight of running water is key, and so to is the colorful bird bath bowl which can just as easily attract wild birds to this water source.
Running water can result in cascading water via a solar powered fountain, where ripples can also be made; if utilizing a bird bath 'Dripper' or 'The Wriggler,' all of which provide their own methods of keeping bird bath water running in the day.
Still water in a bird bath is bound to go unnoticed because its doesn't give off noise or make a glistening of light on its surface due to ripples. Once you achieve running water, then it can seem like a piece of cake to draw birds your bird bath.
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