Do bird baths work
Unlike bird feeders is normal to believe a bird bath doesn't really work, but it can for most people if you're prepared to put in the time and effort.
Bird baths do work but for must of us who really don't try, then that's rare. Don't rely on still water when you must find a way to make it loud with running water. Birds can notice color thus a colorful surrounding can help with flowers. Expect birds do use it less in wetter months whereas dryer months will see an uptake.
It isn't as simple as one may think when first setting out a bird bath in the yard, as additional time, patience and potential expense may be needed.
Bird baths that sit there in the yard can see success but not the kind of success you would expect on a valuable water source.
Go above and beyond with your bird bath scene by turning a static, still water setup into one that makes sounds with running water; which your average backyard birds like, such as Robins, Sparrows, Cardinals or Finches are attracted to.
It will apply to any kind of bird bath including a bird bath sat on the ground, one on a pedestal or a deck mounted bird bath sat near to the house.
While bird bath location could be absolutely perfect, remember smaller birds demand a one inch water level; thus to keep the bird bath water shallow can accommodate most birds without unintentionally keeping them away.
No particular color of a bird bath is important although to brighten up the area with colorful flowers or plants can help - all while you can avoid using a vibrant color bird bath, as it will appear unsightly.
Best material for a bird bath that is heavy thus will remain stabilized is in stone or metal, yet a plastic or resin bird bath can still be stabled if you utilize pegs in the ground.
What you may not have realized early on why your bird bath doesn't appear to be working as expected, could be because squirrels or other nuisance wildlife are scaring birds away from your water source.
More importantly, that goes for your neighbors cats who can definitely stop wild birds using a bird bath.
Do work if committed to cause
With a bird bath having no functionality we can only rely on a bird bath to work as a static basin to hold water, along with what is essentially still water sitting in the bowl.
If this is how you intend to attract birds to our bird bath, then no I don't believe a bird bath of any kind can work this way.
Birds who frequent our yards do so for one reason, food. If your garden environment provides plants, flowers and a lawn for wild birds to feed on, then that is what they will do. If your yard utilizes bird feeders, then expect to find birds on them.
Unfortunately, with none of this in your yard the task of bringing birds to your bird bath is made harder than it has to be.
Bird baths do work at times but it will depend on what time of day or month - if water is readily available elsewhere - or if you have created ideal conditions.
How birds find a bird bath can be with no additional accessories or functionality at at, yet it could just come down to the bird bath being visible to birds as they spot it out of nowhere.
But for a bird bath to really work as its suppose to - which is to attract birds to drink or bathe - you must commit to the cause.
It can come at additional expense but in the end you will have to brighten up the bird bath space, along with finding ways to create bird bath running water via a solar powered fountain - to turn still water into an attractive noisy, ripples in water bath.
Additional accessories a must
Bird baths do work if you turn a static bird bath into what can be described as a running water, noisy water making machine.
Static bird baths apply to all types of bird baths as the water sat in the bowl can be turned into something that does indeed get birds attention. How birds can be attracted to a bird bath is through sound and sight.
Birds come to depend on bird feeders to survive thus a bird bath is far less important anytime of the year, and therefore it takes more effort.
What you can do first thing is utilize a solar powered bird bath which really do work to bring birds to, thanks to the noise it makes and the splashing water it creates.
Additional ways to make running water with the sounds of drips or ripples on the water surface, is achieved via a Dripper and 'The Wriggler' machine which makes ripples - or you can hang up a leaking bottle above the bird bath as a fun project.
Besides making a noisy bird bath with the sound of dripping or cascading water, along with ripples, you can also make the bird bath an appealing environment to explore.
What you can do is line the bird bath basin with colorful water-safe pebbles which are used in conjunction with rocks that are used as perches, but also look very nice.
Can depend on time of year
What is the biggest cause of bird baths never seen to be used for most of the year, is because water found in nature is often readily available near to where birds nest or feed in the wild.
When birds take their drink to hydrate its likely to be early in the morning which can be long before they arrive in your yard, thus they won't need to drink again until later.
What nature can't always provide birds in the same space they drink water in, is a decent amount of water to bathe; where birds preen their plumage to keep their feathers air worthy, all while removing any nuisance dirt or parasites tangled up.
Bird baths can appear as if they aren't working in times of the year where lack of rain isn't an issue - thus you can expect more birds to use a bird bath in summer when the chance of drought is possible.
That isn't to say birds only use bird baths in summer or in super hot days, because at times birds are happy to enter a bird bath in freezing cold conditions; when it snows or even if it rains believe it or not.
It can depend on the time of year for a bird bath to do what its suppose to, as little drops of water collected in nature is all wild birds need to properly hydrate.
Bird baths can be a last resort but can be depended on everyday if there's lack of, or no rain water within the vicinity of your property for a long period of time.
Bird baths can be unused
Despite all that's said, the simple fact is a bird bath of any kind, wherever you happen to have it in your backyard, just may not be used at all.
Reasons could be there's lack of wild birds in your area, and if there is then could it possibly be they don't seem to frequent your yard. Concrete properties with no natural vegetation could keep them well away, but so can your neighbors if they have been doing a great job of attracting birds for a long time now.
Realistically, 99% of you will at times at least see some birds at your bird bath any time of the year, to preen or hydrate.
But it could be as much as 50% of us you rarely see wild birds at our bird baths, simply because we haven't set the scene.
Bird baths can certainly see an uptake in use if you go through the simple quiet, still water but dull setting - whereas a running water basin that utilizing a colorful bird bath scene, perhaps with a better location that is visible to all, will improve things.
One bird bath might not work but who's to say you can't use a second or third bird bath that may be on the ground - along with a hanging bird bath on a bracket or branch.
Conclusion
I have to say bird baths do work but only if you setup the environment that is acceptable to your wild birds.
Environment I am talking about is a quiet spot of cause that is set out of the way of noisy neighbors, your family, pets and of course any wildlife that wishes to raid bird feeders or use the bird bath to hydrate.
Bird baths first set up in the yard will likely be a static bird bath with no functionality - as oppose to a fountain feature bird bath - which can attract birds due to sounds and sight.
Additional accessories like a solar powered fountain can be added to the water anytime to make noisy water along with ripples on the surface.
Its important to keep the water level low to accommodate all wild birds, thus to line the basin with colorful pebbles plus rocks will get you off the ground.
Failure to utilize effective ways to attract wild birds to what is a quiet, unseen bird bath location, will appear as if your bird bath doesn't work at all.
You must be fully committing to this project because it is; its not just about replenishing the bird bath with fresh water now and again, as it will always need care and attention.
Bird baths will naturally get used less in rainier days, thus hot summers or if in drought can lead to birds using a reliable bird bath water source almost daily.
Share this article:
