Should a bird bath be in the sun or shade
Concern of locating a bird bath in the sun or shade is not without reason, as you could believe the bird bath water can suffer as a result, but it won't matter much really.
You can put a bird bath in sun or the shade without serious consequences, but under summer heat the water is going to deteriorate faster, so too can it worsen with conditions perfect for algae to grow. Place a bird bath in shade to avoid this, but its not always the solution, as shade doesn't equal cooler conditions.
Common backyard birds tend to visit your garden to use our brand new bird bath in a hope of drinking or bathing to cool down.
What would be odd to see with wild birds arriving to use the bird bath on that very rare occasion, is to then see the water has completely evaporated under the extreme heat.
And why might backyard birds use your bird bath, because their natural water reserves in nature may have dried up in a drought, which is possible.
However, if you decide to locate the bird bath under direct sunshine, its not going to be an issue unless its in summer months with hot days - whereas the sun can see the water deteriorate over a short period.
But unless you take your responsibility seriously, then for you to always be replenishing the bird bath is going to avoid any of these issues.
On a similar note, you'll benefit with a colorful bird bath in direct sun, where the vibrant color will brighten up more in sun which is a great way to turn a birds attention to a colorful object in your yard.
Site bird bath in sun or shade
Most common area you are likely to put a bird bath in your backyard is going to be in direct sunshine in most cases, but that is perfectly OK to do.
Locating in a sunny area usually correlates to how you've gone about laying out your backyard landscape - whereas locating in the shade could be with little choice but too.
Site the bird bath in the sun or shade then depending on your yard layout.
I would recommend out of the sun for most of the day but in fairness, it can be hard to keep the sun off the bird bath under most circumstances - as the sun is higher in the sky in spring through summertime - so its really impossible to avoid.
Whereas in autumn through winter the bird bath is not going to see a lot of direct sunshine; as if its matters as the sun is not going to feel very worm at this time of year - depending on where you live in the US.
You should then place a bird bath in the sun or shade, as the build of the bird bath can withstand it, but in the midst of summer - your bird bath water could dry up sooner.
Water deteriorates in sun
Now I would say to locate your bird bath out of direct sunshine is going to have its benefits at certain times of the year.
To place a bird bath under direct sunshine in the summer months is going to see the water deteriorate in a matter of 24 hours or less. But if its still in the shade, the bird bath water can still dry up drastically under the heat.
It doesn't have to be a hassle to always replenish the bird bath with fresh water, because that is not going to be a likely occurrence.
Bird bath water can last up to 24 hours or more in direct sunshine or under extreme heat, but to fill up the bird bath higher up is certainly going to help by not going through the bother of refilling it so often.
In using more water in the bird bath to save it drying up so often, never should a bird bath be so deep as to risk the drowning of wild birds.
Having said all that, its fair to say in a direct sunshine bird bath location, its simply going to be the only solution, or where it makes more sense.
Benefits to a shaded area
Don't let a beautiful spot within your backyard landscape get in the way of situating the bird bath - if it looks and feels right - go ahead and site it in that spot.
It could be the backyard your bird bath is located in is indeed south facing, or open to the elements where its not possible to avoid the sun at all.
But if you can find the right area in a shaded spot, there is certainly benefits to this. But the bird bath must be found, so place bird bath in a spot it can be spotted in the air.
Bird baths are filled with water so are prone to drying up under extreme heat, made worse with direct sunshine - so herein lies the benefit to locating bird baths in the shade.
You might not be able to keep it in the shade all day, but through the morning until early afternoon could be avoided, but it depends on your situation.
I don't believe the negatives outdo the positives when considering locating a bird bath in the sun or shade, as there's no serious implications for either.
Genuine location in the yard is more important as wild birds like to use a bird bath setup in a safe environment. So if its in the shade or sun, then it doesn't matter providing you can offer the much needed natural coverage nearby.
Sunny spot is more likely
Most of us in the US would likely find our bird baths setup in direct sunshine for most of the day, but that is OK as its not going to effect the use of the bird bath by birds.
As its located where the sunshine is beaming down on it, that is a good indication the bird bath is out in the open; perfect then because it means it can be spotted by a whole range of birds who pass by.
Not cleaning the bird bath often after spending so much time in the sun is going to see the water deteriorate for sure, but water quality is going to worsen much sooner - with the possibility of algae growing in the bird bath due to the heat.
Clean the bird bath once a week then if the bird bath is always out in the sun, but its going to be less of a problem in autumn through winter, and early spring.
Benefits to placing a bird bath in the sun too is its mostly out of the way of trees or a nearby hedge - so less leafs and mess is going to end up in the water.
But still site the bird bath not so far away from trees or bushes as its needed for birds to use close by as they drink or bathe.
To summarize
First thing, site a bird bath wherever it makes sense in your backyard, its not going to be a problem at all if its located in the sun or shade.
Sure, bird bath water can and will deteriorate far sooner in direct sunshine, but unless its hot days in summer - or States that are hot all year round - there will be no implications.
Shaded areas have their benefits though in that the water can't be soaked up so soon in a more cooler, breezier shaded spot.
Under the shade would mean the bird bath is near or under natural growth, so it could be more leafs fall off the house roof or gutter, or shed tile grit that could end up in the water.
A sunny location is likely to be out in the middle of the yard, as a centerpiece for attracting wild birds in an easy to view area. Its therefore not going to be inundated with harmful materials landing in the water from above.
I believe the bird bath would spend several hours a day in the sun, be it first thing in the morning or later in afternoon - so it can be unavoidable.
That's OK though because unless its in the dead of summer, the sun is going to feel much cooler the rest of the year so will have little effect on the bird bath water.
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