Birdbaths

Giving a little clean, cool water to the birds is considered a kindness towards birds; sometimes fresh water can be one of the hardest necessities for birds to come by. Watching birds at the birdbath ...

Giving a little clean, cool water to the birds is considered a kindness towards birds; sometimes fresh water can be one of the hardest necessities for birds to come by. Watching birds at the birdbath also brings lots of happiness to the onlooker.

Keeping a birdbath is, in fact, one of the easiest ways of bringing birds close enough to have a good look at them. Although birdfeeders cater to seed-eaters like cardinals and sparrows, birds that eat insects or fruit like the wren and waxwing don\'t find anything interesting in the birdfeeder. However, the birdbath entices all types of birds, from robins to screech owls, to drink water. Keeping a shallow birdbath that is not more than three inches deep in the center is the best choice. If you do have a deep birdbath, try putting rocks in it to raise the bottom. Keeping a drippy birdbath is also not a bad idea, as it dramatically increases the number of species that visit a birdbath. To arrange a drip, you could install a small spray fountain designed for birdbaths or buy a birdbath that has a dripper built in. Make sure the bottom of the birdbath is rough as birds shouldn\'t lose their footing on a glazed and slippery bottom!

Now comes the ideal location for the birdbath. Make sure it is at least five to ten feet from any cat\'s hiding place, as cats like hiding beneath shrubbery to pounce on the birds at the right opportunity. The ideal place would be under some branches hanging within two or three feet of the bath so that the wet bird can flutter up the tree if needed. Of course, if you place the bath on a pedestal or hang it from a tree, it would be easy to see from the house, easy to clean and safe from predators. However, it would be better if it was within reach of a hose to make cleaning and refilling easier. But do remember to keep the birdbath away from the feeding station; the seeds and water from the feeding station may soil the water. Change the water every few days, and brush clean any algae that may form in the birdbath. After all this is done, it is time to sit back and enjoy the beauty of the birdbath and the birds!