Bird Bath Guide

Design

• A birdbath that works for you and the birds is sturdy and easy to maintain. The sides should slope enough to hold water but still be shallow. Make the bowl 1 to 4 inches deep. The surface should be slightly rough because birds hold on to the edges during landing and takeoff. The surface should not be highly reflective. A good birdbath should appear to the birds as a shallow puddle and be large enough to hold more than one bird at a time.

Location

• The location of the your birdbath is aesthetically important to you and no less important to the birds. Birds will feel welcome if it seems safe to them. When they are bathing they don't want to think about predators like the family cat stalking them. Place the birdbath near sheltering vegetation but with a clear approach. Birds like to take a dip and then retreat to a branch nearby to preen their feathers. Don't place the birdbath in the hot sun.

Cleaning

• The birdbath will not be desirable to the birds unless the water is clean. Rinse the bath and keep it free of algae, leaves and bird guano. Rinse it out with a hose a few times a week and scrub it out with a brush once a month. If there is a lot of algae you can add some white vinegar to the water, scrub the birdbath, empty all the water and replace it with fresh water. It is important to keep the birdbath clean to prevent birds from spreading disease to other birds or to you.

Winter

• In winter birds can rely on the birdbath even more than in summer. Keep the ice out of the birdbath. Take a moment to break up the ice each day. Place a couple of small rubber balls in the bath. They will rock in the wind and keep some of the water from freezing. If you are mechanically inclined wire in a small electric thermostatic heater beneath the bath.