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Bird Baths
Birds need water to drink as well as food
to eat. In many cases, a birdbath or pool
can attract a greater variety of birds than
any food.
Where you locate your birdbath is important.
Some fast fliers, like swifts and swallows,
dip into water while flying. They need a
pool of water in open terrain. Woodland birds,
like thrushes and towhees, are cautious about
coming into the open, and prefer water close
to vegetation in which they can take cover.
Most birds that visit gardens prefer a water
source between these extremes: far enough
from vegetation to prevent a surprise attack
yet close enough to offer refuge. These birds
will perch in a nearby tree, then come to
the water source after determining that conditions
are safe.
The edges of the basin should
slope gradually
and should be at least 12 inches
in diameter
(the ideal diameter is 24 to
36 inches, which
should encourage communal bathing,
since
any bath or pool under 18 inches
across usually
attracts only one bird at a time).
By all
means, avoid moving, shiny parts
that can
alarm birds.
The classic style birdbath is a basin on
a pedestal that is about 3 feet high. Be
sure that the basin is firmly anchored to
the pedestal. Other birdbaths are designed
to hang by chains from a balcony, eave or
wall bracket. Some small ones attach to a
window with suction cups. Others are simple
dishes that you lay on the ground, windowsill
or deck.
If your birdbath is also a lawn
ornament,
be sure to choose the right material:
- Avoid terra cotta or ceramic if you have
cold winters. It tends to
crack.
- Concrete is more resistant to freezing and
cracking than plain cement
and the texture
of concrete gives birds a
good foothold.
- Plastic and metal are lightweight, durable
and unaffected by cold, but
they must be
textured to give the birds
a firm grip; also,
painted metal chips, flakes,
and needs repainting.
- Wood is difficult to clean and has a shorter
useful life than other materials;
however,
birds really like wood and
it can have a
very appealing look.
Creating a small garden pool
is another option.
Set the basin of a concrete birdbath
in the
soil, or a plastic or fiberglass
pool.
Since the sound of gently moving water is
very attractive to birds, hang a dripping
hose or a bucket with a hole in it above
a birdbath. Mists and fine sprays also draw
birds, and fountains and simple waterfalls
are other decorative elements that birds
like. |
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