Water Movement: Moving water will attract more birds than stagnant water in a simple basin. A birdbath that includes a dripper, mister, water spray, bubbler, or fountain is a better choice to attract a wide range of bird species.
The best birdbaths mimic nature's birdbaths—puddles and shallow pools of water in slow streams; they're shallow with a gentle slope so birds can wade into the water. Look for one that won't break and is easily cleaned.
A bird bath can be any color you want. Each species is attracted to certain colors typically as a food source. You can use these colors on your bird bath or, more effectively, in the plants you plant in your bird-friendly garden.
The Birdbath Isn't in the Right Place
Much like we as humans look for convenient watering holes, birds are looking for easy—and safe—places to wet their beaks and bathe. If your birdbath is out in the open, with no cover or brush nearby, it's too risky a place for birds to use as a rest stop.
A bird bath is one of the simplest and cheapest ways of attracting birds to your garden, but when you first put out a bird bath it may take a while before birds start to use it. This could be days or even weeks if there are other sources of water nearby, so patience is key.
Give Your Birds Perching Spots
If you happen to have a deeper bird bath, you can make it more appealing by adding in a few rocks in the middle or along the edges. This will give birds a place to land so they can splash and preen themselves in the water.
Put some rocks in the bottom
Keeping some rocks in the bottom gives the birds something to stand on in the water when they are bathing, and can add variety in the depth of the water.
Baths should be situated near plants so smaller birds can have refuge if they are disturbed. Stones or rocks in the centre of the bath can give smaller birds a place to perch while bathing. Birds need to groom their feathers daily, so don't assume they're only visiting bird baths on hot summer days.
Spray-Showers: Some birds find the bathroom intimidating, so you can use warm-ish water in a spray bottle right on his cage. Gently mist this above or to the side of your bird, never into his face. And make sure the water won't scald or freeze him!
A dirty bird bath is a hazard in a bird-friendly backyard. Not only is stagnant, contaminated water uninteresting to the birds, but it can also foster diseases that can spread to an entire backyard flock. In addition, a dirty birdbath smells and can attract mice, rats, and other unwanted pests.
Birdbath Location
Set up your birdbath in an open area but in close proximity to cover. The more open space around your birdbath, the more birds are going to come to bathe. Birds have natural predators, and the open space will not allow predators to hide anywhere near your birdbath.
Some birds tend to steer clear of violet because it's difficult for them to see and confuses them. Pink is a color that certain birds tend to avoid due to its stark contrast against a green background. The striking nature of pink is thought to potentially attract predators, making certain birds wary of this hue.
The stones can be anything from colorful decorative ones, to a large natural rock, river rock, lava rock, or simply stones from the garden. Anything that allows birds to “hop up onto” will be used and appreciated by feathered friends.
Bird baths are an excellent way to provide birds with the water; however, bird baths can also pose a health risk to birds if not properly maintained.
Dump the remaining water from the bath every few days and refill the bird bath with fresh water. If the basin has a textured bottom, spray the bath on a weekly basis with pressurized hose-water to remove debris and scrub with a brush before refilling it with fresh water.
Accumulated dirt and algae could leave stains in a bird bath that you might not be able to remove, so it is important to clean your bird bath regularly. That can be about two or three times a week—or more frequently if the water looks discolored between cleanings.
There are many ways to add moving water to your existing birdbath, such as water drippers, water misters, water wigglers, and small fountain pumps that circulates water. Below are some examples of ways you can add moving water to your birdbath at home. Side mount dripper. Rock base dripper.
Q: What goes in a birdbath but never gets wet? A: The bird's shadow.
Honeyeaters and Lorikeets love xanthorrhoea, mistletoe, correas, grevillea, epacris and eucalypts for their nectar.
'If selecting a deeper bird bath, make sure you add a few stones to the bottom to ensure smaller birds have somewhere to perch and can also get out easily,' continues Claire. Adding a few stones to the shallower parts of your bird bath will also provide bees and butterflies with a spot to land and drink.
For the safety of birds and other animals, salt should never be added to birdbaths.
* The bath should be easily seen from the sky, so birds flying overhead can spot it. * Mount it about 3 feet high, which is usually the case if your birdbath comes with a pedestal. If you must keep a birdbath on the ground, it should be at least 6 feet away from places where cats could lurk.