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Bird baths
Joyce Goldenlily
Posts: 2,933
Why do the local birds prefer to do their daily ablutions in muddy puddles rather than use the bespoke bath I have made for them?
I have a large shallow grey plastic planter, approximately 12 inches deep, lined with black pond liner to make it waterproof. I put sandy gravel and cobbles in it to make it more shallow. I have seen a few birds taking a quick drink but no bathing. It is on top of a base about 2ft 6ins tall in an open area near the bird feeders and there are banks, trees, and bushes close by for perching. The water level is about 3-4 ins deep, and the diameter of the bowl is around 24 inches across. No plants growing in it, puddles do not have plants in them. Should I remove the cobbles? It has been in situ for a couple of years but the avian population continues to ignore it. I am thinking of dismantling it. The feeders are visited by a great many different birds, I thought at least one kind might fancy a de luxe bath, perhaps my idea of deluxe is not the same as birds.
I have a large shallow grey plastic planter, approximately 12 inches deep, lined with black pond liner to make it waterproof. I put sandy gravel and cobbles in it to make it more shallow. I have seen a few birds taking a quick drink but no bathing. It is on top of a base about 2ft 6ins tall in an open area near the bird feeders and there are banks, trees, and bushes close by for perching. The water level is about 3-4 ins deep, and the diameter of the bowl is around 24 inches across. No plants growing in it, puddles do not have plants in them. Should I remove the cobbles? It has been in situ for a couple of years but the avian population continues to ignore it. I am thinking of dismantling it. The feeders are visited by a great many different birds, I thought at least one kind might fancy a de luxe bath, perhaps my idea of deluxe is not the same as birds.
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Posts
No accounting for taste eh?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I have found they will not use any bath that is elevated, sunk into the ground, or too near shrubs etc (presumably as a predator could be lurking there unseen). They also avoid clear plastic containers.
Here we have a large-ish black plant saucer 25 to 30cms diameter in a wide open space on the ground on the back "lawn".
It is very shallow 2.5cms or maybe 3 cms deep with a smooth slope (not vertical) to the edge and a fat rounded lip.
It is a dull black and not shiney with a slightly rough dull finish.
Also a slightly larger one the same design as the above, in the front garden in a very open spot on the "lawn" area again.
Both are well used, although initially the birds avoided them.
There is also a more traditional terracotta coloured plastic one smaller and deeper, that is used but not as well used as the shallower one.
Especially smaller birds, which do drink from it but would need water wings to bathe.
I read somewhere that birds are shy of black bird baths as they see a black hole and not a bath.
But placing pebbles apparently helps them to see it better.
Which does seem to make a mockery of your efforts Joyce, as you have done what you are supposed to?
Just to rub it in, another favourite spot for bathing and drinking are on top of a ground level concrete drain cover. Nuthatches, Dunnock, and various members of the tit family all favour the little dips where the handles for lifting it are.
I have seen them trying to bathe in them when there are two smaller saucers there,
They are plastic plant saucers 6 cms and 9 cms on the same drain cover which is by the way, sited near a garden wall with plant cover nearby....
They do use them to bathe in when the handle dips are low or empty.
Must be a conspiracy
As you say Fairygirl. no accounting for taste. A bit like the wonderful Avocado bathroom suites of days of yore!