I have a similar problem. I have a kind of birdbath/mini pond thing that is 20cm deep with pebbles and shells to make a shore, but it's the wrong shape and there are too many cats around for birds to feel safe. The prefer crappy shed guttering which seems to be the right depth for them and where they can see across the shed roof for dangers. I have kind of given up on the tub as a birdbath; it also fails as a pond so use it now as a water feature.
The lid of one the waterbuts seem to be popular with birds as it collects rainwater, is shallow and tucked away in a hedge. Despite all my efforts, that seems to be as succesful as I have got, by mistake, in providing water for birds.
I'm trying to visualise your bird bath @Joyce Goldenlily. If the planter is 12 inches deep and the water is 3-4 inches deep, plus some cobbles, then I suspect that the birds don't like being enclosed by that difference in height. The open vista to spot likely predators is probably important for them.
You have made it more clear, I didn't quite understand the shape and perspective of the depth. I agree if what you have described is correct, they cannot see what is coming so won't use it. Sorry is that right @Joyce Goldenlily, and if there are cats around and they know it, they are going to be even less likely to use it. One alarm call from a bird will put the other birds off too.
We had a blackbird using our inherited one, only yesterday. Two robins today. I always used wide, shallow plant pot saucers in the garden, and filled them with water, especially in summer. We used to have large groups of sparrows in our old garden, plus other individuals, all using it.
I like your idea @Plantminded, so may move our second one, to a border, once we have made a few changes.
We have a large terracotta-coloured plastic plant saucer at ground level, a little way away from the feeders and the hedge. The water is no more than an inch or so deep, and it gets used frequently as a bath as well as for drinking. A delight last spring was watching a sparrow family learning how to bathe; five babies all sitting on the rim out of the water, flapping their wings like Mum (who was doing it properly, getting wet).
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I shelled out a year or so ago and bought a bright blue glazed porcelain shallow birdbath/pot saucer then found out that apparently birds don't like the colour blue. I'm not sure I've seen any birds use it for either drinking or washing but it may be too near the house/back garden steps.
I like it anyway.
I have two other birdbaths, one on a pedestal behind a bush and under a tree which the blackbirds and robins like. The other one is just a big plastic pot saucer placed on the side of some steps with a nearby hydrangea for cover and some pebbles inside to perch on. They seem to like this one best for washing.
The general consensus seems to be my water is still too deep so more gravel is going in. The bowl part was sold as a shallow planter, I can only imagine succulents and cacti would survive because the shallow depth is not enough for "ordinary" plants. The base was sold as a container, ridiculous shape, like an ice cream cornet with the tip of the cone cut off flat. As far as I was concerned, planted up, one puff of wind and it would fall over, so I turned it upside down and put the shallow planter on top of it, on the base. Much more stable.
I shelled out a year or so ago and bought a bright blue glazed porcelain shallow birdbath/pot saucer then found out that apparently birds don't like the colour blue.
My birds seem fine with blue. Mine is a mid-blue colour. They avoided a temporary black one I had out for a day or two, but the blue gets well used.
Done it! I have just reorganized my super duper bird bath. Moved it nearer the feeder and used a whole bag of gravel to lift the water level. My guesstimate of water depth was a bit out, it was almost 4 ins. I also emptied, cleaned and refilled the blue ceramic dish. To give the birds a choice! I must be mad. I now wait with bated breath to see hundreds, well, a few birds showing their appreciation of my efforts. There is so much water around down here the birds really do not need to use bird baths, the rivers, ponds, lakes, clay pits etc., are full to overflowing, plenty of puddles everywhere. It is horrible outside today, we have had a heavy grey fog with rain all day. If I said there was a queue of birds lined up with their towels and bars of soap and face flannels, no one would believe me. No, I thought not. Here's hoping. I wonder if they would like a modesty shower curtain? No, don't even go there Joyce! I will be offering them cushioned toilet paper next.
Posts
I agree if what you have described is correct, they cannot see what is coming so won't use it.
Sorry is that right @Joyce Goldenlily, and if there are cats around and they know it, they are going to be even less likely to use it. One alarm call from a bird will put the other birds off too.
I always used wide, shallow plant pot saucers in the garden, and filled them with water, especially in summer. We used to have large groups of sparrows in our old garden, plus other individuals, all using it.
I like your idea @Plantminded, so may move our second one, to a border, once we have made a few changes.
I'm not sure I've seen any birds use it for either drinking or washing but it may be too near the house/back garden steps.
I like it anyway.
I have two other birdbaths, one on a pedestal behind a bush and under a tree which the blackbirds and robins like. The other one is just a big plastic pot saucer placed on the side of some steps with a nearby hydrangea for cover and some pebbles inside to perch on. They seem to like this one best for washing.
The bowl part was sold as a shallow planter, I can only imagine succulents and cacti would survive because the shallow depth is not enough for "ordinary" plants. The base was sold as a container, ridiculous shape, like an ice cream cornet with the tip of the cone cut off flat. As far as I was concerned, planted up, one puff of wind and it would fall over, so I turned it upside down and put the shallow planter on top of it, on the base. Much more stable.
I have just reorganized my super duper bird bath. Moved it nearer the feeder and used a whole bag of gravel to lift the water level. My guesstimate of water depth was a bit out, it was almost 4 ins. I also emptied, cleaned and refilled the blue ceramic dish. To give the birds a choice! I must be mad.
I now wait with bated breath to see hundreds, well, a few birds showing their appreciation of my efforts.
There is so much water around down here the birds really do not need to use bird baths, the rivers, ponds, lakes, clay pits etc., are full to overflowing, plenty of puddles everywhere. It is horrible outside today, we have had a heavy grey fog with rain all day.
If I said there was a queue of birds lined up with their towels and bars of soap and face flannels, no one would believe me. No, I thought not. Here's hoping. I wonder if they would like a modesty shower curtain? No, don't even go there Joyce! I will be offering them cushioned toilet paper next.