I see them bathe in so many sites when you think - there's a nice pond or area of water nearby... Dirty puddles on a road is always a favourite.
We have large potholes at the end of our lane which seem to always have a few birds splashing in them. Also where I walk the dog, the local village green, there is a track to the entrance with puddles where I always disturb sparrows bathing. I wonder if water temperature has something to do with it?
I asked my daughter if she had ever seen any birds bathing here. She said that they did enjoy a bath in the little river that runs over our front yard after rain (often) as they could sit on the edge of the gravel and dabble about. She's seen them as she's been out there a lot recently doing woodwork, but my windows all look out to the rear of the house, the terrace and birdfeeders.
Birds might be skipping your bird bath for a few reasons. Even though it sounds nice, they might find it too deep or not feel safe enough due to its height and openness.
Try making the water shallower and maybe moving the bath lower or closer to cover, like bushes, so they feel safer.
Also, birds love things that feel natural, so ensuring it blends in more with the surroundings could help. Sometimes, it just takes them a bit to get used to something new, so keep trying different tweaks before giving up!
I got this monstrosity in my garden (it was a gift!) and as a rule the odd pigeon drinks from it and that is all. But last summer the starlings came and brought their chicks, and as you can see they had a riot!
Thanks everyone for your suggestions and ideas. I am going to put a shallow dish on the slabs at the edge of the pond as a final effort. I have seen one or two sparrows sitting on top of planters having a drink. My concern was my cat being able to reach them. Then it will be a case of wait and see. I rarely have pigeons or starlings in my garden, they seem to prefer hanging out around the chicken run in my neighbour's garden.
I always know when the starlings have been in the pond - a nice oil slick on the top!
Eeew!
I checked my deluxe ablution facilities and it was empty! I must have made a hole in the pond liner. I made a shallow hollow in the middle of the gravel, put a shallow ceramic dish into it and filled it with water. So far I have not seen any takers. So ungrateful.
My garden birds seem to have a routine of taking their baths just as the sun is going down. There was a wren in my paint tray a few minutes ago. So it might be that you're just not watching at the right time! My garden wren likes to make a circuit of the property at sundown too, like it's checking that everything's switched off before it goes to bed.
I always know when the starlings have been in the pond - a nice oil slick on the top!
Eeew!
I checked my deluxe ablution facilities and it was empty! I must have made a hole in the pond liner. I made a shallow hollow in the middle of the gravel, put a shallow ceramic dish into it and filled it with water. So far I have not seen any takers. So ungrateful.
Very ungrateful aren't they?
I seem to have a leak in my pond liner - I think it's the pigeons, because they go in the shallow bit, but they constantly peck....B*ggers. Another job for later in the year. I was reminded of this thread earlier today, when a dunnock was enjoying a bath in the gutter on the neighbour's garage. I took a photo but haven't uploaded it yet. Re your earlier comment - that might be water temperature right enough, although the shallows of my pond heat up very easily. I remember watching 3 young sparrows last year all enjoying it. I was only about 6 feet away from them, but they were blissfully unconcerned The [current] resident Blackie was in there a couple of days ago
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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I wonder if water temperature has something to do with it?
Try making the water shallower and maybe moving the bath lower or closer to cover, like bushes, so they feel safer.
Also, birds love things that feel natural, so ensuring it blends in more with the surroundings could help. Sometimes, it just takes them a bit to get used to something new, so keep trying different tweaks before giving up!
Interesting user name....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Then it will be a case of wait and see. I rarely have pigeons or starlings in my garden, they seem to prefer hanging out around the chicken run in my neighbour's garden.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Eeew!
So ungrateful.
I seem to have a leak in my pond liner - I think it's the pigeons, because they go in the shallow bit, but they constantly peck....B*ggers. Another job for later in the year.
I was reminded of this thread earlier today, when a dunnock was enjoying a bath in the gutter on the neighbour's garage. I took a photo but haven't uploaded it yet.
Re your earlier comment - that might be water temperature right enough, although the shallows of my pond heat up very easily. I remember watching 3 young sparrows last year all enjoying it. I was only about 6 feet away from them, but they were blissfully unconcerned
The [current] resident Blackie was in there a couple of days ago
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...