Tips for Buying a Birdbath

Interest in birdbaths and water features in the backyard landscape is growing. Many birders say that it is much more fun to watch birds bathe than it is to watch them sit on a feeder and stuff their beaks.

When shopping for a birdbath, look for three key features:

1. The bathing basin should be less than 3 inches (8 cm) deep—and you should fill it with only 2 inches (5 cm) of water. Most songbirds won’t bathe in water that’s any deeper than that; they prefer to hunker down in a depth that barely reaches the bottoms of their bellies.

2. Make sure the bottom of the bathing basin has a rough surface. Many birdbath bottoms are often too slick to provide secure footing for birds, especially when a coat of algae forms on submerged surfaces. If you can find only a smooth surface basin, rough it up with sandpaper or the claws of a hammer (for plastic basins only!) before filling it with water.

3. Make sure the basin fits securely on the pedestal and won’t be subject to tipping by thirsty dogs, raccoons, deer, or, in wilder reaches, bears. No one wants to pick up an overturned birdbath every morning, and few folks want to replace a broken basin every time in thirsty critter tries to scale the pedestal.

You can search for a one-piece birdbath, or you could use a waterproof adhesive to attach the basin to the pedestal. Also, weight the base or sink it in the ground to minimize tipping over.

Read more: Nature, Nature & Wildlife

Adapted from Natural Gardening for Birds by Julie Zickefoose and the Editors and Writers of Bird Watcher's Digest. Copyright (c) 2001 by Bird Watcher's Digest. Reprinted by permission of Rodale Press.
Adapted from Natural Gardening for Birds by Julie Zickefoose and the Editors and Writers of Bird Watcher's Digest.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Donna H.

3:04AM PDT on Mar 28, 2012

Thanks for the info.

send a green star

Brenda T.

11:30AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

Thanks .

Robert O.

12:44AM PDT on Aug 12, 2011

Thanks for the tips Annie!

Michele W.

9:24AM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

Thank you

Jeremiah T.

6:36PM PDT on Apr 10, 2010

*I love the bird the that picture he's adorable ! ! !

6:34PM PDT on Apr 10, 2010

naww I love those birds in that picture they're adorable ! ! !

Judith C.

8:26PM PST on Feb 22, 2010

You can put rocks in the birdbath to lessen the water level and make it really attractive to birds to come & drink.

Monica D.

5:11PM PST on Feb 10, 2010

Thank you for these tips. The photo is great too.

Philippa P.

11:40PM PST on Jan 19, 2010

Thanks for the article. I'm adding a bird bath to my little wildbird corner of the balcony. I have several couples that return to me year after year; and, I just love watching them.

Mary D.

1:19AM PST on Dec 4, 2009

this time of the year when it is very cold, and the temperature goes to freezing, it time to make sure that your birds can get to water, i put out my birdbath, every day, and refill my bird feeders, at night i bring them all in, and clean the birdbath ready for the next day, i am rewarded by watching all varieties of birds comming into my garden for a drink and a feed, i do it at the same time every day, and as soon as i put them out, the birds are there, its like they know, or get to know when you are going to give them food, i especailly love the two robin red breasts, and my woodpigeons, and my blackbirds, in the summer their bird song is wonderful to hear,