Bird bath advice please (1 Viewer)

[helenol]

I bought a second birdbath which looks very nice, but it's a little too deep. It was an impulse buy...

I have placed some gravel stuff in it, to bring the water level up slightly, but the birds still seem reluctant to bathe in it. They all sit round the edge drinking the water, with only the odd one bathing.

Should I cut my losses and buy another one, or is there anything else I could place in it to raise the water level?

Thanks

 

[birdman]

How about an old plate or saucer?

 

[pduxon]

Birdbath is next on the agenda for me along with a bird table.

My temporary measure to give the chaps something to drink from was an ice cube tray - don't laugh!! - the blackbirds use it!!

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I bought a second birdbath which looks very nice, but it's a little too deep. It was an impulse buy...

I have placed some gravel stuff in it, to bring the water level up slightly, but the birds still seem reluctant to bathe in it. They all sit round the edge drinking the water, with only the odd one bathing.

Should I cut my losses and buy another one, or is there anything else I could place in it to raise the water level?

Thanks

It does take a little while sometimes for birds to get used to something new, so I wouldn't give up hope yet. In the meantime, as an alternative you could offer a couple of large plastic plantpot saucers - these are shallow enough, and might give the birds some confidence to step right inside. They won't break the bank either!

 

[Marmot]

I would get the gravel and make it in a slight sloping ramp in the water from the outside edge, so they can gradually walk into the water at a depth they feel comfortable with.
We have had our quite a few years now and it seems to go in phases between getting used for drinking and for bathing. I normally find if you get a Starling using it for bathing it is normally followed in by another three Starlings the other Birds them seem to get the idea of this alternative use from them :--)

 

[IanF]

I'd be inclined to remove the gravel as our birds seem to prefer shallow flat bottomed dishes or puddles rather than the uneven gravel to stand on.

Then either put less water in the bird bath or use a largish stone as has been suggested above to give shallow and deeper areas. I'd leave some deeper areas for the larger birds like Starlings, Magpies and Collared Doves.

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

I should think you are a bit confused by now Helen!!! How deep is the bath, in fact? Anyway, I still recommend a couple of plastic plant pot saucers, about 10 inches across.

 

[helenol]

Thanks to you all for the advice.

Elizabeth, it's only about 2half inches deep, but the sides don't gradually slope down.

Anyway, I placed a clear pyrex type dish into it, so that the birds can jump from the sides onto the dish.

I told you, it was an impulse buy....

 

[rogerscoth]

Thanks to you all for the advice.

Elizabeth, it's only about 2half inches deep, but the sides don't gradually slope down.

Anyway, I placed a clear pyrex type dish into it, so that the birds can jump from the sides onto the dish.

I told you, it was an impulse buy....

Helen, I've just measured our stone(re-constructed) bird-bath, and it is 2.75ins. deep with a flat bottom surface at 11ins. diameter without any stones or bricks in it. Most of our garden visitors enjoy a drink and a bath - e.g. House Sparrows, all Finches, Blackbirds, Starlings and Collared Doves. Some turn round on the edge and go to the toilet in the water (after they have had a drink)!
The only problems are the weight when I take the top part off to clean it, and the algae is quite stubborn.

Roger

PS I had just cleaned and re-filled the bird-bath before I took this picture a few minutes ago (the convenience of digital!), and as you can see I cannot get rid of the algae stain.

 

[helenol]

Roger, that's the one!!

Am I being slightly paranoid then in thinking the juvenile blue/great tits will drown in it? I guess I am...

I wasn't far off with my guess at how deep it was then.

Thanks very much for your reply.

 

[pauco]

I bought a second birdbath which looks very nice, but it's a little too deep. It was an impulse buy...

I have placed some gravel stuff in it, to bring the water level up slightly, but the birds still seem reluctant to bathe in it. They all sit round the edge drinking the water, with only the odd one bathing.

Should I cut my losses and buy another one, or is there anything else I could place in it to raise the water level?

Thanks

Some waterwings:-O :-O

 

[rogerscoth]

Roger, that's the one!!

Am I being slightly paranoid then in thinking the juvenile blue/great tits will drown in it? I guess I am...

I wasn't far off with my guess at how deep it was then.

Thanks very much for your reply.

Helen, Never underestimate the resilience of birds (and other wildlife), they mostly survive in this tough old world, but sometimes one will unfortunately perish.

Roger

 

[helenol]

Well, I've finally solved the problem once and for all. I bought a terracotta plantpot saucer (£6.99) and bunged it on top of an old base I found in the garden. The birds certainly seem happier with this set up.

 

[pduxon]

oh bless the little devils!!

 

[Elizabeth Bigg]

Well done, Helen.

 

[rogerscoth]

Helen,
Your birds seem happy with the new water feature. Living proof of the saying - "if at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again"

Roger

 

[helenol]

Thanks folks.

Yes the birds certainly appear happy enough with the current set up.

 

[songbird6666]

Coo, I'm glad I don't live up your way - I was looking at the plant saucers the other day because I thought they would make a nice birdbath - but they were only £3 in B&Q - I still didn't buy one though! (Tight or what - I thought nah, my old birdbath is okay really!)

 

[helenol]

Songbird, yeah, the cost of living is somewhat higher down here....

Ahh well,....

 

[helenol]

Coo, I'm glad I don't live up your way - I was looking at the plant saucers the other day because I thought they would make a nice birdbath - but they were only £3 in B&Q - I still didn't buy one though! (Tight or what - I thought nah, my old birdbath is okay really!)

Yes, but don't you think this is £6.99 well spent?