Birdfeeders

There are so many ideas for birdbaths! Of course, there are many styles of beautiful and functional birdbaths on the market, but any shallow container can become a birdbath. All birds visiting your bird feeders also need water for drinking and for bathing, so offering a birdbath is just another way to make your yard more bird friendly. We have two in our yard. One is attached to the deck railing about 4 feet off the ground and seems to be preferred by finches, woodpeckers, orioles and jays. Right on the ground, we have a clay dish - the red kind that a planter sits in. The mourning doves love it as well as towhees, juncos and many others. They are both used so much that I need to clean out and refill them daily. As soon as I have filled them, there is lots of splashing and bathing activity. Another inexpensive item to use is an upside down aluminum garbage can lid. Maybe add a few rocks and pebbles to make this large birdbath a little more bird friendly. Whatever you use, just be sure that it isn’t slippery, should have a gradual slope and never be more than 3 inches deep. It is best to have a perch nearby to preen on.