Plant Gardens 101

Nature’s bird bath is a simple puddle, so the best bird baths imitating these simple puddles have been replicated by man in popular, various forms of bird baths. Bird baths should be round with a flat bottom and gently sloping sides, and should be no deeper than three inches, the shapes that birds love in their simple water puddles.

Bird baths are utilized to attract birds and other small animals to visible locations, usually in the yards and gardens of home owners in order that the home owners and their guests may enjoy the presence of such wildlife. Birdbaths built on pedestals are popular in home gardens for this purpose. An ideal size of a birdbath should weigh about six to seven pounds and should be approximately seventeen to eighteen inches in diameter. This size will be sturdy enough to keep it from blowing over in moderate wind. Pedestal bird baths come in a variety of decorative shapes and different colors from which to choose. Pedestal bird baths are generally not solid, one piece units, rather a two-piece unit consisting of a basin and and a pedestal. To assemble one only has to simply turn the basin onto the pedestal. The two piece pedestal bird baths are easier to handle as they are not as heavy and are easier to transport as well.

There are other types of bird baths besides the pedestal style. Today, bird baths are made of all sorts of materials, including stone, concrete, metal and resin and can have many features, including heaters, fountains, water drippers and misters. We have several bird baths in our garden and was amazed one day to discover several birds splashing happily in the water of an old trash can lid that had blown into our garden during a storm the night before. We have never bothered to remove the lid and months later the birds continue to enjoy themselves on a daily basis.

When deciding where to locate your bird bath it is important, if possible, to provide some protection for your feathered friends. Branches hanging a few feet above the bird bath water will give birds a place to escape in the event a predator makes an appearance.

A great resource site for bird baths is: http://cici-online.com

Bird baths should be emptied and cleaned when needed. Various locations will determine the frequency of cleaning, for example, a bird bath under a tree will need a more frequent cleaning due to leaves from the tree having fallen into the bird bath. When one cleans a bird bath it should be done by scrubbing it with a coarse pad with bleach solution and dried well before being refilled. People should wash their hands thoroughly afterwards, since humans and cats can contract salmonella.

Adding a birdbath or pond to your backyard or garden not only serves the birds but can also enhance your landscape. Add the sound of water to your bird bath will attract bird bathers and, in turn, the sounds of those happy bathers will attract even more curious birds.

Ms. CiCi has a gift of teaching, is an accomplished author and world traveler who enjoys sharing her life’s experiences with others, making their life. Her writings expose her wealth of “secret information” so derived from her travels as well as drawing from her own personal wealth of wisdom. Ms. CiCi builds websites to help share her vast knowledge and great experiences. Do take time and visit: http://www.CiCi-Online.com

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Garden bird baths and garden bird feeders are excellent ways to attract wild birds to your garden. Place a bird bath in a quiet part of the garden well away from any bird feeders as birds like a quiet place to bathe and drink.

To keep your birdbath at the correct temperature for your bird visitors to drink or bathe the whole year round you could either buy a bird bath with a heater installed or attach a heater to an unheated birdbath. Birdbaths equipped with heaters either use a cord plugged into an electric outlet or have solar panels to collect the sun’s energy to power the heater. Solar power bird baths are easier to install, are cost free and need very little maintenance. They can collect enough of the sun’s energy to keep your bird bath ice free even on very cold days. In addition to heaters you can also purchase de-icers to keep the water accessible to the birds.

A heated bird bath will usually be longer lasting than an unheated one as constant freezing and melting of the water results in cracks and damage to the concrete, stone or marble materials unless you keep the bird bath empty throughout the colder weather. maintaining the water at a constant temperature will ensure that the bird bath is undamaged and will give your bird visitors warm water to bathe in and to drink all the year round. (more…)

Solar powered bird baths at British Bird Lovers.”>Birds are attracted to water so having a bird bath with a fountain will encourage them to return to your garden again and again. Use solar panels to circulate the water and you are being eco-friendly.

Another of the benefits of using solar panels rather than electricity is that you can be more flexible where you position your bird bath.

Solar powered bird baths often contain a heating element which prevents the water from freezing in the winter.

The solar panels are either integrated in the bird bath or there is a separate panel that you place a short distance away. The solar panels soak energy during the day and use it to pump the fountain or store it in a battery pack for later use. (more…)