Keep Your Home Lively With The Best Bird Baths

If you have taken a look at our suggestions for the top bird baths in 2021 and want something a bit different, you may want to peruse the rest of our buying guide.

Things To Consider When Buying a Bird bath

Attracting varied colored birds to your garden is not easy. While adding bird baths and bird feeders can invite many, you must understand what makes a perfect bird bath. Here, we have narrowed down things that you should consider when buying a bird bath. These includes:

Size

Small bird baths are easy to move and clean and might be your only option for the outdoor space you have. However, they can dry out quickly. 

Larger models are beneficial if you have the space for them because they can accommodate many birds at once. Small bird fountains can cause territorial conflicts but having a larger one makes this less likely. Your backyard birds won't mind sharing that extra space. The downside of having a large bird bath is they are more challenging to clean or move than smaller models.

Appearance

There are many styles of bird baths available and some unique designs you may not have thought could exist. Whatever your taste, there is a bird bath for you. Choosing a bird bath design that you don’t like will make you less inclined to keep it filled and clean. Choose a bath that matches your personality, garden décor, and style preferences to make sure you find it visually appealing, both with or without the presence of birds. Go for hanging bird bath if you have a pet in house, as higher elevation will ensure safety of birds. 

Landscape proportions

Opt for a bird bath that is a suitable and proportional size for your garden space. Although you may like the thought of having an elegant and elaborate bird bath in your small yard, you may find that it takes up too much space for you to maneuver freely around your garden. You may also find that it prevents you from adding anything else to your garden. A large, ornate bird bath fountain might be considered pretentious and out of place in a tiny yard by others. In contrast, a simplistic design can fade into the background in a lush, elaborate garden.

While hanging bird bath can be another option for many who has less garden space, they can also be unstable and may spill or splash as they swing.

Bird comfort 

Ideally, bird baths are designed with birds in mind. For small birds, the narrow edge is a comfortable perch. Bird baths should accommodate tiny talons by offering various textures along the basin. The best basin for birds will be 1-2 inches deep. Some models include both deep and shallow areas of the basin to accommodate backyard birds of different sizes.

Whatever, bird bath design you choose, adding bird feeders alongside with surely invite more birds that you expect.

Water movement

Stagnant water in a basin will not attract as many birds as running water. A bird bath that includes a water spray, mister, dripper, fountain, or bubbler is the best way to attract a wide variety of bird species. 

Mosquitoes are attracted to water (especially still water) and will lay their eggs in it. Moving water reduces the chances of your bird bath becoming a mosquito nursery. Running water also means your bath will develop fewer algae - so you don’t need to clean it as often.

Height

The height of the bird bath should depend on what kinds of local birds visit your garden. Taller baths are better suited to smaller birds as they feel more comfortable having a wider range of view. Larger birds like quail, doves, and ducks  prefer drinking from ground-level basins. For attracting birds of a decent variety, consider buying both a tall bird bath and a ground-level basin.

Cleanliness

The more elaborate the design of your bird bath, the more difficult it will be to keep clean. This is because dirt can collect in the crevices of the bird bath and create a space where moss and other vegetation can grow. To make life easier, you could opt for a concrete bird bath or a basic plastic basin bird bath. Copper bird baths stay naturally cleaner for longer because copper is an algaecide, meaning it does not allow algae to grow.  

Design

The design of the bird bath you choose should reasonably match its environment. For example, there is no point in buying a hanging bird bath if you have nothing sturdy to hang it on. Similarly, only buy a pedestal model if you have even ground to place it on. Alongside, opt for a bird feeder to attract more ground dwelling birds.

Climate

If you live in an area with cold winters, you can buy a heated bird bath to stop water in the basin from freezing over. It will not only attract local birds, they will also appreciate water at this time as it is difficult to find in the wild. However, if you live in a hot climate, you should consider how quickly the water in the bird bath will evaporate. To combat fast evaporation, choose a basin with a large capacity.

Bird Bath Price Range

For a decent-looking bird bath, budget from $25 to $140. This price range will allow you to buy quality bird baths in the style you desire without breaking the bank. If you opt for a simple basin design, you might want to consider adding a spouting fountain. Placing this on top of your bird bath will turn it into a fountain. As mentioned earlier, running water can prevent algae build-up and stop mosquitoes from laying eggs in the bird bath.

How We Chose the Top Quality Bird bath?

To choose the highest-quality bird baths, we compared design with how likely it was for attractting birds. We also judged the bird baths on how easily they were to clean and how much they cost.

Now that you've chosen a great bird bath, you're going to need to know how to attract birds to it. Watch the video below from Wild Bird Center of America to find out how bird bath and bird feeder can attract more birds.