Next, add equal parts of dirt, sand, and ash into the frame and rake the mixture evenly. Line the hole with a heavy-duty plastic liner and poke drain holes in it. A dust bath can also be created by nailing four 3-foot pieces of 1 x 6-inch lumber together and placing them over a hole 6 inches deep. One way to create a dust bath area is to scrape vegetation away from a 3 x 3-foot sunny area and disturb the soil. When a dust bath becomes muddy, it is still valuable as a source of mud for nest builders such as the robin, purple martin, and barn swallow, besides being a place for butterflies to gather nutrients. Birds including sparrows, wrens, quail, brown thrasher, larks, and some raptors enjoy the ritual of dusting their feathers, which helps absorb excess oils and discourages parasites such as mites.
Keep birdbaths away from bird feeders so that birds don’t deposit seeds or droppings in the water.ĭust baths also help birds maintain their feathers. Provide a source of moving water to attract the greatest diversity of birds. You should occasionally clean the birdbath with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach. Algae, droppings, and wind-blown debris can quickly turn the contents of a birdbath into germ-infested slush. Clean the birdbath daily using a plastic scouring pad. It should also have a rough bottom for safe footholds. A birdbath should have a dry edge around the perimeter and should gradually slope to a depth of 1 or 2 inches in the center. Mount birdbaths 3 feet above the ground and locate them in shade approximately 10 feet from protective cover. Heaters should only be used in ceramic or concrete bowls plastic bowls will melt. If you do not want to refill the birdbath daily during the winter, you might invest in a heater than can be inserted into the water. Birds will use the water both to drink and to clean their feathers. In many cases, your birdbath may be the only unfrozen source of fresh water in the local area. and in early evening.Īlthough providing water in winter months can be difficult, it is more critical than at other times of the year. Minimize cost and wasted water by installing a timer at your hose outlet and setting it for when birds are most active – between sunrise and 10 a.m. The best design should include a thin jet of water that shoots vertically into overhanging tree branches and then drips back into the bath.īy attaching an inexpensive mister to your garden hose, you will see a different variety of birds on your lawn. Thin metal birdbaths magnify the sound of falling water droplets, which birds find irresistible. One way is to drip misting water from overhanging leaves, nozzles, or containers into a birdbath. 
But you can achieve the same effect in several ways. Although a natural stream would be ideal, most people don’t have such a luxury in their yards. A 1- to 2-inch depth is best.īirds are especially attracted to moving water.
Birds prefer water depth to increase gradually from edges. In fact, birds will not bathe in some store-bought birdbaths because the sides are too steep. An inexpensive upside-down garbage can lid will work just as well as a commercial birdbath. Water is a great attraction for birds and can be offered in any wildscape in a shallow receptacle.
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