Bird Baths

I bought one of the RSPB ones earlier this year .. after a couple of months of not using it, it seems to finally attracted some birds. I have seen the collared doves, a robin and a couple of blue tits and a dunnock use it in the last week.

I suspect it wont be in constant use, as both neighbours have ponds with waterfall features, from previous experiance, they seem to rather a shower! ;o)

Ant

No-one seems to have asked what sort of bird bath you have.  If it is the resin type I think they find it very slippy and can't get a grip so are reluctant to take the plunge so to speak.  I have put large pebbles in mine and it now attracts a wide variety of different sizes of birds, but they still much prefer the old concrete one, which I was going to dispose of thinking it was unhygienic.  I now have to scrub it regularly with disinfectant, but it attracts blackbirds every day and crowds of sparrows who all sit around and have a shower when the annoyed blackbird is trying to have its bath in peace!

We have a couple of seed trays, flower pot bases and I think even a cat litter tray (unused!!!) which all get plenty of visitors. The water is topped up whenever the starlings have chucked it all out.

We have the RSPB plastic one that is popular, and a stone bath that the birds love.

Now I have noticed that the Wood Pigeons sit in the plastic bath and leave a few presents - much to my annoyance as it messes up the bath.each and every time.

The stone bath is by our window and the birds love to use this one as it is Wood Pigeon free.

I have also seen the birds drink from the guttering in next doors conservatory - and that defeats the purpose all together of having any bird baths in the garden area..

Regards

Kathy and Dave

I have had a metal pedestal bird bath in the garden for seven years and only this year have they started using it. It needs cleaning but when I do they leave it alone until algea has grown back in it lol. They prefer when I hose the concrete part where the dogs run and water settles in the middle of a dip and they flock in it :) and as for starlings drinking in the guttering we have them bathing in next doors so if Im hanging clothes out guess who gets a soaking lol

Sue

Yesterday I was up and down the garden every half hour refilling my 3 bird baths guess thats the price you pay for having starlings :-)

Blackbird we have a woodpigeon who sits in our larger bird bath and has a good soak lay on his side with one wing in the air lol.

 Chris S.

Hi ChrisS

I agree, that  Woodpigeons are funny when they do have a bath.   They clean their armpits at the same time, and let the feathers dry naturally.

Starlings love their communal bath together, and they do it in mass crowds of birds.

Regards

Kathy and Dave

I have a single pedestal bird bath made from reconstituted stone and can refill it from the garden hose as many as five times a day. I'm just south of Edinburgh and our water is very soft so I guess that helps?