Bird Bath : Summer Special

A bird bath is an artificial puddle or small shallow pond, created with a water-filled basin, in which birds may drink, bathe, and cool themselves. A bird bath can be a garden ornament, small reflecting pool, outdoor sculpture, and part of creating a vital wildlife garden.

A bird bath is an attraction for many different species of birds to visit gardens, especially during the summer and drought periods.Bird baths that provide a reliable source of water year round add to the popularity and "micro-habitat" support

Bird baths can be pre-made basins on pedestals and columns or hang from leaves and trees, or be carved out depressions in rocks and boulders. Requirements include: a shallow gradually deepening basin; open surroundings to minimize cats' stalking; clean and renewed-refilled water; and cleaning to avoid contamination and mosquitoes.

Two inches of water in the center is sufficient for most backyard birds, because they do not submerge their bodies, only dipping their wings to splash water on their backs. Deeper or wide basins can have "perch islands" in the water, which can also help discourage feline predators.

Elevation on a pedestal is a common safety measure, providing a clear area around the bird bath that is free of hiding locations for predators. A bird feeder can complement a bird bath to encourage birds to linger and return.

The traditional bird bath is made of molded concrete or glazed terra cotta formed in two pieces: the bowl and the pedestal. The bowl has an indentation or socket in the base which allows it to fit on the pedestal. The pedestal is typically about one meter tall.

Both bowl and pedestal can be clean or decorated with bas-relief. Bowls can be pure curved geometry, or have motifs of a shell or pseudo-rocky spring. The pedestal can also be a simple silhouette or incorporate decorations. Birds seem unconcerned with the aesthetics,
with even a shallow plate, pie-tin, or puddle below a slowly dripping water outlet used.

Maintenance
A bird bath requires regular maintenance. A variety of methods and substances may be used to clean a bird bath, including small quantities of bleach, oregano or olive oil, or commercially available, non-toxic cleaning products. Maintenance for some bird baths may be as simple as a daily quick wash and refill, but it will depend on the bird bath materials. This is important because of the possible adverse
health effects of birds drinking dirty water, or water which may have become fouled with excrement, mosquito larvae, algae, or fungi.

Fresh water is important. Concrete bird baths tend to become mossy and, therefore, slippery—requiring an occasional scrubbing out with a stiff brush. Plastic or resin bird baths, on the other hand, may only need to be drained, wiped down with a towel and refilled.

Mosquitoes and mosquito larvae may be the most serious potential health risk caused by poor bird bath maintenance. To prevent mosquito larvae, change the bird bath water weekly to interrupt their 7-10 day breeding cycle, or use a water aerator to break up the still water surface that mosquitoes require to lay eggs.

Garden design
Bird baths often are the central feature of an overall plan for a garden setting that includes natural nectar and food plants, shrubs, trees, and feeders. They often are placed where they may be viewed through the windows of a home, school, or office. They also may be placed on a small patio, deck, or terrace which is designed carefully to provide for the safety of the birds by eliminating access by
predators. Deck mounted birdbaths are popular for people that do not have much yard space or live in a building with no yard, but do have a balcony or deck. These types of birdbaths can be mounted directly to a deck rail, thereby eliminating any floor space use.

Type of Birdbath You Can Have
1. Table Leg Stand Bath
A simple and easy design, this bird bath stands on a recycled table or chair leg. Either use a screw, nail, or glue to fasten a bowl
to the top of an old leg, and you can have your own creation in your garden!

2.Glass Lampshade Bath
This Bird bath will bring elegance to any garden, A delicate glass bowl sits high upon a thin pole. Use an old fashioned glass lampshade, or even a decorative bowl would do the trick.

3. Concrete Bird Bath
An ingenious use of a simple leaf casting technique, this bird bath looks amazing and is easy to create on your own! Simply use a large leaf to press down over a mound of wet concrete, let it dry, peel the leaf off, and voila! You have “solid” proof of your craftsmanship!