In summer, leaving out a fresh water source for birds, often via a bird bath, is one of the easiest ways to support them. However, wildlife experts have revealed three places you should never put a bird bath, and where it should be positioned instead.
If you want to attract birds and other garden wildlife, many experts preach the importance of having a fresh water source, so birds can drink, bathe and cool down easily. Essentially, if you want to help birds in hot weather, you need a bird bath.
But just as bird feeder placement is important, the placement of a bird bath can make the difference between birds using it or not. And putting your bath in one of these three places can be a big bird bath mistake.
What you need
Fallen Fruits
Ceramic Bird Bath, Grey
Oypla
Oypla Traditional Ornamental Pedestal Garden Water Bird Bath (bronze)
B&Q
Terrastyle Glazed Bird bath (H)48cm
1. Directly under trees
While it may be tempting to put a bird bath directly under trees, due to the shade potential, this can actually create more problems for birds.
‘Leaves, twigs, berries and bird droppings quickly find their way into the water, causing it to become dirty and potentially encouraging the growth of bacteria and algae,’ says Danny Yeoman, wild bird expert for Pets Corner and developer of Peter & Paul Wild Bird Foods.
‘Trees can also provide convenient perches for larger birds, which may result in the bath becoming contaminated more quickly. A little shade is beneficial, particularly during hot weather, but I would position a bird bath close to a tree rather than directly underneath it.’
2. Next to dense shrubs
Another mistake is to place your bird bath too close to dense shrubs, which could be housing potential predators, such as cats.
‘It’s important that birds feel safe when drinking and bathing, as these are both vulnerable times for them. A bath that is positioned too close to dense cover can make it easier for predators to approach unnoticed, reducing the time birds have to react and escape,’ explains James Ewens, wildlife expert at Green Feathers.
However, birds don’t like being too exposed, so you don’t want to put your bath in a completely open area, such as your lawn. Instead, it should be placed a few feet away from shrubbery, so birds can retreat when they need to.
3. In direct sunlight
Lastly, you should avoid placing a bird bath in direct sunlight. In hot weather, the water can heat up too much, becoming undesirable to birds. It can also encourage excess growth of algae, which is not only unsightly but is also unhygienic and harmful to birds.
‘A little sunshine is absolutely fine, but a bird bath that spends the entire day baking in direct sunlight can quickly become less appealing,’ says Danny.
‘Water evaporates faster, algae can grow more readily, and the bath may require constant topping up during hot spells. A position that receives morning sunshine and some shade later in the day is often ideal. It helps keep the water cooler and fresher for longer.’
Where to put a bird bath
‘The ideal bird bath is positioned where birds can easily spot approaching danger, where the water remains reasonably cool and where it can be cleaned and refilled regularly,’ says Danny.
‘If you provide fresh water in a safe location, you’ll often be surprised by how many species visit. Blackbirds, robins, sparrows, starlings, thrushes and even birds that rarely visit feeders will often stop by for a drink or a bath. Food may attract birds to your garden, but clean water is often what keeps them coming back.’
You want to put your bird bath somewhere that is both safe and private for birds to retreat to.
But don’t forget to make sure you can see your bird bath from your garden seating areas – it would be a shame to miss witness visiting birds enjoying it!
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