Birds love bathing.
They're not fussy about the types of containers you use as long as the bath is placed near cover and the water isn't too deep.
There are a few things to bear in mind when making your birth bath:
- Birds easily drown so never fill a bird bath more than 5cm (2 inches) deep with water.
- Keep the bird bath clean.
- The inside of the birdbath shouldn't be too smooth and slippery. You can rough it up with sandpaper, or if the bath is plastic, the claws of a hammer.
- It's a good idea to place stones in it, so the smaller birds can still use it and to prevent slipping. Don't use gravel; or sand, they are too easily dirtied.
- It's also best to site the bird bath 100cm (39 inches) above the ground so that the birds can avoid predators. If you can do this, make sure the bird bath is stable.
What you need
- A plastic garbage bin lid, placed in a shallow hole to make sure it doesn't tip over;
- Pot plant saucers;
- A log - (this requires chiselling);
- Old drums;
What you do
- The best bird baths are made of large plastic or terracotta pot plant saucers. You can decorate them with paint, though it's best to paint the outside only. Make sure you wash any rocks or stones before you put them in. You can also make a tiered bird bath but putting a smaller tray upside down inside the big one and another on top of it.
To get it above ground level you can stack pots upside down to achieve the required height. Plastic pots are easier to lift and cheaper. They will have to be glued together for stability. If you have any of the following in your garden you could also rest the bath on it or in it to get it high enough.
- A log;
- An old table;
- The mesh you use to grow vines up, made into a circular stand;
- A hanging basket.
You can also make a dripper using a large plastic soft drink bottle.
- Turn a large clean plastic drink bottle upside down, and make a tiny hole at the bottom with the tip of a thin nail or big needle (you might need parental help here).
- The bottom of the bottle has both thick and thin bits, make sure you find a thin bit to pierce.
- Add water to the bottle then screw on the lid. The water should stream out, and then begin to drip. If it doesn't drip properly, the hole is too big, and you will have to start again with another bottle.
- Tie some string around the neck of the bottle and hang it from a tree above the birdbath. Add an inch or two of water to the bath, and fill the bottle with water.