The Main Reason Feathered Friends Are Avoiding Your Garden Bird Bath
Birds are known for their love of splashing in and enjoying bird baths. This can make it confusing and disappointing if they show no interest in a bathing spot you've lovingly put up in your yard for them. While it's possible the bird bath is simply too deep, isn't clean enough, or needs more movement to attract the birds, one of the biggest reasons birds may be ignoring your bath is because it lacks a preening perch.
A preening perch is a spot for birds to groom and oil their feathers after they have finished bathing. Almost all birds preen themselves after bathing, so it's essential that they have a safe place near their bath or other water source for performing this ritual. If they don't have a spot to preen without the threat of predators, then they may just avoid your bird bath entirely. Luckily, creating a preening spot isn't difficult. It shouldn't be long before birds are benefiting your garden with their friendly visits.
Creating a preening spot for birds
The easiest way to ensure your local birds have a preening perch near your bird bath is to simply set up the bath under a tree with conveniently accessible branches, or near a large shrub. This gives the birds a perfect spot to dry off and ensure their feathers are well oiled and groomed. Be sure there are branches high enough up that birds are out of easy reach to cats and other predatory threats. If you don't have an appropriate tree in your yard, consider planting one. Alternatively, you could try providing the birds with a tree-like sculpture or large trellis or fence to perch on.
If birds are still steering clear of your bird bath even after you've ensured they have a good preening perch available, you may need to consider other factors. Make sure your bird bath isn't too deep. It should ideally be just 1 or 2 inches in some parts. It is also important to have a clean bird bath. If birds still seem uninterested, consider making an outdoor fountain or other feature with moving water to help catch the attention of the local avian population.