How To Keep Birds Visiting The Garden Without Relying On Seeds

Do you love having feathery visitors in your yard, but have just about had it with the bird feeder? Between sweeping up messy hulls and constantly pulling up accidentally sown sunflowers or millet, it could just start to feel like more trouble than it's worth. Before you resign yourself to a birdless backyard, take a second to think about another thing they might be looking for besides food: Water. By offering a source of fresh drinking and bathing water, you can still make your yard a desirable destination for your local and migratory birds, without the messy feeders. This can be especially effective and valuable to birds and other wildlife if you live in a dry, arid region.

So what do birds look for when scoping out a potential spot to drink or bathe? They are often drawn to ground-level water sources. This makes sense when you consider that birds tend to drink from puddles. Additionally, if you're hoping to attract ground birds, keeping the water low makes it more accessible for them. Safety is also a paramount concern for birds, so the landscape around the bird bath is crucial. They need to be able to easily spot potential predators and make a quick getaway. A perch situated near the water can provide a good vantage point, as well as a nice spot to rest and preen wet feathers. Nearby trees or shrubbery can provide much-needed cover, and the shade can also help keep the water from evaporating.

You might be tempted to just buy a concrete bird bath from your local hardware store, but if you really want to draw in thirsty birds, you'll need to put a little bit more thought into how you present a source of drinking water. In fact, some of the downsides to consider before adding a bird bath to your yard revolve around these store-bought baths. For example, many traditional concrete basin-and-pedestal baths are often too deep and have thick edges that may not be especially comfortable perches. Instead, you can actually repurpose objects you might have lying around for a container. A garbage can lid will do, as will a flower pot saucer or a cake pan. Fill the container with two or three inches of fresh water and a few stones or sticks for the birds to stand on.

Although it's quite easy to set up a birdbath, you'll still need to keep up with some routine maintenance to help keep birds healthy — and keep them coming back. Stale, nasty water can entice mosquitoes instead of birds and can also transmit certain avian viruses. Give the water a refresh every two days. You can also wash the bird bath with one part vinegar to nine parts water. Also, stagnant water is your enemy. Moving water tends to deter mosquitoes and make the water more attractive to birds. Try adding a fountain or other device to create some agitation.