Visiting The Bird Spa . . .

Chris Fedderson — MacroFine Musings
Kathy Lawler — Guest Blogger
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The "Good Times Day Spa" for birds!

We have had so much rain in Virginia this year.  Saturday was our first day to get outside and finish the yard projects we had been trying to do this year.  This was not only our first chance to enjoy the Spring — due to the crazy number of rainy days — it was also our last chance to enjoy a bit of Spring — before we get into a long hot summer!
 
This year, to add to our Artsy Fartsy plant containers we made last year, we decided to build a birdbath (or bird spa as I like to call it) to add to the fun aesthetics and to enhance our variety and number of visitors!   I built this using terra cotta pots that I spray-painted and stacked.

The finished birdbath stands about 3 1/2 feet and is made up of 5 different sized pots.  Two upside down terra cotta saucers make up the birdbath part of the piece.  Birds do like a shallow-water bath so these saucers worked out quite well.

If you do an internet search for terra cotta birdbaths you will find a surprising number of great ideas and different looks for your pending creation.  Be sure to read about how to finish the terra cotta pots before you begin.

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Come On, Birds.
This is what you'll be looking for.

I also did a bit of reading about what birds like best in a birdbath — unfortunately I read this after I had planned, painted, and constructed my birdbath.  So here are the do’s and don’ts for you to consider when you build a birdbath for your yard.

• Make a shallow one — 2 inches or less

• It should be in the shade (mine didn’t end up there)

• Add a perch in the water to allow birds to get a drink without getting wet.  I added a couple flat rocks in the water for birds to perch on (see the bird’s-eye-view image).

• Keep the birdbath where birds will feel safe — near a fence or bushes is recommended (I got this right… by mistake!)

• It turns out taller isn’t better — mimicking what birds use in the wild is best — keep it low.  I should have used fewer pots.
  

• Water running or dripping is good to attract birds, but I haven’t yet figured out how to accomplish that.

You will need to change the water and clean your birdbath often — apparently birds aren’t opposed to pooping on, or in, art.
 
We are still waiting for our birds to discover their new spa.  I’m thinking that they are as tired of all the water falling from the sky as we are.  Of course, we’re hoping for some great photo ops coming soon and we will share them with you when they happen!

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Thank You for visiting,
 
— Kathy,  Guest Blogger
 
P.s.     Have you added a birdbath to your yard?  How did you get the birds to start using it?  Do you have any great suggestions you would like to share?  We would love to hear your ideas and compare notes!