Today I set up a bird bath in my back yard. I was wondering how long does it take for the birds to take to it? Thanks =]
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Fill it and they will come! Well, at least I hope so. We've just acquired one from my parents and once it's repaired will be setting it up. I expect position is important. We'll be putting ours under a shady tree with some low hanging branches for a bit of protection. Branches aren't strong enough for cats, so hopefully the birds will be safe(ish). Sadly the dog thinks she has to protect us from birds - they are such vicious things :)))
Jenny - a bird in the hand is worth ... releasing.
I placed it pretty much exaclty how you said youd put yours, and after about.. half an hour after that post I got a few Pale-headed Rosellas, Noisy Miners and the Little Friarbird thats nesting out the front coming for a wash and a drink =]. So it is a good safe position to put it. I also have dogs and so far they havent been stirring up the birds which is good. But recently they killed the Olive-backed Oriole chick that fell out of a tree.. =[. Oh well.. good luck with you bird bath. Happy watchings. =]
Great to hear that the birds are visiting, Tomage. Sounds like you have similar species to us. Where in this great country are you?
Jenny - a bird in the hand is worth ... releasing.
I hail from a small town just out of Toowoomba, QLD. Its pretty quiet out here. Theres a fair amount of birdlife too because theres a few hectares of just trees about 50 metres across from our back fence. But im pretty new to this so im excited about trying to identify alot more of the local species and do some surveys for the good of the australian bird watching comunitee, lol. Thanks for asking. =]
I live in Melbourne in the Northern suburbs, and I have a big Park across the road from my house
I also have a birdbath in my backyard for the last seven years and it is really busy almost every
Day. Especially hot Days. The birds come not only to drink ,but also to have a bath, and sometimes it is so crowded .But definitely I have my regular costumers every day that is.. Indian miners , magpies magpie larks Turtle doves ,wattle birds, blackbirds, and of course house sparrows.
I sure you will have visitors very- very soon
Christopher: Birds are Beautiful People
Water is very inportant if you want to encourage birds to your garden. Please remember if you have cats or dogs to place your water where they can not sneak up on the birds. Keep it a little open so the birds can see the cats and dogs coming. If they can fly up into a tree that is handy. I have multiple water dishes in my garden ranging from an old copper, half a beer keg to shallow dishes. All are frequented by birds and frogs.
Are bird baths considered unhygenic?
I read that in a great bird book I have. Basically said disease can spread very easily in shared bird baths, particularly deeper ones.
Bird baths maybe unhygienic I am not sure about it.
The only things I do are change the water often and clean the bowl thoroughly before I fill it again with water
Christopher: Birds are Beautiful People
Some bird baths never get used. I think if they're too deep, they're offputting. I also had a plastic one that was never visited.
My mum has made them out of farm bits like used hub caps etc and they are very well attended.
Location is very important, as mentioned. The little birds need to feel safe from predators and even other birds higher in the pecking order.
Lots of bushes and branches for them to escape to, or shake dry on, are ideal
Birdbaths do need cleaning often or they can spread disease between the various birds that use it.
---booshkie---
PS: I have a birdbath on my city balcony. It is mainly visited by Indian Mynas (nasty birds). Blechh!
But I once had a sulphur crested cockatoo and occasionally get currwongs and wattlebirds so I guess it's worth persevering.
Yesterday afternoon there was an adult and juvenile currawong at the same time. They are extremely wary of humans though, so no photos.
---booshkie---
Yes I agree bird baths can spread disease but if you change the water every day and keep it fresh you will soon have many healthy birds using it. I get many little honeyeaters, wattle birds, blue wrens, eastern rosellas, king parrots, crimson wings, lorrikeets and even sparrows and the european black birds which are a pest but they still call my back yard home. I used to put seed out but I haven't done that for nearly 12 months.
More info about birdbath set-up here:
http://www.scribblygumwiki.net/caring_feeding_wildlife#birdbaths
And a pic of my balcony birdbath with some potted lillipilis.
---booshkie---
Booshkie..that balcony bird bath looks excellent!
We have numerous watering points around..for dogs/poultry/horse/sheep...so there are many choices for the birds.
The most popular are the two old bathtubs!You can fit a LOT of galahs around the edge of a bathtub :)
On the verandah of our other house.. I have hanging a terracotta pot saucer..suspended by the chains for a hanging basket. This has a flat rock in it..and is kept full for the wrens..they have lots of shrubs adjacent to it, and use it quite often in Summer.
Love Dave's story !LOL
Thanks Binjy.
I chose the stand from one set and the top from another and convinced the nursery to sell it to me that way!
I'm sure the birds wouldn't have cared! The main thing is the water. But since my water mainly attracts ferals, I may as well have some nice terra cotta to look at!
---booshkie---
I thought I would share with you all 2 photos of a couple of my bird baths. I have over 10 water/bird baths in my garden. They range from deep to accomodate the frogs to shallow for the smaller birds. I have a pond which the honeyeater actually dive into and come straight back up.
I think I actually figured out this photo thing, thanks to everyone's advise.
I am just renting and on a pension so I didn't have a lot of money to buy a decent birdbath. There was old wooden garden table left by the roadside for garbage collection so I dragged that home. It keeps the birds from having to bath on the ground where there might be an occassional cat although I still spread breadcrumbs on the ground.
Two big plastic saucers for putting under pot plants were filled with water and placed on the table top. I have used those long narrow saucers that normally come with little window herb boxes and had birds bathing in them also
The whole thing was placed under a bougainvillea arch on the driveway by the back door.
It was in use almost as soon as it was in place. Eastern Rosellas, Magpies, Crested Pigeons, Noisy Miners all visit every morning and throughout the day
Great ideas. I had put out a large cement saucer and placed it into a big hanging basket frame. This was hooked up under a bushy yates tree. I got to see willy wagtails bathing, silver-eyes drinking, red wattle birds...am yet to see the pink galahs and the ringed-neck parrots(28's) have a go. Could be because they are much larger and a bit difficult to get in there?!? Also have lost of those little pidgeons.
A cement bath used as a pond will get visited by the large honey eaters and pidgeons, although I have to make sure the water level is high enough for them to reach.
What can I do for magpies? We have a family that likes to sleep on our tree at the front but occassionally come into the backyard. Do they require a deeper dish or shallow saucer type....I was thinking they may prefer these on the ground.
FT
Higher up in this thread you can see my balcony birdbath... empty.
Here, just photographed are TWO wattlebirds visiting it! Ive only ever seen one and not very often.
I do love it when a native gets to enjoy my bird-friendly balcony.
---booshkie---
booshkie, that a lovely photo of the wattlebirds at your birdbath, it looks like you have some bushland around you? I set up birdbath in my back garden and I love watching all the native birds that come throughout the day. As was said earlier, it is very important to keep the water fresh.
serendipity, that's a lot of birdbaths you have at your place, you are such a thoughtful person. That's a very nice green birdbath, did you paint it that colour?
Pam
Central Coast NSW