Bath Time

No matter how wild your backyard might be, one sure fire way to attract more critters to it is to provide reliable sources of water for them. Wildlife has three basic needs – food, water and shelter – which can be provided at relatively low cost and with minimal effort. Install a birdbath on your property and you’ll be rewarded with an array of avian visitors.

A shallow pan of standing fresh water is all that’s required, whether the container is constructed of stone, ceramic, metal or hard plastic. Stylish birdbaths mounted on decorative pedestals certainly can enhance your backyard wildlife garden. However, robins, blue jays, grackles and other likely bathers aren’t stopping by to admire a homeowner’s art. They come to wash in or drink from the artificial puddle we’ve provided. What’s essential is that the water level not be too deep, the slope not be too steep, and the water be refreshed regularly. It’s also important to place your bird bath in a fairly open location where predators cannot hide and attack the innocent bathers.

Bird baths offer excellent opportunities for amateur nature photographers. Visiting birds quickly become accustomed to someone with a camera sitting nearby and put on a show each time they wade in, dip their wings and splash themselves with water.