Bird Delights: Birdbaths & Birdwatching Starter Guide

May 1, 2024

 

There’s more. Check out our follow-up micro blog, Bird Delights pt2: Home Suite Home, to see where to go next on your home birding journey.

 

If it’s one thing we all tend to love, it’s birds. Whether it’s the miracle of flight, the colorful feathers, or the morning orchestra, it’s hard not to find joy in the presence of birds. You may not be a Birder  so to speak, but seeing and hearing birds is just one of the simple beauties and joys of life. I often have the chance to see them fluttering around in puddles, ew, taking a well needed birdbaths in the early morning.

I’m not a Birder persay but I’ve known a few. They tell me that the chance to see a rare or just beautiful bird is often planned for. Time of day, distance from home and travel plans. It’s not uncommon for a birder to join a group and take weekend trips to see migrations during the spring and summer. Personally, I tend to have coffee and listen to them from the window of my apartment in the wee hours of the morning.

What if you could create a safe space for birds around your home and do your birdwatching from the patio or kitchen window? It’s not too complicated. You just have to build them a safe, inviting habitat on your land. Lets walk through the beginnings of that with a simple birdbath.

Introduction to Birdbaths

Three things that come to mind for that are,

  • Bird Feeders
  • BirdBaths
  • Bird Houses

Now although we tend to keep both feeders and baths around the office, this month, we talk about baths. We must get our feathered friends out of those street puddles. They deserve better. Especially since birdbaths take less care and maintenance than bird feeders. It’s also cheaper. So, if your new to garden décor and want a cost-effective entry point into not just décor, but garden habitat creation, a birdbath is a good starting point. It’s easy to set up and simple care will get going. Not to mention that if planned and set up properly, it’ll bring the birds to you. Once they come, you may want to get them some food or a home. First, let’s clean them up.

 

Setting Up Your Birdbaths

Birds will come to your birdbath for the water they need — for drinking and for grooming. While they’re hanging around, they will hunt for the insects and worms and seeds and flower parts they like to eat. YOU will get to watch all the “early bird” activity from the comfort of your garden.

Birdbaths need two main things to keep the avian aristocrats coming to the local bath like Roman Senators, clean water, and a cool relaxing location. This means you need to keep the birdbath in a place of shade or near shade and must clean the water roughly once a week. Make sure there’s no fecal matter or feathers floating around in the bath.

It’s best to dump the water and freshen it up then. You don’t want a lot of water either, just 2-4 inches in the middle of the bath basin. Best Practices suggest a tight 2.5 inches, but you should keep the typical size of you local birds. A Morning Dove (pigeon) is bigger than a sparrow and will need more water to fully bathe.

It’s not a bad idea to have two birdbaths of different water levels to accommodate smaller and larger birds honestly. 4 inches should be the limit though. Unless you live in pelican town. Then, well, all bets are off.

Don’t Burn the Birds

Next thing is to keep it out of direct sunlight. Robins don’t sunbath, people do. Birds want their birdbaths cool to the touch. Make sure you’re not preparing a freshwater chicken broth for our feathered friends to stay away from by keeping the birdbath out of direct sunlight and near a shade tree. Keeping it near a tree will also help them to see the birdbath as well. Keeping it under the tree, however, will help them go looking elsewhere. Birds like to spot things as they fly and make choices before touching down here on earth. Remind yourself that there needs to be a balance between shade and visibility.

Safety Considerations for Birdbaths

Now the one thing that’s going to take a bit of diligence from people like us is Predators. When birds land, they are super vulnerable to all types of predators. Creatures like snakes, stray dogs and your neighbor Sally’s house cat are all after Tweety and his friends. This may take some real thought as the last thing you want to see when sitting on your deck with the morning coffee is to see that side of nature as you sip your coffee. So as you decide where you’re going to place you “Jazmin”, Holly (Coming Soon) or the triplets “Kateryna” make sure you’ve done your best to put the birdbath in a safe place. You can’t stop nature from going nature, but you don’t have to make it easy. Just these few things right here and a keen eye for beautiful design will have you sipping your coffee, listening to Gods orchestra thinking…

3 metal birdbaths in antique copper finish with birds and ornate stands in garden

Kateryna Set of 3 Antique Copper Birdbaths with Ornate Stands

Full View of Antique White Angel with Bird Details Standing on a Rock with Rock Background

39 Tall Magnesium Angel Statue with Birdbath in Antique White, Jazmin

38" tall standing girl with bird mgo garden birdbath statue "Holly"

Pre-order: 38″ tall standing girl with bird mgo garden birdbath statue “holly”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wonder if they have a matching birdfeeder?” Which we probably do. So, look around your garden and figure out where you want to begin you newly designed relationship with nature and come to us to see what beautiful pieces we have in store.

Like this 3’ 1” beauty named Gai.

Until next time enjoy nature, and check out our selection of decorative birdbaths here: Lesera Birdbaths and Browse our collection now.

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24 inch tall porcelain pedestal birdbath with peach base and painted green hummingbird with large flowers on white basin in garden
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Metal Dragon Showing its Tails Curled
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side view image at 21 inch tall dragon statue made of metal plates in metallic finish
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31 inch tall old style iron Christmas water pump in antique red finish and faux snow patches with Merry Christmas sign and bluebirds
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extra long iron rain chain with windmill details in copper finish
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Close up image of Tall cotton style birdhouse garden stake with small bird sitting at the top of the roof and leaves holding up the birdhouse
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27 in. Tall Fairy Garden Statue with Snail "Lilac"
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Set of 6 handblown glass ball iron stakes with fleur de lis finial in 6 colors red, cobalt blue, orange, green, purple and greyish blue
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collage of 6 five tone hanging acrylic robin ornaments with beaded tassel in 6 assorted colors
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5.5 Feet tall iron Santa Claus inspired Christmas ornament tower with belt buckles and swirl pattern in green, red and gold
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Small red metal tractor with Christmas tree in wagon and large black wheels showing tractor driver seat standing on white snow
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24 inch tall glossy green pedestal birdbath with painted two love birds sitting on grape vines on the inner side of the basin in garden
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a Trio of Metal Flamingos, Cranes and Herons in assorted colors
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four foot long galvanized iron reindeer and sleigh decorations with a weathered, antique looking silver finish
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collage of 6 hanging acrylic ornaments with 4 chubby birds and a bell in 6 assorted colors
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collage image of five tone hanging acrylic three piece butterfly chain in assorted colors
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View of Three Mushrooms Hanging on a Chain
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Iron Hanging Chain with with Bee Hive, Bees and Bell on the End
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Kings of the Road Motorcycle Themed Gear Shaped Wall Clock with LED Lights
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54 inch tall metal garden stake with welcome sign, cockatoo and bells
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One set of six multi colored acrylic dragonfly ornaments with six beaded tassel hanging to the bottom of the dragon fly
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Antique Distressed Finish Car with with Christm as Tree and Gifts on the Rooftop
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set of 2 Chinese Lions guardian statues with a ball and puppet under paw in antique bronze finish
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66 inch tall heart-shaped iron birdhouse garden stake decorated with bird and leaf sculptures and lily-shaped bells
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31 inch tall old style iron Christmas water pump in antique blue finish and faux snow patches with Merry Christmas sign and red cardinals
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Two Children Wear Coats- Holding Book and Lantern
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Sets of Assorted Long Hanging Acrylics with Colorful Gems
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full length image of 63 inch tall iron colonial style birdhouse garden stake in antique copper distressed finish with patina details
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Iron birdhouse with cone roof in antique copper finish with patina details
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closed up image garden stake with hummingbird and glass rain gauge
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4.5 feet tall large 6 acrylic butterfly garden stakes in 5 assorted color combinations with beads on long metal stake
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Black Freedom Motorcycle Themed Gear Shaped Wall Clock with LED Lights
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Long five tone acrylic Hummingbird Chain Set in six different colors
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6 assorted colors hanging acrylic ornaments
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27.5 in. Tall Fairy Garden Statue with Flower "Tato"
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set of 4 pink flamingos metal garden figurines standing in garden
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17 in. Tall Sleeping Fairy Garden Statue "Ivy"
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43 inch long iron birdfeeder in lantern shape with toadstool and bell accents attached underneath it in antique copper finish
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close up 3 sections of 79 Long Antique Bronze Hanging Honeybee Rain Chain
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8 Assorted Hanging Metal Decorative Wind Chime Chains
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Full View of Santa Statue Wearing Grey Coat- Holding a Basket Filled with Gifts and a Christmas Tree
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collage of large blue acrylic angels in 6 assorted styles hanging ornaments
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Twelve Ceramic Fisherman Balls in a Bowl
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full size image of 4 74 inch long garland with porcelain sailor balls and rope in red, light blue and black colors
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65 inch tall freestanding iron Christmas nutcracker soldier with LED Lights holding lantern
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Red Garage Motorcycle Themed Gear Shaped Wall Clock with LED Lights
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Close up image of New Britain birdhouse stake that has a square frame fence with bird perched at the top of the roof and vines growing from the stake to the birdhouse
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Two Birds Sitting on a Stick with Pink and Blue Beads
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Three Sun and Moons Hanging from Chain
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set of 2 acrylic hanging blue jay ornaments with snowflake details
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37.8 Tall Frosted Silver Standing Polyresin Buddha Statue
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Six assorted circular copper wind chimes with nature scenes in every round area and small bell hanging in the center
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tall metal four home bungalow birdhouse stake in antique copper finish
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Children Holding Lighted Lanterns- Petting Reindeer
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9.5 feet tall large iron Halloween Cemetery arch with purple LED lights in black pumpkins and white ghosts in front of home entrance
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side view image of Iron and glossy cobalt blue porcelain birdhouse stake with ornate roof and a little bird perched on leaves attached to the stake
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Three Piece Iron Bistro Set with Birds
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image of 3 Large Hanging Purple Acrylic Angel Ornaments in 3 assorted styles
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Crafted with exceptional quality, these unique birdhouses showcase intricate hand-painted designs and beautifully textured porcelain
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Light-up oversized metal Christmas ornament ball in red with gold snowflakes and LED Lights
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collage of 6 assorted colors acrylic diamond hanging ornaments
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