Editing Bird bath

{{short description|Artificial puddle or small shallow pond where birds bathe}}

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[[Image:Bird bath backyard summer mockingbird.jpg|right|thumbnail|280px|A watchful [[mockingbird]] bathing in a glass bowl bird bath.]]
A '''bird bath''' (or '''birdbath''') is an artificial [[puddle]] or small shallow pond, created with a water-filled basin, in which birds may drink, bathe, and cool themselves. A bird bath can be a [[garden ornament]], small [[reflecting pool]], [[outdoor sculpture]], and also can be a part of creating a vital [[wildlife garden]].

== Description ==
A bird bath (or birdbath)<ref name="M-W">{{cite web |title=birdbath |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birdbath |access-date=22 May 2018 |website=Merriam-Webster.com |archive-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523100834/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birdbath |url-status=live }}</ref> is an artificial [[puddle]] or small shallow pond, created with a water-filled basin. Birds may use the bath to drink, bathe, and cool themselves. A bird bath is an attraction for many different species of birds to visit [[garden]]s, especially during the [[summer]] and [[drought]] periods. Bird baths that provide a reliable source of water year round add to the popularity and "micro-habitat" support.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Gardening/Archives/2010/Provide-Water-for-Wildlife-in-Winter.aspx |title="Offer Water to Wildlife In Winter" from ''National Wildlife'' Magazine 1/6/2010 |access-date=2010-02-12 |archive-date=2010-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210192210/http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Gardening/Archives/2010/Provide-Water-for-Wildlife-in-Winter.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Bird baths can be pre-made basins on [[pedestal]]s and [[column]]s or hang from leaves and trees, or be carved out depressions in [[rock (geology)|rock]]s and [[boulder]]s. Requirements for a bird bath should include the following; a shallow gradually deepening basin; open surroundings to minimize cats' stalking; clean and renewed-refilled water; and cleaning to avoid contamination and mosquitoes. Two inches of [[water]] in the center is sufficient for most backyard birds, because they do not submerge their bodies, only dipping their [[wing]]s to splash water on their backs. Deeper or wide basins can have "perch islands" in the water, which can also help discourage [[Felinae|feline]] [[predator]]s.<ref name="Roth usage">Sally Roth (1998). ''Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: A Rodale Organic Gardening Book'', p. 18. Rodale Press Inc., Emmaus PA, {{ISBN|0-87596-892-9}}.</ref>  Elevation on a pedestal is a common safety measure, providing a clear area around the bird bath that is free of hiding locations for predators.  A [[bird feeder]] can complement a bird bath to encourage birds to linger and return.

The early bird baths were simple depressions in the ground. The first purpose-built bird bath was developed by UK garden design company, Abrahm Pulman & Sons in the 1830s.

== Design and construction ==
[[Image:Bird bath with Lorikeet.JPG|thumb|left|[[Lories and lorikeets|Lorikeet]]-sized bird bath displayed for close viewing inside a children's zoo]]
A bird bath can be a [[garden ornament]], small [[reflecting pool]], [[outdoor sculpture]], and also can be a part of creating a vital [[wildlife garden]]. Bird baths can be made with materials, including molded [[concrete]], glazed [[terra cotta]], glass, metals (e.g., [[copper]]), plastics, mosaic tiles, [[marble]], or any other material that can be outdoors and hold water. In [[natural landscape]] gardens rocks and boulders with natural or [[stonemason]] carved basins can fit in unobtrusively. Some bird baths use a recirculating pump as part of a [[fountain]] or [[water feature]], and can include filters, a [[float valve]]-water connection for automatic refilling, or a [[drip irrigation]] emitter aimed into the bowl. Some use a [[solar power]]ed pump, floating or submerged, to recirculate the water. Birds are attracted to the sight and sound of running water, with integrated or nearby fountains helpful elements to bring birds to the garden.<ref name="The Ornate Bird Garden">{{cite web |date=2007-10-22 |title=The Best Way to Offer Water to the Birds |url=http://www.ornatebirdgarden.com/html/birdwater.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003847/http://www.ornatebirdgarden.com/html/birdwater.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |access-date=2007-10-22 |publisher=The Ornate Bird Garden}}</ref>

=== Ornaments and sculptures ===
[[Image:Birdbath007.jpg|right|thumbnail|A shallow concrete bird bath]]The traditional bird bath is made of molded [[concrete]] or glazed [[terra cotta]] formed in two pieces: the bowl and the pedestal. The bowl has an indentation or socket in the base which allows it to fit on the pedestal. The pedestal is typically about one meter tall. Both bowl and pedestal can be clean or decorated with [[bas-relief]]. Bowls can be pure curved geometry, or have motifs of a shell or pseudo-rocky [[spring (hydrosphere)|spring]]. The pedestal can also be a simple [[silhouette]] or incorporate decorations. Birds seem unconcerned with the aesthetics, with even a shallow plate, pie-tin, or [[puddle]] below a slowly dripping water outlet used.<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ponds and birdbaths |url= http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard/ponds-birdbath.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609114454/http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard/ponds-birdbath.htm |archivedate=2010-06-09 | accessdate = 2009-03-13}}</ref>

===Baths for large birds===
Large birds, such as the [[Canada goose]], also enjoy baths. They may be accommodated well by large agricultural sprinklers in a field of [[Crop stubble|stubble]]. Providing such a place for [[migratory bird]]s, especially in urban and suburban areas devoid of [[wetland]]s is an excellent way of encouraging them to frequent an area.

==Bird habitat==
===Perch and view needs===
[[File:Two titmice in the bird bath (7274236008).jpg|thumb|Two [[Baeolophus|titmice]] in a shallow bird bath]]
Bird baths require a place for birds to [[Perching bird|perch]]. The bath should also be shallow enough to avoid the risk of birds drowning. A depth of 2” is right for most species. This requirement may be fulfilled by making the bowl shallow enough to allow birds to perch ''in'' the water. For deeper bowls, stones, gravel or rocks can be placed in the center to give birds a place to perch. Objects placed in the bird bath bowl should have a texture that makes it easy for birds' talons to hold.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://birdbathsforsale.com/buy-bird-baths-online/ |title=How To Buy Bird Baths Online - 5 Tips |access-date=2019-04-07 |archive-date=2019-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407015239/https://birdbathsforsale.com/buy-bird-baths-online/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Birds lacking [[binocular vision]] have poor depth perception, and can find a bird bath off-putting if they are unable to judge the water's depth.  Leaning a stick or flat rock against the bird bath rim as a ramp to allow them gradual access into the water may allay their fear.<ref name="The Ornate Bird Garden" />

Consideration should also be made to the issue of house cats and other [[predator]]s, by placing the bird bath in a location where birds can see the area around it, and where there are no hiding places for predators. Birds cannot fly well when their feathers are wet; two feet of open space on all sides of the bird bath allows birds to see danger coming with enough time to escape.<ref>Sally Roth (1998). ''Attracting Birds to Your Backyard:  A Rodale Organic Gardening Book'', also on p. 18. Rodale Press Inc., Emmaus PA, {{ISBN|0-87596-892-9}}.</ref> If the bowl is too deep, some birds will be afraid to enter the bath, staying at the edge and using it for drinking water only, being unable to see beyond the edge if entering the water, or unwilling to enter water that is too deep for their safety.

===Plants===
[[Native plant]]s, [[ornamental plant]]s that supply [[berry|berries]], [[acorn]]s, [[nut (fruit)|nut]]s, [[seed]]s, [[nectar]], and other foods, and also [[bird nest]] building materials encourages the health and new generations of birds. These qualities can also increase the visible population to enjoy in a garden. Using [[companion planting]] and the birds' [[insect]] cuisine habits is a traditional method for pest control in an [[organic garden]], and any landscape.

Taller [[shrub]]s and [[tree]]s nearby allow short and safe "[[commuting|commutes]]" to the bird bath. The bird bath will attract more birds if placed where a frightened bird can fly up easily to an overhanging limb or resting place if disturbed or attacked.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/water/birdbaths.aspx | title=Bird baths | publisher=The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds | access-date=24 July 2014 | archive-date=28 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728144419/https://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/helpingbirds/water/birdbaths.aspx | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Maintenance==
A bird bath requires regular maintenance and fresh water.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/lc/lc_birdbath_faq.asp|title=Birdbath FAQ|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-date=14 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314185249/http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/lc/lc_birdbath_faq.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> Fresh water and cleaning are important because of the possible adverse health effects of birds drinking dirty water, or water which may have become fouled with excrement, [[mosquito]] larvae, [[algae]], or [[fungi]].

Maintenance for some bird baths may be as simple as a wash and refill several times a week,<ref name=":0" /> but it will depend on the bird bath materials. There are a variety of methods and substances that can be used to clean a bird bath, including small quantities of bleach, oregano or olive oil, or commercially available, non-toxic cleaning products. Concrete bird baths tend to become mossy and, therefore, slippery—requiring an occasional scrubbing out with a stiff brush. Plastic or resin bird baths may need to be drained, wiped down with a towel, and refilled.

Mosquitoes and mosquito larvae are the most serious potential health risk that can be caused by poor bird bath maintenance. To prevent mosquito larvae, change the bird bath water weekly to interrupt their 7–10 day breeding cycle, or use a water aerator to break up the still water surface that mosquitoes require to lay eggs. Commercial products that contain [[bacillus thuringiensis israelensis]] (Bti), which is lethal to mosquitoes but non-toxic for humans and wildlife, can also be used to control mosquitoes.

== See also ==
* [[Bird feeder]]
* [[Bird watching]]
* [[Conservation biology]]
* [[Drought]]
* [[Garden]]s
* [[Habitat]]s
* [[Mud-puddling]]
* [[Riparian zone restoration]]
* [[Wetlands]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/birdbaths.html Bird baths and birdwatching]

{{Lawn and garden ornaments}}
{{pond}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird Bath}}
[[Category:Birds in popular culture]]
[[Category:Birdwatching]]
[[Category:Bird feeding]]
[[Category:Garden features]]
[[Category:Garden ornaments]]
[[Category:Habitats]]
[[Category:Architectural elements]]