(Revised & Updated July 13, 2023)
Over the years, I’ve loved watching the birds come to my yard. By providing water, I’m doing my part to help them stay hydrated.
I choose to provide a natural source of food instead of putting out bird seed.
By choosing plants for my yard that produce seeds or berries, I’m doing my part to nourish them.
Below are easy bird bath ideas and tips to help provide for wildlife in your own neighborhood.
Easy Terra Cotta Bird Bath:
I love to find easy projects to DIY for my patio. Like bird baths upcycled from things around my home.
I bought a solar bird bath from Wayfair some years ago. But now there’s a crack inside it, so I’m using a plant saucer setting inside the bird bath. And believe me, I have birds drinking and bathing in it all day long!
I promise you the birds don’t care if it’s fancy or not.
Hanging DIY Bird Bath
This is a great idea for a bird bath using a glass lid and a chain. It’s a simple and cheap way to create a hanging bird bath.
As it’s above the ground and hanging from a branch, there will be less chance for predators to get to the birds.
Stacked Stone Bird Bath:
It doesn’t get much easier than stacking stones and putting a metal pan on top.
Put a stone in the middle where it’s deepest to prevent small animals from drowning.
The varying heights of the water sources will appeal to a broader range of wildlife.
Tomato Cage Bird Bath:
This DIY bird bath is just a terra cotta pot saucer placed on a tomato cage. It’s nice to be able to use things for more than one purpose.
Pots & Lids Bird Bath:
This one takes a bit more thought. The placement of pots and saucers create tiers for a wider range of birds to be accommodated at one time.
Eclectic Column Bird Bath:
This DIY bird bath is just a column with a recycled container on top. Pretty clever!
Hanging Wreath Bird Bath:
Cheap Plastic Pot Bird Bath:
Now let’s go over what the yard birds need:
1. The DIY bird bath should not be more than a few inches deep
2. Make sure the container you decide to use is easy to clean
3. Add rocks for birds to perch on so they can both drink the water and bathe in it
5. It’s best to locate your bird bath away from shrubs where cats could be hiding
6. Put the bird bath in the shade or semi shade so the water won’t be too hot
7. Clean the bird bath two or three times a week
8. Replace the water every 2-4 days
All wildlife needs water to drink, just like the rest of us. So I use different types of containers to keep them hydrated.
The squirrels like to drink water near my rock garden where they can perch on a rock.
DIY With Odds & Ends:
You probably have all kinds of things around your home that you could turn into a bird bath.
Anything that holds water and isn’t very deep will suffice. You could also look for containers on your next trip to your local thrift store. If you decide to paint the bird bath, make sure the paint is non-toxic.
The wildlife will appreciate your efforts. And you’ll enjoy watching them, knowing you’re doing your part for nature’s creatures.
Tips To Attract Birds To Your Bird Bath:
One way to attract birds to your bird bath is to put a fountain in the water.
The sounds and sights of moving water splashing will attract birds to your yard.
If the bird bath isn’t near an electrical outlet, you can always order a solar fountain instead.
Such cute ideas! I love the glass lid idea, how amazingly creative!!
Great ideas; I am using a plain terra cotta saucer right now but I would like to make something a little more decorative (and I would like to add a birdbath to the front yard as well as in the backyard). Thanks for all of the ideas (so clever, economical, and attractive).
Wow, some clever ideas there that I would not have thought of at all! All budget friendly.
Brenda what a great post! Two reasons, lol!
1) I had a turtle sandbox / used for the grands until the out grew it….then I thought to dump stuff in it to make compost. The lid is a bit caved in on the top so whenever it rains, water pools there and the birds use it as a birdbath!
2) Koopa-dog crashed in to my REAL birdbath out running last fall and broke it but I saved the top …I think that I can just lay the top next to my flowers or tomatoes or something for when we have a drought and they need water
Love the other ideas ! 🙂
Great ideas though what I really like are the many varieties of birds you attract. Living in orange county .ca I don’t see much variety; mostly sparrows and the many hummingbirds that come to my feeders. Although our downtown historic area is inundated with large green parrots. The story is that 100 or so years ago someone let some parrots loose, they stayed, multiplied and now the trees are full of them. It’s quite the sight when hundreds will fly out of the trees at once and boy can they squawk
So many great ideas! I have a bird bath but I did not know I was supposed to put a rock in it for the birds to perch on. As soon as I finish this comment I will be doing this! I als think I am going to make another birth bath closer to my window using one of these ideas so I can watch them drink and take a bath.
I hope that you are enjoying a little Spring weather.
You’ve collected some great ideas here. These birdbaths are as esthetically pleasing to look at as they are helpful to the birds.
Love the idea with the glass lid and the garbage can lids. I haven’t had much luck–so far–with bird baths. I’ll be trying some of these.