Everyone loves bird watching, but you don’t have to travel far, you can watch them in your own backyard or garden. Watching birds hang out at your place to bathe and eat. Birds and people can’t resist the sound of splashing fountain water. Creating a bird spa will attract them again and again.
BIRD SPA
A small vanity table would not be out of place here. These beautiful creatures use water as their mirror and oh how they love to look at themselves!
Create a bowl of water deep enough for them to see their reflection. A dark liner helps the water’s reflecting power similar to a mirror.
Build a deck alongside the birdbath dry area for preening – this is a must for any reputable bird spa. This can be a ledge at the border or a stone, anything that can be like a deck or an island.
Make sure to slope the spa down from the ledge, into a well for the pump to reside. Cover it with an overlapping flat stone; this also provides another preening spot and hides the pump. Add a water sprinkler in a pond for the birds to bathe!!
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE PUMP
Sizing the pump is a little hard because it depends on the size of the birdbath as well as the length of the stream. Sound effects are desirable as long as it is not the roaring rapids. Let’s keep it fun for them, you just want a gentle splash of water.
- IF YOU HAVE THE SPACE IN YOUR GARDEN, CREATE A BIG SPLASHY WATERFALL FOR GREAT SOUND EFFECTS AND PUT THE SPA TO ONE SIDE WITH A TRICKLE STREAM. OF COURSE, THIS TAKES A LARGER PUMP AND OTHER ACCESSORIES.
- A 750-1000 GPH PUMP IS THE CORRECT SIZE FOR A 3 X 4 FOOT X15 INCH DEEP BIRD SPA WITH AN 8 FOOT LONG X 2 FOOT WIDE STREAM. (AS ALWAYS, DON’T FORGET THE UNDERLAYMENT UNDER THE LINER OF THE POND AND STREAM.)
IF YOU DON’T HAVE ELECTRICITY NEARBY, BUY A SMALL SOLAR KIT TO RUN YOUR PUMP.
A GENTLE SLOPED STREAM
The slope of the stream should be just enough for water to flow down into the bird spa. If you build the stream on a flat area, be sure to build up the slope enough along the edges so that the stream holds the water in and prevent losing too much water from the stream. This will circulate water in a small pond and not run the bird spa dry!
- THE PUMP WILL BE SUBMERGED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POND AREA AND PUMP THE WATER UP TO THE TOP OF THE STREAM AND TRICKLE BACK DOWN INTO THE BIRDBATH AREA. ONE TO THREE INCHES OF DEPTH IN THE BIRD SPA IS IDEAL FOR MOST BACKYARD BIRDS.
SPLISH-SPLASH, TAKING A BATH – AT THE WATER PARK
A 10-foot x 3-foot pebbly stream, a lively play pool for your water-dipping friends can be created. Proper placement of the pebbles will make the water splashier within the stream.
You can also try to rearrange the pebbles and stones to change the splash and flow using different shapes and sizes, from pebbles to fist size.
A few larger flat stones create the perfect spot for perching and preening. This will also help direct the flow to create a little white-water action because birds are attracted to the splashing water.
ATTRACTIVE LANDSCAPE AND SAFE REFUGE
The sound and sight of moving water are like a calling song to birds. Provide a backdrop of shrubs and small trees that are attractive for the birds and allows them to escape from danger, like cats and other predators. Place a tall bird feeder close by, to attract the birds to a bath and breakfast resort!!
Bird feeders are easy to make with products you can find around the house. A long copper pipe can be used for the tall pole. All you need now is a copper cap for the top of the pole as a base to glue the seed holder, which can be anything that holds birdseed and has a resting area for the birds to perch. Some examples of articles around the house would be a teacup or a colourful ceramic plate. You need to purchase weatherproof glue that works with ceramic and metals. Then stake it into the ground near the bird spa and you are all set. You have created a setting for bird watching. A resort for the birds!!