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Bird bath for balcony and garden: How to find the right water point
Whether in the garden, on the terrace or on the balcony: watering points set up by people are vital for birds, especially in long dry periods.
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Not only we humans, but also many native birds suffer from the summer heat. The problem: Titmouse, sparrow and Co. often have no chance in nature to quench their thirst. Everyone can help with bird baths on the balcony or terrace.
Year after year in summer, the Nature Conservation Union (NABU) appeals to the people in Germany to set up bird baths. Especially when it is dry and hot for several weeks, sparrows, blackbirds, tits and many other native bird species suffer from acute water shortages. Rescue puddles are then in short supply and a body of water is often out of reach. Other natural water points dry out quickly in long periods of heat. It is all the more important to have one on the balcony, terrace or in the allotment garden Bird bath to place. In the following article you will find out what is suitable for this and what you should pay attention to when setting up a bird basin.
Balcony or terrace: How to find the right model
In principle, a shallow bowl, the saucer of a flower pot or a soup plate do it. But if you want to offer the birds in your environment a little more comfort when drinking (and splashing), you should look around for a bird bath. First of all, it is important to know where the water point is to be installed. So that birds can see the drinker well and can fly to it, there are balconies Bird baths with hanging device or a possibility to attach to the balcony parapet makes sense. For the terrace or the garden, on the other hand, there are variants that can be set up or plugged in, for example with one Ground spike or Stand, at. When buying the bird bath, make sure that the bowl is a little deeper in the middle than at the edge. In this way you not only give the “poultry” a lively bird bath, but also give larger birds the chance to feast.
It is also important that the birds have a secure hold when landing, drinking and taking off. Soaking with a rough surface, such as from Terracotta, Clay or natural stone are therefore perfect. On the other hand, you should keep your hands off bowls made of glass, porcelain or stainless steel.
In a nutshell: 5 tips for buying a bird bath
- The drinking bowl should have a flat edge
- if possible with a slope towards the middle (2-10 cm)
- Avoid glazed bowls or drinkers made of stainless steel (risk of slipping)
- Check mounting options
- Trays should be easily removable.
Once the right bird bath has been found, a no less important step follows. Because no matter how beautiful and comfortable the bird basin is: if it is not accepted by the birds, it is useless. The first important thought follows from this: A bird bath, especially on the balcony, must be clearly visible, but also securely in front of cats. Trees and bushes nearby are ideal for cleaning plumage after a long bath. But if they are too close to the balcony, cats, for example, have an easy time of it. In addition, the birds may feel threatened and do not even dare to fly to the drinker. Once the birds have accepted the watering, the first hurdle has been cleared. But they should stay. And they only do that if their drink is refreshed regularly. In other words, the water should be changed and the bird bath cleaned every day. The background to this is salmonella and other pathogens that cavort in the water, multiply quickly and cause diseases. Chemicals are not required when cleaning the bird bath on the balcony. NABU experts recommend boiling water.
Practical tips: You should pay attention to this when setting up
- Set up the bird bath in a clearly visible place
- Avoid being near bushes or the like
- Change water daily
- do not hang or stand in full sun
- Disinfect the bird tank regularly (with boiling water)
If the bird bath is not enough and if you want to offer more help to native birds, you can also set up a feeding station, one nesting box hang up and plant the balcony or front garden in a variety of ways. This attracts insects and thus also birds.
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