How Long Does It Take?? (1 Viewer)

[Mandy]

I went ahead and bought myself a bird bath for my front yard. After some checking online (and being shocked by some outrageous prices!!) I decided to try good old fashion store shopping. The first store I went to (Wal-Mart) had a really nice birdbath on display made of cement for just $19.99. I instantly loved it and ended up taking it home with me.

I was going to wait a while to set it up, but I just couldn't resist!! So late Saturday night (actually around 7pm), I set it up. Since then, I've been waiting and waiting for birds to find it, but so far only 3 birds (that I've seen - a Mourning Dove, a Chickadee, and a House Sparrow) have found it. Of these three, only the Sparrow actualy got a drink (no bathing).

I know it's only been out there for 2 full days, but I'm so impatient!! I wasn't expecting it, but I was hoping that the birds would instantly be drawn to it. How long does it normally take for "word" to get around that there's a new bath in town?? Also, do Robins and Cardinals usually become frequent visitors to bird baths?? I love both species, but have been unable to get decent pictures of both. I'm hoping that the bird bath will give me an opportunity to do so.

- Mandy

 

[birdman]

I cannot comment on the habits of US birds specifically, Mandy, but in general anything new will freak your birds out for a while!

OK, that's perhaps a slight exaggeration, but I expect "word" has already got around town, but most birds will just be waiting to ensure that everything is OK.

As with anything, the boldest will be the first, but if you get garden regulars, you'll probably get them using their new watering hole before too long. However, don't be too surprised, or disappointed, if one or two species don't seem to use it - they may simply have a more "comfortable" supply of bathing or drinking water elsewhere.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi Mandy! You just wait til some really warm weather settles in. You'll be refilling that birdbath a few times a day. We have had virtually no rain here for the last 6 weeks (except for a wonderful downpour as I speak) and between the warmer temps and the drought the birds have been emptying the bath twice a day.

I think it is an excellent sign that 3 of your birds have found it as quickly as they have.

 

[KooKoo]

Hi Mandy! Good going!! That's a great price for a concrete BB. BTW, I put mine in the garage or shed during the winter so the freeze & thaw doesn't erode it so quickly. It might take a while for the entire gang to show up, but KC is right ... once the warm weather hits, it'll be standing room only. Do you have a feeder nearby? That will help attract them too. Even though sparrows are so common, I get such a kick out of seeing a dozen or so cram into the same bath, sputtering around the water as if someone wound them up real tight & released them in the tub. Robins are very vigorous bathers too - then go up in the trees to fluff and preen. Now, surprisingly, I rarely see the cardinals splashing around in the BB, they will come for a drink, but I've noticed they're always around when I put the sprinkler on ... they will actually follow the sprinkler pattern from branch to branch. Guess they're "shower" rather than "bath" birds! Hope you'll post some pictures when you get them!

 

[Mandy]

Thanks for the input!! I'll definitely post some pics as soon as I get some. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer. I think towards the end of this week we're supposed to be back into the high 70's to low 80's, so hopefully that'll help me with pictures. I have the feeder positioned in front of my window so I have a great view with the camera. I've been pulling the curtains back and tying them around my camera lens so they can't see me moving real well inside.

I don't have a feed by the bird bath right now, but the birds are very aware of the feeders in the back yard. Maybe I'll buy another small feeder to hang next to the bird bath.

I'll keep you posted as my bathing count gets higher!! Hopefully I'll get lucky enough to get a Robin or Cardinal in there sometime!!

- Mandy

 

[alan_rymer]

I've heard somewhere?, that if you can drip water into the bath from somewhere it does attract birds more quickly.
Not much help I know, and having a large plastic bottle with a small hole dripping water, suspended 3 feet above a bird bath does not look very aesthetic.

 

[tikey1949]

Thanks for the input!! I'll definitely post some pics as soon as I get some. I can't wait for the weather to get warmer. I think towards the end of this week we're supposed to be back into the high 70's to low 80's, so hopefully that'll help me with pictures. I have the feeder positioned in front of my window so I have a great view with the camera. I've been pulling the curtains back and tying them around my camera lens so they can't see me moving real well inside.

I don't have a feed by the bird bath right now, but the birds are very aware of the feeders in the back yard. Maybe I'll buy another small feeder to hang next to the bird bath.

I'll keep you posted as my bathing count gets higher!! Hopefully I'll get lucky enough to get a Robin or Cardinal in there sometime!!

- Mandy[/Q


Mandy, there is an inexpensive drip for your BB at bestnest.com. $23. It would really help attract the birds.

 

[KC Foggin]

Also, do Robins and Cardinals usually become frequent visitors to bird baths?? I love both species, but have been unable to get decent pictures of both. I'm hoping that the bird bath will give me an opportunity to do so.

- Mandy

Does this answer your questions regarding cardinals and the bath?

 

[gthang]

Like putting up a new feeder, birds can get wary of new "bird" baths and stay away until "word" has spread that the bath is safe and of priority in the bird's daily cycle.

Also, keep in mind that if you live near water or have big puddles in your yard, the birds may tend to use this instead because nobody "forgets" to fill them... Hee-hee! Anyway, the best you could do is wait a few more days, and see what happens.

One time, I refilled my feeder for the first time, and no birds showed up afterwards for wuite a while! In fact, I had refilled on March 19th, then the feeder was unused for about 4 to 7 days! Now, everytime I refill the feeders, the birds just don't hesitate to get back on once I'm through the door! Sometimes, they'll start eating after I hang the first feeder and while I fill the larger feeder. Birds these days!!!

 

[Katy Penland]

Mandy, I'm sure you'll have scads of birds shortly. They all need water, and Alan made a very important point: the sound of water dripping/falling will attract them even faster.

Since you mentioned you put your bath in the front yard, you might want to take note of how much human, animal or vehicular traffic is there. Since you didn't say whether you're urban or rural, the amount of disturbance near a watering hole can have an impact on how comfortable the birds are to use it. When they're bathing, they're more vulnerable to predation (hence more skittish), so if your street is a busy one, or there are domesticated animals around, it might take the birds a while longer to warm up to your bath.

But it's early days yet. Be patient! I'm sure they'll be there in hoards shortly!

KC, great shot of your cardinal! I sure wish we got them in our yard, but we're too high (7,000 ft). They're all over AZ -- except here! :-(

 

[pduxon]

Does this answer your questions regarding cardinals and the bath?

love the picture KC,

 

[KC Foggin]

Thanks Pete

 

[Tracey40]

I stopped using 'pedestal' type bird feeders a few years back. For some reason, I've had better luck and a lot more activity by placing a shallow dish of water (I use a large plant saucer) on the ground. Robins, blue birds, brown thrashers, chicadees, titmice, nuthatches, to name a few, seem to flock to this bath on the ground. When I used elevated baths, I did not have near the variety or the frequency of visitors. However, since you have that great new concrete bath, you may try a dish close by on the ground and attract multi-level bathers......

 

[Katy Penland]

I stopped using 'pedestal' type bird feeders a few years back.......

I dug a 3 x 5 shallow, rock-lined pond on my back yard, and we get literally flocks of birds in to it. I wonder if has to do with "safety in numbers" where more birds can be around and in the water in a larger bath? It's a lot harder to maintain than a pre-made bath, but I like the rocks better for photography.

Even hummers buzz back and forth, catching bugs I suppose, although one last year flattened itself onto the rock directly below the slow drip, wings fanned out over the rock's surface, and was getting a drink and (I assumed) getting a mini-hummer bath. Never saw that before or since.

 

[gthang]

Yeah, a koi pond (such as the ones Katy speaks of, but without the fish) would be beneficial due to the pond's blending into the surrounding terrain. If you live in a desert, having a pond like this probably would make birds easier to prey upon, because it's the only source of water that many birds flock to... Anyway, good luck with the BB.

 

[Katy Penland]

Yeah, a koi pond (such as the ones Katy speaks of, but without the fish) would be beneficial due to the pond's blending into the surrounding terrain. If you live in a desert, having a pond like this probably would make birds easier to prey upon, because it's the only source of water that many birds flock to... Anyway, good luck with the BB.

I'm not talking about a koi pond at all. That would be too deep to be used as a bird bath.

The shallow pond I built has from 1" to 4" of water in it so birds of varying size can use it. Neither Mandy nor I live in a desert, but animals of all taxa will always be drawn to sources of water.