Solar Bird Bath
Enjoying A Solar Bird Bath
Author: Barbara E. Volkov
A solar bird bath placed in a garden is a wonderful way to attract the birds to your backyard. The solar bird bath incorporates a number of options that a regular bird bath does not. They include lighting for night time use, a water fountain for soothing sounds of water, and a heater can be installed that helps prevent the water from freezing during the winter months.
Some solar bird baths come fully self-contained which means the solar panels are built into the unit. Some other units have solar panels that are separate from the unit but are attached using a wire. A self-contained bird bath will have to be placed in a sunny area that will absorb the suns energy. The other type of solar bird bath can sit anywhere in your garden, even the shade, but be sure to place the solar panel in the sun to absorb the energy.
The solar bird bath will only operate if the panel is receiving the suns energy; unfortunately on rainy days or cloudy days the bird bath will not operate. A small battery pack can be installed in the bird bath in order to operate on these days or during the night. In order for the solar bird bath pump to operate underwater the water needs to be clear of all debris. If you live in the north where you have freezing days during the winter you may want to install a heater in the solar bird bath so the water will not freeze. The bird bath pumps must be protected from freezing.
Sometimes a solar water fountain can be used as a bird bath, self-contained or not, because the sounds they make are the same as the solar bird bath and will still attract wildbirds. Water is just as valuable to the birds as their shelter and food if you want them coming around your patio or garden. The birds are attracted by the sound of running or moving water and not water that is standing still. The only thing you will attract with stagnant water is mosquitoes looking for a spot to lay their eggs.
A heated solar bird bath keeps the water just warm enough so it will not freeze. Even in the winter, the birds need to keep the feathers clean; installing a solar heated bird bath is much better for the birds. These solar bird baths that are heated are better suited in the areas that have problems with water freezing.
The benefits of a solar bird bath are:
- If they are self-contained there is no installation.
- There is no energy cost.
- They can be moved around easily.
- No operating costs.
It can be very relaxing to watch the birds come visit a solar bird bath. Sometimes it is for a bath or just a drink; it is very interesting to see how they take care of themselves and interact with other birds.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/enjoying-a-solar-bird-bath-2153772.html
About the Author
Barbara has entertained the thought of installing a solar bird bath in the backyard garden. She already has a water fountain that the birds are using but wants to try something new. She is always learning about new things for the garden and wants to share them with others. Come visit the website Gardeners Garden Supplies for more interesting tidbits.
Not a good idea to have warm water for birds to bathe in, it strips all of their natural oils from their feathers, which can result in skin problems.
You don’t have to heat it up for them, how do you think they have survived all these years in the cold weather? They don’t mind, I wouldn’t worry about heating it up for them, a normal bird bath should do just fine.
Good Luck
——-edit——–
Who wants to drink warm water? It doesn’t matter why you put it out, they will still bathe in it if it is there, they don’t know what’s good for them.
If you are going to make one, however, make sure the water is more cold than it is warm, that should be ok for them, but I would still urge you not to, I know you care, but they really don’t need it.
moving water freezes much slower than still water. so a solar fountain type that cascades the water will not freeze as quickly as one without a fountain.
the sun itself is a solar heater, isn’t it…….the obvios problem is providing heat after dark. the only way for a solar heater to work after the sun goes down is to have some way to store power, so my guess is a solar heated birdbath doesn’t really exist, and if it does it would cost you a pretty penny
We have two that are just like you say. One is a composite material, made to look like stone, that is very heavy and really nice. I like it because it’s tough and can stand a good cleaning with a stiff brush.
The older one is a white plastic one, and to weigh it down you twist off the top, pour water or sand in the base then replace the top. The white has become very discolored. I could use a plastic spray paint to make it look better, but that might not be safe for the birds.
We got the cheap plastic one at a garden center or a home improvement store, a long time ago. We got the nice one at a Wild Birds Unlimited Store, and it was around $100 but it’s well worth it.
I have a large fountain, a small ornamental pond with fish, bird bath, wind chimes and bells, and always a squirrel digging.
The children used to like to come into my yard to feed the birds and the fish. That gave me an idea to make a larger garden and call it Creation Garden and have verses pertaining to creation along a path.
My health has put that off but now that I am reminded I might have my grandchildren do the work.
There are several heavy iron lanterns that hold candles. You want to be very aware where they are hanging in relationship to your head while working in the garden, something I don’t seem to be good at.
Solar pumps work well for this sort of application if you’re not imagining something like the fountains of Trevi.
Sunjet and AquaSolar seem to be the brands I see most commonly around here in ponds.
What is a good, cheap water pump to make a battery-powered fountain for birds outdoors?
People who know birds generally know that they love the sound of running water – it attracts them and makes them sing. I’d like to build a simple, pole-mounted bird-bath / water fountain for my birds outdoors. I’m trying to locate a pump for the water – preferably solar powered. Inexpensive, reliable, no issues with priming, enough of a flow to make a little sound.
1. What kind of pump is best?
2. What’s a good vendor for this pump?
3. Is it realistic to power it with solar? Source / type of solar celll?
I guess I should emphasize that it is something I want to build myself; and the solar part is optional. Thanks for the recs’ reviews on Amazon say that generally the solar doesn’t generate enough power, better to go with juice from the grid.
Seniors what do you have in your garden besides plants?
I have a bird bath, a 3 foot tall very heavy St Francis, a black carp, out of my six musically tuned wind chimes, I have two left, the rest were stolen, and one chatter chime (bamboo), solar lights and of course patio furniture, faux wicker.
Now that there are newer members, I am again asking what have you got in your garden, aka yard, and what has pride of place? For me it would be my St Francis. We have been together a very long time !
Do bird baths with solar heaters really exist?
I know solar powered bird baths exist. . .to cascade or fountain or sprinkle water. However, I have been unable to find one that heats the water with solar power. What is amazing, is I literally read articles that reference solar heated bird baths, but then when I try to find them, they do not exist!
Solar Bird Bath – how can I make one at home?
I live in a very cold climate and want to make a home-made solar heated bird bath.
Ideas?
Update:
My real reason is to provide drinking water that isn’t freezing cold. The birds that do not migrate seem to get very thirsty when everything is below freezing for days and days (no liquid water out there…)
People in my neighborhood feed them, but no one seems to be watering them.
I have seen our winter birds (cardinals, sparrows, etc) actually bathe in warm water I put out. It’s gotta be up to them if that’s a good idea….
The real object is drinking water, not bathing.
Bird Baths and garden question?
I have a very small yard. I do have a clearing in front of the home with mulch. I have taken up bushes and plants from that area due to I need a very low maintenance area. I only want to use decorations to enhance the yard.
I am interested in garden sculptures and a bird bath. I do not want anything that requires a water pump, a Solar pump etc.. I will not be able to install a pump not maintain it.. my question is there just simple bird baths that I can add water to the top of it and leave it at that.. with the exception of cleaning it and/or making sure the water doesn’t evaporate??
.