One of the incredible privileges of living in Australia is being able to watch such a wonderful collection of native birds. The best way to bring them into your backyard is to plant native Australian plants such as grevilleas, banksias or bottlebrush. Another way to encourage birds to visit your backyard is to install a simple birdbath. Nearly all birds take in water with their food so most need to drink regularly. If you provide food (in the form of plants), shelter and water, you will attract birds to your garden and even migratory birds will stop over to rest, feed and bathe.
Styles
There is a wide variety of different styles and colours of birdbaths including the straight terracotta dish on a wrought iron stand or terracotta pedestal. Other terracotta styles have a ceramic glaze on the inside of the dish in aqua green, cornflower blue or beige while others have a wattle motif around the edge of the bowl. Other styles include coloured concrete birdbaths that would suit a Tuscan or Greco-Roman garden. Also a series of cascading birdbath dishes can be set up to trickle into a pond in the garden for something a bit more creative.
Safety first
Birds must bathe and drink with safety, so a birdbath should be placed in a protected position (where it can be easily seen from a window) but not in full sun, as this will encourage algal growths and make the water slimy. It should be out of reach of predators and be near perches or branches where the birds can sit in safety to preen. Birds are always wary of predators, but the excitement of splashing water may put them momentarily off guard, so high stands are preferable.
Keep the bath clean and filled with fresh water each day. Birds can easily drown so never fill a birdbath more than 5cm (2″) deep with water. Always place a few small stones or pebbles in the birdbath to make a shallow spot for small or baby birds who may find the water too deep and can drown. It is best to sit the dishes 100cm (39″) or more above the ground. The birdbath also needs to be stable, so if using a spear-type stand bury the stand at least 30cm (1′) deep into the ground.
Cost and availability
Wrought Iron Birdbath stands – assorted styles are $69.95 each – these are made by a blacksmith named Dietmar Fleckhammer in Victoria. Ceramic and terracotta dishes/bowls to fit into the above stands range from $19.00 to $49.95. Pedestal birdbaths range in price from $39.95 for a small one and $69.95 for a large one. They are available from Kuranga Native Nursery, 393 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood, VIC, 3134. Phone: (03) 9879 4076. Most general nurseries and garden centres stock a range of terracotta and cement birdbaths.
