Birds will come into gardens every day if you add one simple object to your birdbath. Most bird baths go unused and waste water because they are missing a key item.
Why Birds Avoid Birdbaths
Birdbaths rank among the most beneficial ways gardeners can support birds during scorching summer days, as many of their natural water sources tend to dry up in the heat. However, there is little point in having a birdbath in your garden if birds refuse to use it, and many will steer clear if they cannot comfortably perch on the edge.
It may sound surprising, but birds frequently avoid slippery or steep surfaces, even when desperately in need of water, because they require a sense of security and the ability to move swiftly. If a birdbath is too deep or lacks suitable perching spots, birds may struggle to escape predators such as cats, foxes, or other birds, making them far less likely to pay a visit.
The Simple Solution: Pebbles
Larry Hodgson, widely known as the Laidback Gardener, has revealed that it is remarkably straightforward to make a birdbath more appealing to birds that will drink from it daily: all you need is a handful of pebbles.
He said: "Some commercial birdbaths look visually stunning, but when you install them, birds avoid them. Quite often, the cause is just that they are either too deep for small birds or the bottom is too slippery for them to feel at ease. To correct the problem, simply put pebbles or stones on the bottom, or even just a rock with a sloping top, so that at least one section is shallower than the rest or even exposed, offering a variety of depths."
The majority of common garden birds prefer water no deeper than five centimetres, as it allows them to move around with far greater ease. Placing stones or pebbles in a birdbath creates a shallower area where birds can stand, giving them a firmer grip as they land and making them feel more secure.
Stones or pebbles in a birdbath will also catch the light reflected off the water's surface, making it more visible to birds flying above and increasing the likelihood they will visit your garden.
How to Make Birds Feel Safer Around a Birdbath
- Simply pile some small pebbles along one side of a birdbath so the water depth changes gradually. This allows birds to walk directly into the water to bathe with ease.
- Position two or four larger rocks at the bottom of the birdbath so they poke slightly above the water's surface. This provides lookout spots for birds to scan for predators, helping them feel more at ease.
- Scatter a few stones randomly to break up the water's surface. Any expanse of open water can leave birds feeling vulnerable, and varying water depths will draw them towards a birdbath.
Shallower areas in a birdbath are more likely to attract smaller birds such as robins, wrens, and tits, while slightly deeper sections will attract blackbirds, starlings, and sparrows.
Making a birdbath more welcoming for birds should take no more than five minutes, and it remains one of the most effective ways to encourage birds to visit your garden this summer.
