Have you stopped maintaining your birdbath when birds didn’t show up? I can relate. One spring years ago, I plopped a pedestal-style birdbath onto an expanse of lawn. Although I kept clean water in the basin all summer, not a single bird arrived.

Since those days, I’ve had success drawing birds to a birdbath. This article aims to guide you toward an enjoyable birdbath-keeping experience.

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Wild birds won’t waste energy traveling to and from your yard for water only. The three basic needs of songbirds are food, water and shelter. The idea is to serve those needs by creating a pocket of bird habitat in your yard.

Birds eat a combination of insects, spiders, worms, and grubs as well as berries, seeds, and nectar (hummingbirds).

You can begin to build up this bounty by growing plants native to Florida and the Southeast. Why? Native plants and creatures evolved over hundreds of thousands of years together, developing relationships necessary for survival.

Native plants host native insects, including caterpillars, which are essential for baby birds. They also produce berries, seeds, and nectar sought by the wild birds you’re inviting to your yard.

Feeders create excellent viewing opportunities and supplement birds’ natural diet. Place a feeder a short distance from the bath, but not so close that seed spills into the water. Clean your feeder frequently to prevent spread of disease. Squirrel-proof feeders deter squirrels if you locate them just a bit more than a squirrel’s-leap away from trees.

Birds will come back again and again to a clean, reliable water source. For the basin, choose porous concrete or other rough material so little bird feet don’t slip. Keep water depth to two inches or less for safety.

Replace water every three days in mosquito season. Scrub the basin every 10 days with nine parts water to one part bleach. Rinse thoroughly, let dry, then refill. If you flush out the water often, scrubbing may not be needed. A mister or dripper is a nice addition, as the sound of moving water is attractive to birds.

If your yard consists of lawn and tall trees, add at least one island of mid-height vegetation. Birds, constantly evading predators, are wary of crossing a wide area of lawn to reach a water source. They need shrubs and smaller trees in which to hide, perch, and rest. These plants also provide protection from wind and weather.

An abundance of insects ensures a buffet for insect-eating birds. Insects pollinate flowers that produce seeds and berries – more food for birds. As a bird-lover, you likely have banished chemical insecticides from your property. At the least, you only use ultra-targeted organically derived spot treatment. If you’re concerned your yard will have too many insects, don’t worry. The population balances out because birds will be feasting.

Researchers Doug Tallamy and Desirée Narango, along with Peter Marra, director of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, have recommended that at least 70 percent of a yard striving to support birds be planted with native plants.

A variety of native plants not only benefits birds, but presents an array of textures, shapes, and colors. And a native plant in its preferred environment is likely to thrive with minimal maintenance. At the nursery, choose plants according to your yard’s light, soil, and moisture conditions. Look for native plants that produce blooms, berries, and seeds at different times of year.

Deciding where to put the bath can be tricky. Considerations include: 1. Easy viewing from indoors, 2. A lightly shaded, quiet spot, 3. A tree nearby for quick escapes, and 4. Proximity to a hose. Place the bath on sturdy, level ground, and avoid placing the bath among dense vegetation where cats could lurk.

Whether you add a few bird-friendly plants, a bath, and a feeder, or create an entire backyard refuge for birds, thank you. You are helping vulnerable creatures survive in a changing world. Enjoy the beauty, songs, and vibrant colors of wild birds visiting your birdbath.

Jen Gensits is a Master Gardener Volunteer with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.

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