Pretty painted birdbath- please help...
by
Linda
+5
This past winter I decided to paint my ugly, plain cement birdbath and I decorated it with some pretty marble stones and colorful petals, adding two real looking birds. Problem is: No birds liked it!!! We've always had tons of birds bathe and drink from it before. I've since removed the artificial birds, hoping that might be the problem, then took several of the colored marbles out-- they too were cemented in so the birds couldn't choke on them, but still not one bird has even sat on it and it's been plenty hot enough. I'm wondering if anyone has an idea of what is keeping my bird friends away from it??? You can see the before and after pictures here. Please help.. I miss watching our birds bathe
Sometimes painted bird baths are too slippery on the edges for the birds to land on. Simply buy a large trig wreath, even from a thrift store, and just use a waterproof silicone to glue it to top of bird bath. Also it might need moved to another area of the yard so the birds have more security. I have mine in a nice shaded area under a maple tree.
Linda, keep the water shallow. Close to the ground seems more natural for birds. Is it a safe location from predators? They feel vulnerable if too close to shrubs. Just a thought - darker bottoms show water better. You could try adding a layer of gravel so they have good footing and can see the water.
Birds like to perch in a nearby bush and scan the area for threats, drink, and retreat to the bush or low tree. Place the birdbath near foliage on which birds can perch very close by and see what happens. Good idea to remove the fake birds, the marbles may not be a 'threat' -
Birds are much more comfortable with the water on the ground and I have found that a brick or two in the water gives them a better place to land. Since doing this, I have observed many more birds using the birdbath.
Pretty, but WAY too bright, and the reflect light that may look like 'eyes' to a bird ... YOU can't see the inside of the BB, I'd put pretty stones around the outside edge and get either paint over or pop off the stones on the interior -- as well as the large patches of color ... I'd paint the interior a soft shade of blue -- like the light blue in theupper part of the bowl. -- what's pretty to US may be scary to them .. they see differently that we do https://www.futurity.org/birds-see-colors-invisible-to-humans/
Go with Landsharkinnc's answer. It's the only one thus far that is actually considering the changes you made. If the bird bath was working before the painting, then the location, etc, was fine.