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All living things need water, and that includes birds, which utilize water for both drinking and grooming their feathers.

For humans looking to provide water for birds and other wildlife in their yards, the stereotypical concrete or stone pedestal bird bath is not the only option. There are more natural-looking alternatives out there, including ones that you can build yourself.

Some of these alternatives can be purchased but are made of natural materials that fit into a wild backyard. Others can be carved right out of natural materials you may already have access to.

Key Takeaways

• Natural-looking bird baths: Skip the concrete bird baths and go for more natural materials like wood or stone. You can even carve a bird bath out of a stump or log from your yard.
• Bird-friendly design and upkeep: Ensure your bird bath is shallow enough for small birds and maintain it regularly. Use natural cleaning solutions like a water-vinegar mix to keep it clean.
• Backyard ponds for wildlife: Adding a pond can turn your yard into a wildlife-friendly habitat. While it takes more effort, a pond can attract a variety of birds and other critters, creating a vibrant ecosystem.

Carving a Bird Bath Out of a Stump

One natural bird bath that looks right at home in a natural setting is one fashioned out of a log or stump. You may already have one in your yard that you never got removed.

Placing a bowl of sorts on top of the stump is one option, or you could attempt to carve one out of the wood yourself if you’re handy.

The ideal bird bath isn’t super deep, allowing small birds to reach the water without falling in. You don’t want it to be much deeper than two inches, gently sloping so that birds can keep their footing without sliding into the pool.

Considering that the bath will be filled with water at just about all times, you may want to consider a bird-safe sealer to keep the wood from rotting, or you could put a bowl inside the carved-out stump or log that can be removed frequently for cleaning.

Stone Bird Baths

Wood is not the only natural material that can be used for a backyard bird bath. In nature, water may build up in puddles in the grass or on rocks. Stone bird baths — real rock or synthetic — can keep things looking natural and benefit your feathered friends at the same time.

Carving out rocks into a bowl shape isn’t a skill that most people probably have. If you do, go for it, but most of us will probably have to purchase one:

Last update on 2024-10-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Ponds or Streams

Not every yard has a naturally occurring stream or pond on it, but if you put in the effort, you can have one too.

It’s not as simple as putting up a bird bath and filling it with water every once in a while. Installing a pond will require some major excavation, depending on the size of the pond you’re looking to build.

Even a small pond is going to require some excavation, but building your own pond can revitalize your outdoor space and create a fantastic wildlife habitat.

A pond surrounded by cattails can become a haven for blackbirds or other marsh-loving bird species, while a pond surrounded by swamp milkweed can provide monarch butterflies with vital breeding habitat. A big enough pond can house fish, which can welcome herons or critters like mink and muskrats to your yard as well.

A small pond, while not supporting herons, muskrats, fish, and the like, will still provide a natural bird bath for birds. And it doesn’t take a huge backyard to add one.

Less Natural, but Along the Same Theme

Not all parts of your backyard have to be perfectly natural like a stump or a rock. Sometimes natural-looking is good enough.

Some bird baths made of ceramic or stone won’t look out of place in your backyard as long as they’re neutral colors like light brown.

Last update on 2024-10-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-10-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Get Creative and Keep It Fresh

If you’ve got an idea, run with it. What looks best in your yard may be something completely different, and you may already have something available that you think might work as a natural bird bath.

Just make sure to keep it clean and provide fresh water at all times. Frequently changing the water and not allowing it to get too hot in the summer or cold in the winter is key, as is cleaning out bird baths to avoid the buildup of bacteria.

Artificial cleaners aren’t necessary, and may actually harm birds. The National Audubon Society suggests a solution of nine parts water and one part vinegar.

Whatever bird bath option you choose will be a bonus for your backyard wildlife.

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