28 replies to this topic

[Texachusetts]

I had a couple of requests on the ID a bird forum about my water jug bird bath system, so I am posting the info and pictures here. I hang a gallon of water with a pinhole in the corner on a hook suspeded from a rope from a bush. Then I purchased 3 plastic plant saucers, 1 large (14 inches, about 2 1/2 inches deep), 7 and 5. You can do with just the large one...I was experimenting. I also bought a bag of landscaping rocks and thoroughly washed them. The I purchased a stake with a butterfly. I had a cute little garden statue already. The spot I picked was open enough so there wasn't a hiding spot for predators, and the branches above give the birds a spot to go to dry. I also have a dogwood tree with low branches nearby. I didn't know that would be useful until I saw some birds liked to fly through the drip between the bush and the tree. I inverted the smallest saucer inside the edge of the largest one. I put the medium one adjacent with the stake touching both. Then I covered the bottom of the saucers with the cleaned rocks and sloped them so the birds would have footing and a variation in depth. For a slow drip, I cover the jug, but for a faster drip, I leave the cover off. I am cleaning this out twice weekly by having another supply of the rocks that soaked in 10% bleach. I empty the saucer and put the rocks in a pail with the 10% solution and brush out the saucers with the same 10% and rinse. Here is the set-up and some pics: this chicadee is actually hovering under the drip a dripping chipping 2 in and 1 waiting goldfinch gets into it bath aftermath

[threeofhardts]

I love this. Thanks for posting the info and pictures. What a great idea. My backyard friends only drink from my bird bath, seldom see any bathing in it. I might just have to try your idea.

[Texachusetts]

Except for the cleaning, it's easy. Now I know they use it, I may purchase one easier to clean, but the dripper is a keeper. It has also drawn birds that don't come to my feeder, like these two...Black-throated green warbler and Chipping Sparrow as well as a red-eyed vireo I didn't get with the camera!

[threeofhardts]

Well, I already rigged one up. LOL Right now the water jug is hanging from my shepherd's hook and the container I used is only about 10" in diameter. I had some leftover aquarium gravel that I put in the bottom. Will have to see if the birds show interest and if they do, I'll get a larger container. Thanks for the great idea Texachusetts.

[cestma]

Very cool, thanks for posting. I'd be thrilled to see that warbler! Never would have thought of using stakes like that. All in all, most inspiring. Now if only I had the perfect place for something like this!

--Diane G.

[cwj2323]

That is a great idea! We have two baths, one on the ground, another about a foot or more off the ground. They both are drank from and bathed in. With this heat, we've had a lot more bathing visitors than feeding birds. What a thrill we had when we saw the Red-headed Woodpecker come by for a sip and a dip. They've never been in our yard before. I am eager to see what a drip jug would bring. Maybe that all-illusive chickadee... He's been down at the creek-we'd hear his song, but never once has he come in our yard.

I got a kick out of your Dripping Chipping. I am surprised they don't come to your feeders. They eat from the ground and in our platform.

[threeofhardts]

So far none of the birds have shown any interest in my set-up. I even took down the other bird bath (which they only drink from) and they just keep going to that area looking for it. Maybe the birds around here don't like baths.

[JimBob]

I thought about doing something like this but I didn't think it would work. . . now I have to try!

[Texachusetts]

My friend gets chipping sparrows at her feeder, but I don't...not sure why. She is more "in town" and I am on the edge of the forest, but they are here, just high up in the pine trees. Oh well, it likes the bath. I have seen it several times, but just 1 I think. My bath has slowed down a bit though the goldfinches and titmice are still coming, just not as often. It also finally rained here, so they are able to get leaf baths. Part of why this make work esp well for me is that the honeysuckle it is under has always been my bird's "launching point" to the feeders. The berries were also ripe when I put it up and the robins, chicadees titmice and cedar waxwings like those. I know my first visitor, a robin, tried it out when he was in the bush getting berries and maybe saw the moving water. After that they just kept coming. I have also noticed the birds are much quieter now. Even my vireo only sings for short periods and I haven't heard any of the warblers this week at all (I have been hearing yellow-rumped myrtle, black-throated green and ovenbirds all day long). Could they have left already?

[cwj2323]

Well, I did put one of these out on Friday. The poor Robin about had the fits until the water drips slowed down. Even with a cap on, it came out as a spray for a time. We were busy, so I didn't watch it a lot, but whenever I did look there were no birds enjoying the bath. I took it down. But I think when fall migration starts and less of the regulars show up, I'll try it again to see if any passerbys will enjoy it.

[Texachusetts]

_{Mine has slowed down, but I still see goldfinches, chicadees and titmice in it. Actually, I think many birds have left. I've only seen one robin this week and I have not heard any of the warblers or thrushes I was hearing all the time. I wonder if the big secret for me was that I did not have a bird bath before this and many of you did so this was a change that frightened the birds. Mine has been very popular, and now the chipping sparrow (just one) comes to my feeder too.}

[threeofhardts]

Mine wasn't a hit either and I've taken down the 'dripper'. I did see a Goldfinch bathing in my bird bath, though.


Edited to add: Although I took down the dripper, I left the pan of water with the stones just to see if the birds would eventually bathe in it. Yesterday (08-13-12) I saw a cat pee in the water!!!

I decided to remove it after seeing that!

[Aveschapines]

I also haven't noticed particular interest in my dripper; and I always got goldfinches, warblers, orioles, and robins at my birdbaths, along with sparrows and grackles. Maybe you're right - it was the bath, and not specifically the dripper, that was doing it for you!

[Texachusetts]

It is still a hit...the goldfinches bathe and drink from it all day, and the titmice, chicadees and chipping sparrows are using it a lot too even though we have had rain, but I DO think the drip is what draws the occasional warbler. This little lady has shown up 3 times in the last 10 days. . Aside from this Black and White and the Black Throated Green pictured above, I have seen 2 Chestnut Sided in the Honeysuckle. I did not see them in the bath, but I have never seen any of them here before.

[meghann]

That's awesome you're getting warblers in your bird bath! I might have to try to set something like this up after we move, we're looking into getting a nice piece of land and I have plans for a bird watching area with feeders and bird baths.

[Aveschapines]

It is still a hit...the goldfinches bathe and drink from it all day, and the titmice, chicadees and chipping sparrows are using it a lot too even though we have had rain, but I DO think the drip is what draws the occasional warbler. This little lady has shown up 3 times in the last 10 days. . Aside from this Black and White and the Black Throated Green pictured above, I have seen 2 Chestnut Sided in the Honeysuckle. I did not see them in the bath, but I have never seen any of them here before.

Wow! I've never seen a B&W in my birdbaths; just Wilson's, Townsend's, and Yellow. Maybe I'll keep my dripper up. The tray under the dripper is quite a bit smaller than my other birdbaths; that could be part of the issue. I have two trays about 3/4" deep, about 12 X 16 inches, and one that's probably 18 X 24 and an inch and a half deep, plus a large plastic tub with a cement block in it for the grackles (and the Robins like it too!) For the dripper I just used a rectangular pot tray I had on hand, about 6" by 12".

[cwj2323]

That is great you are getting Warblers! We had a Yellow Warbler coming in the area where our bird bath is and you know what? A feisty hummingbird chased it off. That hummingbird has been chasing wrens off as well. And it's even found a way to guard two feeders on opposite sides of the house by hovering above the house!!! I'm about to be feisty right back and bring in the feeders!

Sorry about the rant. I am just floored by this behaviour.

[Texachusetts]

The birds have always loved this honeysuckle and I experimented with the drip bath location, but they wanted it under the honeysuckle. Not the best spot for watching as the deck rail is in the way, but I sure have enjoyed it. Helen I'll tell my B & W to go to your "pool" for the winter! Ferhoodled, is your hb a ruby-throat? Mine just go after each other (and chipmunks) I have never seen as many as this year. I have seen 6 at once but suspect I have at least double that. A "hummingbird war" of 3 bumped into a chicadee on the honeysuckle. The chicadee was not impressed.

[cwj2323]

Yes, all we have is the Ruby-throated. Those little birds are just nuts- I cannot believe how far they will go to chase one another off. Today, they seem to be busy with each other and are leaving the other birds alone. Oh, dear. I can imagine the chickadee being a little upset.

[Aveschapines]

That is great you are getting Warblers! We had a Yellow Warbler coming in the area where our bird bath is and you know what? A feisty hummingbird chased it off. That hummingbird has been chasing wrens off as well. And it's even found a way to guard two feeders on opposite sides of the house by hovering above the house!!! I'm about to be feisty right back and bring in the feeders!

Sorry about the rant. I am just floored by this behaviour.

Oh, yeah, hummers are nasty little buggers. When the Ruby Throats invade they chase off the White-Eareds (about twice their size) and the Magnificents (3-4 times their size)! Over time I've gotten more birds; nowadays I see at leastsix each of White-Eareds and Magnificents at my feeder at once. I was getting 1-2 Rufous Sabrewings for a while in April, but then they went away!