in my opinion, nothing beats a bird bath fountain. Its a fountain shaped like a birdbath. The sound and the visual of the moving water really attracts the birds, plus the movement keeps the water from going stagnant.

Chinamigarden, what kind do you have? I've been wanting one and 100s are offered on line, but I have no idea how to choose one. I need simple and easy maintenance!!! My 3 bird bathes are concrete and tough to clean.

Donna

Besides a bird bath, I have a small pond and stream that I built many years ago. At the time I did not really consider that the birds would like it so I didn't design it with them in mind so there are no shallows in the actual pond but they do visit the stream for a drink and they seem to enjoy the splashing from the waterfalls. The pond attracts a large variety of wildlife - it was probably the most satisfying project that I've ever done, I can't wait to build another designed for the birds.

I put a mister on my deck birdbath and the birds DID NOT like it. The regulars would land on the rim and leave immediately. Others would sidle up along the deck rail but leave as soon as they felt the mist. I, on the other hand, loved it so I recommend putting a mister near where you sit to watch the birds.

I have to go with the pond idea. You can get the small pre formed ones at lowes. The trick is to have a slow running waterfall over a nice long slab of slate, I have 2 of these areas in my pond and it is a bird paradise. The pond can actually become a garden withn its self. Send me your e mail and I will send you pictures of mine....never could figure out how to post them on here. lvlice@aol.com

Well Donna if you live in SE Michigan you can come to my store. I have 3 concrete bird bath fountains.

If you want simple to clean, then any bird bath with a fresh water dripper is nice. It keeps the water in the bath fresh and it almost never needs to be cleaned.

Ok Chinamigarden, I see you have been a member for many years...just new to this particular forum. There are a lot of birders on thins forum from Michigan, why dont you give us a link to your store, if you are asked you are not breaking rules...we could critique what you have for birds. BEWARE if it is not something safe you will get bad press. But we would like to see.

Here are some old pictures of my pond. The birds like the stream bed where there are little areas where water collects and the birds drink and bathe. The next pond will have more shallow beach areas for the birds.

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Ditto to what Lisa said. LOL Hey are you in China twp??? I am in Romeo. Chinami never struck me as China Michigan. I am asking for a link too.
Cathy

My pond is VERY similar to jeanners but much smaller (600 gals). You can acomplish the same thing with 2 small 30 gal ponds as long as you have the nice long flat stone for water to run over. One pond only needs to be a few inches higher than the other.

I am always slow to promote my store here, only because I don't want to break any rules, but since I have been asked.

And yes my name is (broken down) China MI (michigan) Garden
Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Wild Bird Center of Chesterfield

Hi Barb! Thanks for sharing...Im over here north of Muskegon so I wont be visiting anytime soon, but I bet I can order stuff?? NOW lets make a deal! We invited you to share so you have not broken any rules, SO will you allow us to help educate people that come to your store? Especially about next boxes and how to keep them safe and also the dangers of ornamental bird houses? We only have 2 wild bird stores in our area and I am so upset with them. Neither of the owners knows as much about birds as I do and I only know what I have learned on these forums for the last 5 years, scarry eh? I really think every nesting box should come with a small insert saying "please go to www.sialis.org to learn about the birds that may use this box and how to keep them safe". Maybe offer a handout.(or suggest a good book) Also ornamental boxes should all have warnings in them to "block the hole as this house is a decoration and is not safe for nesting birds". I have asked the folks in the 2 shops here to do this...they dont care, they just want to make a sale. I refuse to shop there. I will send you my business if you will do this. Can you send me some meal worms? LOL ;)

Jeanner -- I'm trying not to die from envy. I'll never have anything like your pond and waterfall, and I'm so grateful for your post. You inspire me as I start to create a bird garden. Pls excuse if I misspelled your URL.

Glorie

I also wish I could have a pond and stream. After much consideration I have decided to order a water wiggler, but if I'm not happy with that the solar fountain will be next.

I do so appreciate all your suggestions. And maybe I will have a pond someday when I have more confidence about all this. I live just north of Boston not far from a reservation area, so I bet a pond would be a good thing.

Thanks all!

Thanks for the pics Jeanner, I'm just in the planning stages for my next pond. The ground is soft here in central Florida but I still may wait for cooler weather to do the digging.

Jeanner, we have a pond also. It's deep so birds don't really use it. I have seen dragonflies there though. Plants are overgrown so it's difficult to get into where the water is. Yours is absolutely beautiful. Nice work.

My "water feature" came with our property when we bought it 36 years ago, and it pre-dated that by centuries probably. It is a natural brook (the runoff from a spring) and it runs through a wetland which is a run-off area for underground water sources and rainwater in the spring. Since the demise of 3 of our 4 horses, it has grown up in pussywillow and other willow bushes in recent years. The cattails we transplanted long ago have established a good population over the years as well. The birds love it and so do we.

This picture was taken during high water in the spring. This brook is normally much tamer. This is the area where our remaining pony drinks, with willow growth in the background.

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