Bird Raccoon Bath
Some years ago I bought a bird bath and followed all the rules for getting the most bird visitors – like placing a perfectly shaped pan at ground level, and adding stones and a solar-powered fountain. Sadly, it attracted nothing but raccoons. And the fountain? It sprayed so vigorously, the bath was emptied within a couple of hours.
Becomes Dish Container Garden
So I gave up and turned it into the dish garden above, planted a Little Bluestem grass (it might also be a switchgrass) and some Sedum sarmentosum that I hoped would be a good trailer. In this photo it looked its best, framed by blooms of Ninebark ‘Ginger Wine.’
Over winter it lost what little appeal it had…. in this high-visibility spot just under my living room window.
Then a Succulent Dish Garden, but How to Water?
So this year I chucked the grass (with roots that completely filled the soil area), replaced it with potting medium for succulents, and then the plants. (Note: I resist with all my being calling them “plant material.”) They are ice plant (Delosperma ‘Wheels of Wonder’), hens and chicks, and the honestly trailing Sedum ‘Angelina.’ I covered the remaining bare soil with marbles saved from my childhood.
I love it so far but am anxious that I might kill it from over- or underwatering. There’s not much soil in there; the plants are drought-tolerant but how long can they go without water? Conversely, despite the dozen holes bored into the bottom, is there danger of overwatering?
New Bath in the Right Place – Success!
Then about a week ago I decided to try using water to attract birds to my front garden, after giving up on the idea 10 years ago. Seen here in this 2014 photo, I not only had a bath but feeders, too, which all proved to be annoyingly messy and weedy. I was saved from the dilemma of choosing between bird-feeding and less work for the gardener by a very annoyed neighbor who complained that my feeders were attracting whole flocks, which then perched in a tree over her car and pooped on it, apparently copiously.
So it all had to go.
This time I’m trying water alone, with a bath mounted on a pedestal, hopefully less appealing to raccoons. But knowing that birds might never come to bathe in this location, either, I went cheap. Sooooo cheap.
This bird bath could be had – the very next day – for just $35! I ditched the little bird doodad and buried the ornate base. 
Simplified, I like the look just fine. Though like the commenters on Amazon, I have a complaint – it’s not very stable, exactly because it’s so cheap and lightweight. So it’s unsteady, despite having the tube filled with stand the base pinned down. But my thinking was that if birds actually used it and if keeping it clean and mosquito-free isn’t too big a pain, I could keep it or spend more for something heavier and give this one away.
But look!!!!! And cardinals started drinking from it within a day!
Now my favorite spot to sit in the morning is on my front stoop, just a few feet away from the bath, watching and listening. My happy place just got even happier.
so glad your persistence paid off. and as a bonus, you haven’t lost your marbles either!
Good one!
All those little holes around the edges – stabilize the whole setup with long bamboo poles pushed into the ground through the holes and then … grow something fun on the poles! watering built in as the birds splash and you refill – perfect!
Good idea – I may try it.
We have gone through similar variations and have settled on a 20″ diameter Italian terra cotta saucer, sitting on the ground. This sturdy, shallow pool has lasted us over 20 years. The birds use it in the daytime and we often find ‘coon prints in it in the morning. All is well.
I’m so glad you didn’t give up! It is a great joy to watch the birds not only drinking from our bird bath but flapping their wings around in there washing up and splashing all over. They say a reliable water source in your garden is even more important than feeders, even in winter. And as I’m sure you already know, just be sure to scrub it clean regularly and fill with fresh water. Mosquitoes have never been an issue with our bird baths because there’s so much movement in the water and you’ll be adding fresh water more often than you might think. Enjoy!
Please tell us about the bath’s stand. It looks ceramic. Is it winter weather proof?
Don’t know yet. Here’s the product info: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSVPZRNK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
We eventually settled on a heated birdbath (only plugged in during freezing months) that sits on top of a second-hand concrete pedestal. We probably get more birds in winter, warming their tails and beaks, than in summer. It’s a treat for us to watch. Occasionally, if we’re feeling generous in the summer, we’ll poke a small hole in the bottom of a milk jug, fill it with water, and suspend it over the full bath using a shepherd hook) to give the birds “moving” water as it slowly drips in.
cool!
After many bird baths along the gardening way, we now have a fiberglass waterfall that attracts all sorts of birds. The crows use the sturdy glass bath for their nefarious purposes making it necessary to clean it frequently. Wish I could share pictures.
I wish you could, too. Is there a link to the product? I’m so curious.
Regarding the base I meant the white flowered one under the sedum filled basin.
Can’t think why the metal one would not be frost proof.
Thanks
Ah! Here’s info about that one. https://www.studio-m.com/shop/products/art-poles.html
I love your sense of humor especially refusing to use the term plant material!! It does sound so dry and technical. 🙂
I too learned about weedy bird seed, so for the last 40 years I’ve only done year-rd water in my copper birdbath, a granite ground waterer and winter/spring suet. (Copper and shade is excellent for reducing algae; granite/rock seems to temper the heat a bit.) I love your sedum dish. I’ve been trying the last few years to create a drapey/trailing composition using an old cracked cement birdbath w/add’l holes drilled but haven’t found the right plants that survive. Creeping thyme, which I’m convinced can survive on the moon, ivy and ice plant didn’t work. Congrats to you for figuring it out. Never had problems w/birds finding my baths – keeping them at least partially shaded works since full sun can create a really unpleasant hot tub! I’m betting you’ve inspired many gardeners to provide much needed little puddles of water to birds that give us humans so much pleasure.
I have a tall-ish birdbath that I can heat in the winter for the birds, a low birdbath for the other critters, although occasionally the tall one gets tipped over in the night, presumably by raccoons or opossums. Neither are very attractive, but they do the job. I stop feeding the birds during the summer – too many sparrows!
I have two of these birdbaths. I was skeptical at first. My first one was a gift, along with a solar fountain that floats around. It works great. I bought another one after the success of the first one and the demise of my ceramic birdbath. (Probably raccoons!). I’m pleased with all the birds they attract. Now if I could just get them to stop pooping in the water!
Love success stories!
This style of bird bath is well loved by my visiting birds. They don’t seem to care about the cost (unbelievably cheap) or the rickety-ness of it. I used old tent stakes, no longer needed, to keep it stable and everyone is happy. One of my bird baths is deeper than advised — and the robins and crows love it — they actually wait in line, well on branches, for their turns. I love my plants and trees but the birds bathing are incredibly fun.
Thx for the encouragement and the idea of using tent stakes – for that OLD tent I’ll never ever use again. Just found it at the back of my closet.
I had the same water spray problem. The birdbath would be empty by noon each day. Since then I’ve learned to take the spray head off and just let the water bubble/spurt upward. I’m going to try your idea of having a birdbath at ground level.
Me, too. It works fine if I don’t attach any of the spray attachments. I also found a fix (I assume) to the problem of instability. I ordered some 12-inch “tent stakes” from Amazon that I’ll use on the base of the bird bath. They also have 16-inch ones.
I also have a small water fountain that birds and other critters drink from, but it’s too deep for bird bathing.
There is however, a perpetually dry area near one of my gates. The sparrows and other small birds have created little bowl shaped divots that they use for dust baths. Every bit as entertaining as water baths!