ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 25 



The Bird's Bath 



A shallow pool of water, even in a city back yard, is an unfailing 

 attraction to the birds, as many bird lovers know from experience. 

 Water is as prime a necessity as food, for birds as for men ; and most 

 birds, thirst being satisfied, proceed to bathe. Many of our insectivorous 

 birds prefer to live in neighborly relations with human kind, and find 

 abundant food on our lawns, shrubbery and trees, which seem to harbor 

 more insect life than the uncultivated fields and woods. But where no 

 water is provided they sometimes have to travel long distances for the 

 necessity of a drink or the luxury of a bath. 



The picture on the opposite page shows a bird bath of the most 

 simple type. It is placed against a clump of shrubbery in a small suburban 

 yard. Although but ten feet from the sidewalks at a corner, with people 

 continually passing and automobiles rushing through the adjoining streets, 

 it is very popular with the robins, catbirds, orioles and wrens, and other 

 birds that nest in the vicinity, and is usually discovered by the migratory 

 thrushes and warblers that linger a few days on their spring and fall 

 journeys. The charm of watching the catbird at his morning bath, or 

 of seeing one of the rarer warblers taking a drink or an entire dip — 

 as suits his fancy — is irresistible to the human folk who live in the vicinity, 

 to say nothing of the satisfaction of having provided a much needed 

 refreshment on a hot day. 



Where the shrubbery is thick and there is danger of lurking cats it 

 is wiser to have the water basin set on a pedestal. But when danger 

 from the feline tribe is eliminated there is nothing so attractive as a pool 

 of water on the ground. This may be one of the commercial variety, such 

 as the illustration shows, which may be purchased from the department 

 stores at a reasonable price. Or it may be a kitchen pan of suitable size 

 and shape, but in any case it must not be too deep. 



A permanent cement pool of good dimensions can be constructed with 

 but little trouble and expense, and can be made an attractive feature of the 

 grounds. If possible, locate it where it can be easily seen from the 

 porch or the living room windows, and where it will be backed by 

 shrubbery. A little irregularity in shape will add to its attractiveness. 

 If the job is done by a professional cement worker, caution him not to 

 make it too smooth and workmanlike ; a little roughness to the surface 

 gives a much better footing for the bird bathers. 



A handy man with no knowledge of concrete work could do the job 

 and it might even be tackled by a handy woman. The local dealer in 

 building materials can supply the cement, and furnish instructions for 

 mixing it. Scoop out the earth where the pool is to be built, carefully 

 shaping the opening to the shape you have in mind. Remember that the 

 greatest depth of water should not be over four inches, and that the slope 

 of the edges should be very gradual so as to provide shallow water for 

 the smaller birds. Make the excavation deep enough to accommodate 

 about a three-inch thickness of cement, shovel the mixture into the hole 

 and spread it around in shape with hoe or trowel and finish the moulding 

 of it with your hands. 



But if you do nothing else, put out the pan of water, and the birds will 

 be grateful. 



