16 THE AUDUBON BULLETIN 



The Bird Bath 



There are numerous ways with which to attract birds. The two most 

 common forms are the feeding shelf with its hunk of suet which attracts 

 during the winter months, and the bird bath — the chief summer attrac- 

 tion. 



Too many of us feel that a lovely bird bath is alone the pleasure 

 of the rich man or woman. As we scan the beautiful illustrations of 

 many of the expensive monthly magazines, we see exquisite marble and 

 concrete bird baths advertised for sale. Often, because we cannot afford 

 one of these artistic yard decorations we make no effort at all to supply 

 our neighborhood birds with a drink of good, cool water and a refreshing 

 bath. 



If you can do no better, secure a shallow crock and keep it well supplied 

 with pure fresh water. You will be surprised at the number of visitors 

 you wiH receive. 



Several years ago I noticed an old metal kitchen sink in the yard of 

 a junk dealer. At once the thought came to me that there lay the making 

 of a bird bath both useful and artistic. I had the sink hauled home and 

 placed in my back yard not too close to a hedge of lilacs and snowball 

 bushes, for I feared the ever sneaking cat, yet close enough to secure this 

 as a suitable background. I had it placed so that a pear tree cast a partial 

 shadow upon it during the afternoon. 



I fitted a large cork in the drain and then mounted the entire sink 

 on a solid foundation of six bricks, set three to a side. This left the bottom 

 clear of the ground and allowed a free drainage of the water in the bath. 

 Next I collected geodes and glacial boulders selecting them from the size 

 of a cantaloupe to that of a man's head and these I terraced up to the 

 sink entirely hiding everything but the interior. Next I secured some 

 black enamel and thoroughly surfaced the interior to prevent rust and to 

 add to the general appearance. The bottom of the bath was next covered 

 with light colored pebbles and a large flat rock was placed over the cork 

 and drain, and here it was that the birds best enjoyed themselves when the 

 water was turned in. 



I secured an umbrella plant and started it growing in one corner 

 while I started a small water hyacinth near the middle. I secured four 

 slips of various willows; the common yellow, the weeping, the common 

 riverside and the pussy willow. These I started growing upon three sides 

 of the bath. The common yellow willow was an inch in diameter and 

 had many small branches which extended over the water thus giving 

 the birds a good place to perch as they prune themselves after their bath. 



As soon as I turned in the water, the success was immediate. Birds 

 came in numbers and because the environment was so natural, I was more 

 than repaid for my effort by the numbers of my callers. This year I 

 expect to add cattail grass and arrowwort to the side where I draw my 

 water and I believe I shall have even, more bird visitors than last year. 

 Not only am 1 ahead the bird bath but I enjoyed the planning of each 

 minute detail. I advise you to try the same experiment, but, REMEMBER, 

 make a finished job of it and keep the bath away from heavy shrubbery 

 or you invite cats as well as birds. 



