Although you may hear it all the time, a fresh water source really is the best way to entice more species of birds to your yard. It’s so true, and once a bird bath is added you’ll be more than pleased with the results!

Even in urban areas, folks still like their songbirds. If you have a small yard, or no yard – it’s no problem! If there’s even the tiniest deck or balcony, you can easily install a hanging bird bath with a metal hook that’s made just for decks and railings. It’s truly a joy looking out the window and seeing sweet songbirds’ activity. If anything can take you away from the daily hustle and bustle…it’s got to be nature!

Hanging bird baths are well suited in big yards too where they may be ground predators lurking. Although birds do naturally bathe at ground level, the hanging bath gives them an advantage in this situation. In our yard there are ground and pedestal baths, and still we have a small copper hanging bird bath too.

Another advantage of the hanging bird bath is that it can be used as a platform-type feeder in winter months. Many materials like weatherproof stoneware (shown here) will withstand freezing temperatures. With the large, flat area, it’s versatile enough for feeding suet, peanuts, mealworms, birdseed mixes, or just about anything you’d like to offer feathered friends in freezing months.

The optimal water depth is about 2-inches for birds to bathe and wade comfortably. If your birdbath is deeper than that, try placing a large rock in the center for birds to perch safely.