Feeding birds is a common way to attract them to your garden, but they will not stick around if they do not have access to a clean water source. Birdbaths are essential if you want to help out your local bird population, but many people make the mistake of setting one up in the corner of their garden to keep it out of the way.
The gardening experts at Soothing Company have warned that placing a birdbath in a shady spot at this time of year will make it useless, and gardeners need to move it to keep it functional in winter. They said: “Place your birdbath in a sheltered spot that receives ample sunlight. Positioning it away from cold winds and in a sunny area helps maximise heat absorption, keeping the water in the birdbath from freezing too quickly.”
Why is a shady area the worst place to keep a birdbath?
It is incredibly important that birdbaths are exposed to light during the winter, as the sun will stop the water from freezing and keep birds coming into your garden.
Frozen water tends to expand as it thaws, which can crack a birdbath and cause it to become really damaged over the winter.
Ice also tends to harbour a lot of bacteria, and if birds peck at the melting water, it can make them ill or even infect them with disease.
It can be tempting to try to use salt and boiling water to break the ice, but the sudden temperature change will make it more likely for the bird bath to shatter.
Where is the best spot for a bird bath in winter?
Instead, to keep a birdbath working properly, it’s best to take a few minutes to move it into a more open area of the garden where it will receive some sun.
Birdbaths require light, but they also need to be placed near a cover to shield them from the wind and provide birds with an escape route if they spot a predator.
Try to place a birdbath in a location that has some sort of shelter nearby, but is also open enough for birds to easily see it and look around the garden to detect threats.
Do not place a birdbath directly next to a fence or shed, as it makes it easy for cats to lurk and makes birds feel unsafe.
Some of the best places in a garden to place a birdbath in winter are on a raised patio, near a tree, or next to some bushes.
Taking the time to move a bird bath will ensure that British birds, such as robins, blackbirds, and goldfinches, stay healthy over the colder months and continue to flock to your garden throughout the winter.
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