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You can spend an arm and a leg on a large, elaborate bird bath with all the bells and whistles included (or at least a fountain). But there's a cheaper, more customizable option. You can grab an old serving bowl or dish out of your kitchen cabinet to make an excellent bird bath. All you really need is a receptacle that can hold a shallow pool of water. With a simple serving dish pulled from your kitchen cabinets, you can be ready to provide support for your local songbirds in no time at all.
One of the top ways to make a charming DIY bird bath requires very little effort at all. You don't need an elaborate dish; it should be one that you don't mind keeping outside or potentially getting damaged. A shallow bowl is best, as you should place no more than 2½ inches of water in it. Of course, if all your serving dishes are too precious to sacrifice for the birds, you can take a quick trip to a thrift store to salvage a secondhand dish to use instead.
If you want to keep the project as basic as possible, source a metal stand to hold the dish or use landscaping bricks to keep it low to the ground so it will accommodate all types of wildlife. A more complicated DIY project involves attaching the bowl to a pole to elevate it. For that kind of project, you'll need a wooden post or old table leg, a piece of scrap wood, a drill, a screw and screwdriver, and waterproof glue.
Read more: 16 Clever Ways To Reuse Plastic Nursery Pots To Attract Birds & Pollinators (& Repel Unwanted Pests)
Creating a simple, yet effective bird bath
Although this type of bird bath truly uses what you have laying around in the kitchen, you still should do a little prep before putting it out for birds to enjoy. This budget-friendly DIY way to attract more birds will be more successful with a few modifications to your serving bowl. A smooth surface is not ideal for birds to get a good grip. Consider adding some rocks or stones at the bottom to provide a spot to safely perch.
If you decide to add some type of post to serve as a base for your bird bath, start by drilling holes in the wooden post and scrap piece and attaching them with screws. Then, using the glue, attach the serving dish to the scrap piece of wood securely. Let the glue dry fully before use. Then you can put the wooden post into the ground in your garden.
A plain serving dish as a bird bath might be too simple for your garden aesthetic, but you can learn how to decorate a simple bird bath to elevate its look. Perhaps you'll choose to paint a lovely design on the outside of a white serving dish (avoid using paint and chemicals on surfaces that come into contact with birds). Or maybe add some type of perch to the side of the dish out, made of a piece of wood. Another way to add a little personality is with glass beads or marbles, which you could glue along the rim.
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