The Home Shop Blog

Bird bath fountains are probably the best way to attract birds to your property. Whether they’re looking for a quiet place to splash around or a quick drink on a hot summer day, birds look for baths and running water.

The inviting sound of trickling water that is provided by a fountain design, lets birds know that the water is fresh and safe to drink.

Advantages of Bird Baths

Bird bath fountains are natural and will attract a wide variety of birds to your backyard - like bluebirds, warblers and bobwhites - all of which enjoy moving water. You’ll love watching your backyard birds as they play, splash, bath and drink.

Bird baths also make great water accents for your garden, adding a decorative touch, but also the therapeutic and peaceful sound of running water.

Why a Fountain Bird Bath?

Birds instinctively listen for the sound of water, making a point of seeking out bubbling or running water. And while a standard bird bath will eventually attract regular visitors, a fountain-style bath will draw migrant birds that are simply passing through the area.

Depending on the season, your backyard will fill with robins and doves and waxwings as they pass through on their migratory paths. In short, the running water will actually attract the birds, rather than simply waiting for them to happen upon your yard attraction.

Maintain a Shallow Water Level

Most birds aren’t long-distance swimmers and they prefer a shallow level of water, no higher than an inch. So, keep the water level in your fountain low and place a few rocks around and inside the fountain to act as footing for smaller birds.

Install a Bath Mat

Just as we don’t like stepping into a slippery bath tub, birds are hesitant about slippery surfaces like glass tile or glazed pottery, no matter how beautiful it is. Instead of spending the money, opt for a grip-safe fountain surface like concrete or sandstone.

Stay Low to the Ground

In nature, you won’t find natural water at waist height, unless it’s falling over a cliff. Water pools at ground level, and that’s the first place birds will look for it. So, keep your bird bath close to the ground and surrounded by natural elements such as shrubbery.

The Best Fountain Designs

One of the best designs for bird bath fountains is a dual basin set-up. With two tiers of basins set on the ground, a small pump keeps water flowing from the top basin into the lower one. The running water attracts the birds while the low-to-the-ground style keeps them interested. Dress it up with a few plants and some well-placed stones, and then sprinkle some seed on the ground - you’ll soon have a backyard bird oasis.

The ability to attract beautiful birds to your yard is both gratifying and aesthetically enjoyable to bird lovers all around the world. Just watching them taking in a drink in your fountain or slashing themselves with the refreshing water you provided is a sight to behold.



By: Trevor Price

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Hire an Interior Decorator or an Interior Designer? Have you recently renovated a room in your house and wish to have it professionally decorated? Are you looking to refresh your home with a new colour scheme and furnishings? Or, are you thinking of putting up your home for sale and want it to attract a larger range of buyers? When should you hire an interior designer or could an interior decorator suffice? What is the Scope of the Project? Redecorating your home can make a huge difference, as seen on home improvement shows that feature those popular and fun before and after makeovers. Keep in mind however, that it’s not as easy as it looks, and how often is the overall cost mentioned? If you just want to re-style your house, for example paint your walls in a new colour scheme, change your window coverings, or buy new furniture but don’t know where to begin, an interior decorator would be a less expensive professional choice. Home-stagers also fall under this category. 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Decorators may have a background working with companies involved with home interiors and be experienced with various options for colour window coverings, flooring, furniture, art, etc. Homestaging is a technique that can be used by homeowners to make their homes more attractive when they put their property on the market. Renting furniture or art, buying new accessories and ridding of clutter are some of the ways the home is made to appear newer, larger, cozier, or generally more appealing. Homes can also be staged to improve the aesthetics of the home for people don’t necessarily want to renovate. How to Find a Design Professional? If money is no object, the easiest way to find an interior designer is to find an example of work you love, whether in magazines, on television shows, at home shows, or through acquaintances and ask for the name and contact. Many decorators and designers advertise of course, whether in the phone book, in magazines, via their own website. Where Can I Find a registered Interior Designer? The Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) (www.interiordesigncanada.ca) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) (www.americandesignsociety.com) have databases of registered members, which can be accessed on their respective websites. The ASID is comprised of a merging of the American Institute of Interior Designers and the National Society of Interior Designers, founders of the National Council of Interior Design and its examination. Both the IDC and ASID affiliations require its members to have successfully completed the NCIDQ. This certification (in effect for almost forty years) serves to reflect the proficiency of meeting universal standards in the professional field and ensures that education continues to be upgraded with newly arising knowledge and skills. What Should I Know about the Process? Once you have found a professional you are interested in working with, set up an initial consultation where he or she will present his/her portfolio and can assess home and desired project. There may or may not be charge a - make sure to ask. If you decide you would like to hire a designer from a large firm, confirm that he or she will be the actual person doing the work - sometimes it gets passed on to a junior associate. What You Can Prepare Decide on a budget. This may actual make the choice easier of which professional you decide to hire. Regardless, be very upfront about what you are willing to spend. Ask for some possible spending options - budget, mid-range, high-end - so you can get an idea of the ranges. Once you’ve got that set, perhaps you’re thinking of just leaving everything to the expert and sitting back. However, just like getting a good hair cut, you’ll want to make clear what you like and more importantly, do not like. 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By: Robert

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