Bubbler Bird Bath

It is a well known fact, or at least a well known urban legend, that birds are attracted to the sound of running water. You can confirm this on the interwebs for sure. So Patty suggested we get a "bubbler", which, contrary to its name, does not actually create bubbles.

So I did the one garden task I'm best at. I dug a hole.

And then I filled it with this:

A mostly square ground level bird bath, complete with a solar powered bubbler. This is the BBB (Bubbler Bird Bath) v 2.0. Complete with sticks for perching.

I used left over pond liner from the Bog Garden project and placed a 24" square paver (thanks Sue and Dan!) at the bottom, with pieces of slate on that to vary the depth. Obviously more slate around the edges (we've pretty much used up the slate pile that came with the house). And then the afore mentioned perching sticks. And the bubbler, can't forget that non-bubbling bubbler.

Here's a closeup of the BBB v 1.0. I hadn't quite understood what Patty was looking for, and instead made a small pond. But this was too deep. For a bird bath. It was pretty shallow for a pond. You can see the 'bubbler' which is just a fountain set in the water. It tricks the birds into thinking this is fresh running water. At least that's the theory.

But before I could redo it, a tropical storm came barreling through, dropping, as per my weather station, just under two inches of rain.

But if you look closely ...

... and at a better picture ...

You'll see that despite it being completely overcast, the bubbler is still bubbling. (Sort of I guess; bubbling that is. The fountain is still pumping up water. But the only bubbles are from the rain drops.)

Close up, with bubbles!

The solar cell, just on the ground, in the rain. Doing its job.

It's since been placed on a pedestal (an upright log) out next to the bog.

And it seems to be working ...

... with a Prothonotary Warbler and a Tufted Titmouse checking it out. The Black and White Warbler also paid a visit, but the camera was not at the ready. Drats!

Just another 'if you build it they will come moment'. Very cool.