Benefits Of Having A Birdbath In Your Yard

Who doesn’t love seeing all of the different types of birds congregating in the yard or garden?  One surefire way to attract different species of these winged creatures is by setting up a birdbath.  But birdbaths have many other benefits aside from giving birds a place to hydrate and bathe.

Birds Aerate Soil

Compacted soil can be devastating to flowers as well as fruits and vegetables.  Plant roots suffocate in compacted soil.  While birds are hanging out at your birdbath, they often peck at the ground, hunting for worms, insects and seeds, thus aerating the soil.  This helps your plants to grow better.

Birds are Natural Pest Control

Many types of pests can be devastating to your plants, including slugs, grasshoppers and caterpillars.  Birds eat these pests.  A birdbath gives birds a high perch from which they can hunt, giving them food and reducing the amount of damage done to your plants.  This also means that you don’t have to purchase chemical pest control agents, which keeps your garden completely natural and organic.

Birdbaths Encourage Beneficial Insects

Birds aren’t the only creatures who use birdbaths.  Wasps, bees and butterflies use the bath for a place to cool off and grab a drink.  Wasps eat cabbage worms, which can be highly destructive.  They, along with bees and butterflies, are also excellent pollinators, which gives you beautiful flowers and an abundance of fruits and vegetables.

Heated Birdbaths for the Winter
Not all birds migrate south for the winter.  Heated birdbaths provide birds with water in the colder months, when water is otherwise scarce.  Even if you live in an area where you don’t experience freezing temperatures, a birdbath can keep bird activity alive and well in your yard during months when it is usually unseen.

Benefits for Your Children

In an age when technology rules all, a birdbath can help get your little ones interested in nature.  Children of all ages can enjoy watching the behavior of the different species of birds and how they interact.  They can even learn how to identify the different types of birds in your area.  Get your children involved with the setup and maintenance of the birdbath as well, to really help them feel connected.

A birdbath is a great focal point to any yard or garden.  You don’t even need to get overly fancy.  Shallow birdbaths, which allow for even the smallest birds to take a dip, are enough to coax all kinds of birds, as well as beneficial insects, to your yard, keeping it healthy and beautiful.