A Paver Platform Is The One Thing Missing From Your Bird Bath

Watching birds splashing around in a bird bath is one of life's simple pleasures, but setting one up correctly involves more than throwing water in a shallow basin. You might have chosen a good location, added a water fountain to keep the water moving, or even installed a heater to keep the water from freezing — but did you install a paver platform? If not, this simple hack might be the one thing missing from your bird bath. 

YouTube channel Learners Learning demonstrates how to use a paver stone to add stability and height to a cement bird bath. As you check off the list of what the birds want in their little spa, you'll also need to consider giving the bird bath a stable spot like Learners Learning did, one where it isn't likely to be tipped over or where the water won't be too deep on one side (endangering little birds like chickadees, finches, and hummingbirds).

For bird lovers, providing their feathered pals with a pool in which to flit about and wallow isn't just enjoyable, it's also healthy for the birds. Make it healthy for your wallet with a homemade bird bath; you easily can repurpose a chip-and-dip bowl from Dollar Tree into a hummingbird attraction (also great for other birds). For added convenience, buy a second one to swap in when the other is being cleaned indoors.

Once you've selected the ideal location for your bird bath, prepare the site by getting to the bare dirt, whether that means brushing away mulch or digging up sod. Since you won't be working with a large area, you should be able to get it fairly level by sight on the first pass just by scraping it with a shovel and eyeballing it. Use a little sand to create a more level surface to measure. Tamp it down lightly with your shoes, shovel, or a tool, then check it with a level. If it isn't straight, add more dirt or sand. Lightly spray the area with water and tamp it down a bit more to compact the surface as much as possible. Top it with the paver and check it with the level again. Once it's level, the platform is ready for your bird bath.

Though many birds prefer to bathe lower to the ground, human watchers are fond of placing bird baths higher up so that we can see them. You should consider adding rocks to your birdbath too since they add interest to the avian spa while offering a place where the birds can dry off and preen. Pedestal bird baths are likely to attract birds visiting nearby bird feeders, but the two should be kept some distance apart to offset the likelihood of messy flappers tossing seed into the bird bath's water.