do it yourself bird bath

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I know I just did a Homemade Hummingbird Nectar Recipe the other day and today Im showing you how to make a cheap and easy bird bath, but really I dont JUST write about birds all the time. Im just a little bit obsessed with my bird friends this time of year.

When I was checking out the Goodwill bins (aka the Goodwill Outlet Store) the other day I ran across this cardinal vase. Crock? Lidless cookie jar?

OK, I dont know exactly what it is, but it was cute and cheerful. I think it was originally sold as a Christmas item at Walmart a few years ago.

? BTW, today is Thrift Store Decor Wednesday, so make sure you hang around to the end of the post to see the rest of the teams thrift store repurposes for the month!

I just knew it could be something special. Besides my mom LOVED cardinals and we have a ton of cardinals that live in our yard, so I just had to buy it.

I added some other thrift store kitchenware pieces to go with it to make a fun, slightly Christmas-like bird bath!

How To Make An Upcycled Bird Bath

  • Three or more pieces of different-sized cookware, glassware, or pottery (I used a pie plate, a mixing bowl, and a vase).
  • Silicone 2 Clear Window from GE
  • I used 36 grit sand paper, which is fairly rough (the smaller the number, the rougher it is). You can also use sanding sponges.

do it yourself bird bath

Time needed: 15 minutes

  • Dry Fit Pieces: To ensure that everything will fit together snugly and that there are sufficient contact points between the pieces, it’s a good idea to do a dry run. To find at least one that would fit snugly with the finicky cardinal vase, I actually conducted a dry run at the thrift store with about fifteen different pieces (this photo was taken at home) Yes, the thrift store employees thought I was nuts.
  • Sand Contact Points: Lightly sand the areas where you expect them to come into contact. Instead of the pieces’ surface being flawlessly smooth and glossy, you want them to have some “tooth” for the glue to adhere to.
  • Put Adhesive Apply a thin layer of adhesive where the parts will come into contact with one another.
  • Pieces Attached: Press the pieces firmly together and use a brick, stone, or heavy book to balance them.
  • Let Set Follow the instructions on the glue tube to allow the glue to set up. The GE Window Silicone Remember that temperature and humidity can also have an impact on the drying time. Once the time for curing is over, pour water into your artwork and allow the birds to start bathing. Since I couldn’t get a real bird to be my model for this photo shoot, I had to add the fake bird sitting on a fake stone.

Have you recently constructed a birdbath of your own? Read this article’s web story version.

What Type Of Glassware To Use As The Bowl For The Birdbath

I debated what I wanted to put on top so the birds could splash around. I finally settled on a glass pie pan because the thrift store had 14,592 of them in various sizes, shapes, and depths. Whatever you decide, be sure the birds can’t reach it too deeply. Your birdbath should not be deeper than 2″. Most backyard birds dont swim per se. They won’t be swimming or performing a backstroke, but they will use your bird bath to drink from or squirt themselves with water. They must be able to stand in shallow water, on top of stones, or on the edge. Anything deeper than 2″ is asking for trouble, unless you want to learn CPR for birds. Some repurposed items from thrift stores that can be used as bird bath bowls are large serving trays, upside-down cooking pot lids, and terracotta plant pot saucers. I’ve even used the lid of a galvanized trash can turned upside down before.

What Type Of Glue To Use

I have a slight soft spot for the GE Silicone 2 CLEAR Window. Normal rain doesn’t harm it because of its water resistance (though you shouldn’t use it on anything that will be submerged in water for an extended period of time). It functions as an adhesive in addition to being intended as a caulk or sealant around doors and windows. I used a very similar product from Dap for my Penny Bowling Ball project, and it has held up remarkably well. Melissa from Empress of Dirt has a very thorough Glue Resource Guide For Garden Art Projects that compares the pros and cons of various glues if you’d like to try a different kind. She is the Goddess of Glue in addition to being the Empress of Dirt.

FAQ

Can I use anything as a bird bath?

Hanging Bird Bath Start with anything that will hold an inch to 2 inches of water. A handcrafted stained-glass bowl, a pottery platter with edges, or even an oil-changing pan will work.

What is an alternative to a bird bath?

An old bucket with a triangular piece of cloth pulled through a drip hole and hung over an old baking pan will do as well as an elaborate pool. Another cheap alternative is to buy an electric fountain motor from a hardware store such as Home Depot and put it in an a large plant pot with some rocks at the bottom.