One of the features missing in our yard is a proper bird bath. I frequently pause in front of bird bath displays at home improvement and garden stores, but I always find an excuse to move on without buying. My most recent excuse has to do with our robins, who seem perfectly content to bathe in plant saucers.
As the summer has gotten hotter, the robins have started following me around the yard while I water the flowers, waiting for me to fill their saucers. Then they line up and take turns splashing about, sometimes returning three or four times before the water level gets too low for splashing.
The yard’s smaller birds, even the rabbits and squirrels, hang back and wait for the robins to leave before they approach. I’ve tried adding more saucers, but each new saucer only multiplies the number of robins that flock toward our yard when they hear me turn on the hose.
It’s almost enough to make me want a swimming pool, so I could do some splashing of my own.
Rae Spencer 
Happy birds!
🙂
This is so precious! The saucers seem to be working just fine … I think the smaller birds like shallow puddle-like sources of water rather than large deep birdbaths. I read somewhere that shallow is better, to prevent the chance of them drowning.
I’m trying a smaller, shallow saucer right now for the chickadees. I haven’t seen any of the birds use it yet, but we are having a very rainy spell here. None of the birds have been seeking water for over a week, because there is water everywhere.
Another post from your magical yard — will try a dish bath for my creatures. And yes, watching a robin splash is gleeful.
Amazing photographs! I enjoyed seeing the robins enjoying their baths. 🙂
Thank you! Robin bath hour is quickly becoming my favorite part of the day.
I love seeing birds utilize human spaces and things for their own purposes! These photos really capture the delight these little guys take in your version of a birdbath. What a great gardener you are to remember these other living parts of the landscape and their water needs.
Thank you! I’m still searching for a solution for the chickadees, who prefer to stay higher off the ground, but at least the robins are satisfied.
What a sweet ritual. What a happy post.
🙂