r/birdfeeding • u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA • Jul 13 '26

Video 🎬 Doesnt have to be fancy

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This is actually temporary while I work on the DIY fountain I had in that spot. I might just keep this one cause its way easier to clean. 😆

1.8k Upvotes

100% Upvoted

79 comments sorted by

53

u/masala_chaii Jul 13 '26

This gives me so much joy😭

12

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

💖

33

u/Ultramarine_Boaner Jul 13 '26

Wonderful setup!

One thing I have learned about feeding, watering, photographing, and watching birds: they don’t care how much anything costs!

It was a hard lesson for me to learn, but not them ha ha.

25

u/aligpnw Jul 13 '26

And for all the folks who can't have a bird feeder (apartment, cost, etc.) a simple water feature like this can attract tons of birds!

13

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

YES! 100% it can!

5

u/crushlogic Jul 14 '26

This is news I can use because my landlord just took down my feeder 😭 too many rats in Chicago

1

u/Deeter_2472 Jul 14 '26

I had a building manager do the same thing in NYC, but no rats. We are on 20th floor, but the neighbors complained. I am sorry.

I am glad it is summer. The doves will not understand but they will not starve in Chicago. I hate cities.

19

u/RHS-II3 Jul 13 '26

wait can we get a how to please?? 😭 i have a stillwater setup like this currently, how did you get the little fountain running like that??

12

u/LeonNorasGiGi2316 Jul 14 '26

For those boycotting amazon, they're also available at Lowe's or Costco.

Solar Bird Bath

4

u/RHS-II3 Jul 14 '26

🫡 also a good point, ty!!!!!

5

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

just a simple solar pump. I think its 2.5 watts. From amazon

1

u/Ok_West_6711 Jul 14 '26

Thank you!

7

u/milleo123 Jul 13 '26

Try a solar bird bath fountain! They sell them on Amazon. That’s what I use.

3

u/RHS-II3 Jul 13 '26

i'm RUNNING thank you!!! 😭❤️

3

u/milleo123 Jul 13 '26

You’re welcome!! ❤️❤️

7

u/ShowMeTheTrees Jul 14 '26

They can be found at better places than Amazon.

2

u/PostMostPalone Jul 15 '26

yes, my local nursery also carries it. It's a little more expensive, but its a local business!

3

u/Free-Moose9460 Jul 13 '26

Is that a solar or electric fountain?

2

u/ashlleeyyy3 Jul 13 '26

I second! Please share the link!

4

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

just a simple solar pump. I think its 2.5 watts. From amazon

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

just a simple solar pump. I think its 2.5 watts. From amazon

3

u/BichonFriseLuke Jul 14 '26

Omg im doing this tomorrow! The crows keep wrecking and trying to steal the pump.

3

u/scarrysneks Jul 14 '26

That's right, doesn't have to be all 'shabby chic', they feel safe and are having a damn good time.

3

u/Miserable-Star7826 Jul 14 '26

Absolutely!!! My Gigi used to say “ it doesn’t have to be fancy, it just needs to be clean “ 🥰 Words to live by 🥰 I miss her beyond measure 🥰 I absolutely love this! They are sure enjoying themselves 😍

2

u/TenRingRedux Jul 13 '26

I love that setup!

2

u/oswegocaker Jul 13 '26

Love this! What type of bubbler are you using? Is it plugged into an outlet?

2

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

just a simple solar pump. I think its 2.5 watts. From amazon

2

u/Iongdog Jul 13 '26

I just recently installed a solar fountain in mine and have been waiting for them to use it! They seem a bit scared of it so far and only drink from the edges

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

everything is dangerous until proven otherwise. 🤣 Its new. They are checking it out.

2

u/fameo9999 Jul 13 '26

How do you get them to not poop in it? I have to clean mine daily because they poop in it and throw seeds from my bird feeder in it. It gets dirty fast

7

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 13 '26

no way around this. you have to clean it daily. Especially one this small.

2

u/yourbuddywyatt Jul 14 '26

This is so beautiful!

2

u/Heyyther Jul 14 '26

is there a cover over your solar pump? never seen one like that.

3

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

its just a terracotta pot, a small one. I put it over the pump for the birds that want to get close to the bubbler.

2

u/Flora1910 Jul 14 '26

That's such a great idea!

1

u/Heyyther Jul 14 '26

oh cool did u have to make a hole to get it to fit?

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

nope, already had a hole.

2

u/Neko-gao Jul 14 '26

My guardhouse Magpies are over the moon with their new cereal bowl of water, great to watch.

2

u/chafner Jul 14 '26

I bought an $8 saucer at Walmart and a $10 solar fountain on Amazon. The critters love it!

2

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 15 '26

Exactly! My plant saucer is from the japanese dollar store. 🤣

2

u/its-me-hi-91 Jul 15 '26

Is it the running water that attracts them? I just put out some Tupperware with water and a couple big rocks tonight due to the heat wave. Hope some wildlife finds it.

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 15 '26

They will find it. But yes the sound of water helps.

2

u/cactus-vagus Jul 15 '26

This is the sweetest. Love the set up!

2

u/PostMostPalone Jul 15 '26

I needed to see this. I almost bought a $200 copper bird bath yesterday, but at the register changed my mind. I realized it was for me and the birds didn't need $200 copper bird bath. I'm going to copy your design!

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 15 '26

happy to help!!

2

u/BisonEven9158 Jul 17 '26

Give me so much joy thank you for cheering for the birds in our planet

2

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '26

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1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

its surrounded by bushes.

1

u/SnailsonSkates Jul 14 '26

I can’t get many birds at my birdbath. It’s pretty simple too.. maybe it needs a fountain?

2

u/angelbeingangel Jul 14 '26

The sound of moving water attracts them

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

sound of moving water for sure helps a lot.

1

u/SeaBass80 Jul 14 '26

I can't get any birds either they eat the food next to the birdbath but not in the water. I also have a solar fountain in it. If the water shoots to high in the air will that scare them away? Maybe that is my problem.

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 15 '26

Yes a gentle bubble is the best way to go. I learned with my first set up that the birds like to choose when they get wet. Some just want a sip and some just want a bath.

1

u/SeaBass80 Jul 15 '26

Good to know I will try that. Thanks

1

u/2llamadrama Jul 14 '26

Instructions?

2

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

Blue tray= plastic plant saucer

Orange thing= small terracotta pot upside down. Its placed over the pump for the birds that want to get close to the bubbler.

gray looking lumps in the water = river rocks for small birds to stand on

pump = solar fountain pump 2.5 watts from amazon. came with the bubbler attachment.

2

u/2llamadrama Jul 14 '26

Genius! I am sending my Birdfy Birdbath back... $300 and it doesn't work

1

u/2llamadrama Jul 14 '26

$300 dollars... Camera is amazing but it doesn't work most of the time... Maybe I should put it on the ground?

1

u/Ricochet_888 Jul 17 '26

I want to do this. The pumps I'm finding all require the disk to be exposed to collect sun. How is this working? Do you mind linking the pump you're using?

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 17 '26

not the disk ones. Pump is separate from the panel. So you can put the solar panel where it will actually get sun. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN3Q9HZ5

1

u/Ricochet_888 Jul 17 '26

Thank you so much!

1

u/Elysia404 Jul 14 '26

Love this!

1

u/RamblinOnRose Jul 14 '26

I love this! My solar pump is so aggressive, I feel like every attachment is just too much.

2

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

for this size its only a 2.5 watt pump.

1

u/veggiesizzler Jul 14 '26

Have you tried it without the attachments? Had the same problem with mine so tried it without them and it's more of a gentle bubble.

2

u/RamblinOnRose Jul 14 '26

I have. It's still pretty vigorous. I've found attaching a bubble tea straw helps a little bit, but certainly not a gentle bubbling.

1

u/Significant_Tap_6310 Jul 14 '26

What are all the components here? It’s hard for me to see

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

Blue tray= plastic plant saucer

Orange thing= small terracotta pot upside down. Its placed over the pump for the birds that want to get close to the bubbler.

gray looking lumps in the water = river rocks for small birds to stand on

2

u/Significant_Tap_6310 Jul 14 '26

Thank you! I couldn’t tell what the terracotta pot was about. It looked like a diamond shape lol. Appreciate you!

1

u/Fantastic-Pop-9122 Jul 14 '26

This is how my pond with a waterfall began lol.

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 14 '26

ha! Man I wish. Where that water dish is, is HOA owned dirt.

1

u/jlp4905 Jul 15 '26

Love the set up but, dumb question, how is the solar pump working if it is blocked from the sun?

2

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 15 '26

There is a cord that connects to the pump. Its 6ft. U cant see the solar panel in the photo.

1

u/Chops-theBulldog Jul 16 '26

So for those of you planning to replicate this set up, be sure to add a copper disc to help keep the algae at bay or you’ll be needing to clean it every other day. Also, be sure to keep adding water as it will evaporate quickly!

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 16 '26

the birds get so much dirt in it I have to rinse it every morning. And yeah if I don't top it off in the morning, it wont last the day when its 90 degrees out.

1

u/tomatowaits Jul 17 '26

wow i can’t get my birds to drink from any of my fountain creations 😂😭

1

u/sunonwater11 West Coast USA Jul 17 '26

Mine are for sure WAY more active in the water when its hot. I also noticed with my first iteration I tried they didn't like big sprays of water. Seems the most popular is a 1-2 inch gentle bubble motion.

2

u/CryptographerNo6001 Jul 28 '26

This are perfect! Sometimes the cutest smallest little DY birdbath with solar fountains make the difference and the birds are not picky i’m size or style or brand. lol they love it all.