What Is Needed to Build a Bird Bath Fountain?
A bird bath with a fountain keeps the water circulating and prevents it from becoming stagnant. Building a bird bath isn't especially challenging and takes only a few hours. Does this Spark an idea?
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Base Options
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It's up to the builder to decide how simple or elaborate the bird bath fountain will be. The base that will be the foundation for the bath can be a large, flat-topped rock, a bed of attractive gravel or river rock, a section of terra-cotta pipe, a concrete form shaped in a hollow pit dug by the builder, or a purchased stand.
The Basin
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The focal point of the bird bath is the basin for holding the water. The numerous possibilities include an old porcelain sink, a large terra-cotta saucer used for flower pots, a shallow glass or ceramic bowl, a large stone with a depression in its center, or a conventional, purchased bird bath.
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Fountain Features
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Just about anything with a hole running through its center can be the basis for creating the fountain. Garden centers stock a plethora of ready-made fountain heads, from frogs and fish that spout water from their mouths, to cherubs and maidens spilling water from urns and pitchers. However, upside-down flower pots, a cascade of large rocks, or a piece of yard art that the builder drills a hole through can provide an interesting fountain.
Pumps
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A small, 6-volt pump is required to generate the fountain effect. If building a larger fountain, a heavier-duty DC pump with more voltage for pushing larger amounts of water through the fountain's system may be needed. Pumps can be bought at a garden center.
Tubing and PVC Pipe
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Tubing or thin PVC pipe are needed to run the water from the pump to the fountain attachment. Sometimes, fountain attachments have everything the bird-bath builder needs. Silicone sealant is required for connecting tubing or PVC pipe.
Power
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The fountain must have an electrical outlet nearby for the pump to plug into. One option is to purchase a small solar panel, or solar-powered fountain attachment, to generate power. However, then the bird bath fountain will only operate during daylight hours.
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Resources
- Photo Credit PublicDomainPictures.net
