Not sure why that youtube box is so tiny by default, it didn't used to do that here?
Here are the newer setups using the solar panel. Robin for scale with panel:)
This one is the main "birdpool" that's an old concrete shower basin. It's where one of the sump pump lines dumps into as well and then overflows into a dug out area for plants that like wet feet. Birds have always liked bathing in the concrete hand that sits in the pool, but they splash all the water out when doing so. So I setup the pump behind the hand and used a copper pipe and tubing to pump it up and drop water down into the hand to keep it filled. The robins were the first to tentatively check it out, Ms. Cardinal the first to take the plunge, and the chickadees figured out it makes a good drinking fountain. I've had some warblers check it out (shown are a Wilson's and Common Yellowthroat), but not as many as I'd hoped. Not seeing many at all this year so far.
Of course we also have some unwanted visitors... throngs of house sparrows and... more raccoon antics!
Finally this is the latest one I made using more terra cotta saucers and a metal plant stand. The pump is inside a small upside pot with notches cut in it to let the water in. I cut the feet off from the plant stand and pushed it in the ground which makes it easier to level and I can put it anywhere in the lawn and move it to mow. I put a little stick next to it as a perch for tiny birds. But, nobody seems to like it! They prefer the bigger bird pool nearby.
I also have a large galvanized garbage can lid turned upside down and just set in a terra cotta saucer to level it. The robins like that too, but it also needs a level spot, which I don't have much of at all. I've also seen a raccoon siting in it on occasion. We sure fancy folk!
I'm envious of Bea's water features! I hope to have something larger one day, maybe even a proper pond. For now though I am limiting myself to smaller things that I can clean fairly easily. Cleaning out the birdpool on a hot summer day after momma raccoon and her four babies all came and pooped in it is not fun!
