Attracting a large variety of wild bird species to your yard is easy and cost effective with a solar bird bath, and this beautiful garden focal point won't increase your utility bills. It’s true that birds flock to open water and bird baths that harness solar energy have many advantages over electrical or traditional baths which include being easier to place than electrical ones and also having the additional benefit for your electric bill.

A bird bath is enjoyed by both you and your backyard birds, but did you know that without a source of open water like this the birds might not survive? Wintertime is hard on birds because of the limited amount of open water available to them, so the heated, solar powered bird bath can be very important to their well-being. Water will be available to the birds during the coldest months when you use a solar bird bath with a heating element.

These types of bird baths need no electricity since they receive their energy from the sun via a small solar panel. Mold and bacteria growth can be inhibited with the circulating water feature that is commonly offered. You'll find the panel in the bowl part of the bird bath and the pump in the base or pedestal.

Solar power offers advantages over electrical power for location placement and installation ease of your bird bath. Solar powered models offer greater flexibility for placement, since no electrical cord is needed to power them. An additional benefit is its ease of moving around to different locations. This is important since you may need to move it a few times before you find a location in plain view that can also afford some protection from natural bird predators.

Bird baths with the running water feature will discourage bacterial and mold growth, as well as provide other benefits over baths with still water. One big problem with the stagnant water in a traditional bird bath is that it can breed more unwanted mosquitoes. But a bath with running water will attract more birds, as well as discourage annoying mosquitoes.

Although minimal, solar bird baths do still require some maintenance. It does need to be cleaned, but you'll find it won't need as much work if it has running water. Algae growth can be inhibited with diligent scrubbing and the use of products with natural enzymes. You might have to remove your solar panels in the winter, and replace them periodically.

So, you see, a solar powered bird bath can be a great investment for your yard. If you keep your part of the bargain by maintaining your bird bath, then the birds will provide you with entertainment all year long.