I have a pedestal birdbath and three bases from plastic planters that I
have been refilling two to three times a day because of the drought. They
all sit together in the back of my tiny yard, under trees. Of the 25ish
species I’ve had in my yard this year, only 4 species have not used them
when I’m watching.
I think being in the shade with trees close by gives the birds quick cover
from predators. They feel safer.
Sandy
Fort Smith
On Fri, Oct 30, 2026 at 11:06 AM Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...>
wrote:
> We have a couple bird baths on the ground on an asphalt turn around area
> of our driveway. They get quite a bit of use.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
> on behalf of Robert Day <rhday52...>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, October 28, 2026 2:52 PM
> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> *Subject:* Re: Yellow-rumped Warblers
>
> We have had a bird-bath for years, but not much action at it. This year,
> my wife planted Lantanas in the raised beds and put the bird-bath in the
> middle of the plants, which grew up around it. We had a LOT of birds coming
> to it this year, so we have begun to suspect that having some
> vegetation/cover around it may be what the birds were looking for. It
> almost looked like a small pool of water surrounded by plants.
>
> My best guess.
>
> Bob
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/6303+SW+Shady+Side+Avenue+%0D%0A+Bentonville,+AR+72713?entry=gmail&source=g> >
> Robert H. Day, Ph.D.
> 6303 SW Shady Side Avenue
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/6303+SW+Shady+Side+Avenue+%0D%0A+Bentonville,+AR+72713?entry=gmail&source=g> > Bentonville, AR 72713
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/6303+SW+Shady+Side+Avenue+%0D%0A+Bentonville,+AR+72713?entry=gmail&source=g> > cell: 907-460-7061; <rhday52...>
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 28, 2026 at 12:31 PM Elizabeth Shores <
> <00001ea247eb9fcf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> We love the arrival of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
>
> We have four birdbaths that are visited by very few birds, undoubtedly
> because they are not properly placed. What’s the secret?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 28, 2026, at 9:57 AM, <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
>
> The Yellow-rumped Warblers joined other winter migrants in my yard this
> morning. They are feeding in the oak trees and coming in for water. The
> drought is difficult on birds; they come to the waters and enjoy the
> sprinklers that I use to keep even my drought resistant shrubs like
> American Beautyberry alive until it rains. In my neighborhood there are 12
> homes on 2 acre lots (24 acres) and my yard is the only one with water and
> feed for birds. Make sure you are the one percent that has water available
> for birds. In my surveys in multiple states, only one birdbath in 100 had
> water and properly placed, and this problem is compounded when most of the
> state is in extreme or exceptional drought and breaking heat records.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
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