A bird bath can attract birds that never visit your feeders—but only when the water is shallow, clean and safely placed. Learn how deep a bird bath should be, where to put it, how often to clean it and whether copper or a solar fountain really helps. You’ll also find several inexpensive DIY bird bath ideas that birds may prefer to an elaborate garden fountain.

Want more birds in your backyard? Simple changes like adding water, planting native shrubs, and offering safe feeders can transform your yard into a thriving habitat. Start small and build a refuge birds will return to all year.