Turn A Fire Pit Into A Yard Feature That Birds Will Love

Fire pits are a long-lasting yard feature that stands as the focal point of social gatherings and backyard seating areas. After a while, though, you may realize it is time to update your space. A fair share of homeowners have found themselves with a spare fire pit lying around with no idea what to do with it. Maybe you found one hanging out on your property from a previous owner. Or you decided to upgrade to something with a different style. Perhaps you picked one up for a deal in hopes of finding a fun DIY. Whatever the reason that you end up with a fire pit that no longer holds fires, it doesn't have to be the end of its usefulness in your yard.

Instead of throwing out that old fire pit, consider unique repurposing ideas, like a yard feature that birds will love. Fire pits with bowls, like portable fire pits, are perfect for making a DIY bird bath that will fill your yard with feathered visitors. So whether you have an old fire pit lying around or picked up a great deal at a rummage sale, this is a DIY that bird lovers won't want to miss out on.

Before you get started creating a bird haven from your old fire pit, you will want to clean the fire pit thoroughly and decide on placement. The most important part of the fire pit is the bowl, so if you don't have a good frame, that's okay. As long as you can construct or provide a solid foundation for the bowl, you can make it whatever you want. For example, you could arrange decorative stones into a stand for the bowl to blend it into the landscape. Birds like other natural elements, like plants, twigs, or wood. You can use items you find around your yard. It is best if you use some of these elements to create a perching area outside of the water, but still within reach for drinking.

If you want to prevent rusting, you can line the bowl with landscape fabric. Then, you can add natural elements like stones, driftwood, moss, or anything else that might be attractive to native birds. It is important to be mindful of local species to avoid crucial mistakes when selecting bird bath elements. Some items may deter birds rather than invite them. Standing water can also attract mosquitoes and require more regular cleaning. You can add a bubbler to add motion to the surface of the water, which will, in turn, attract more birds.

Before jumping into assembling your new bird bath, take some time to consider the best options for your yard and budget. Since you will be making use of an old or thrifted fire pit for this project, you likely won't have to consider costs regarding the fire pit itself. Other materials you may want to select carefully include decorative stones and plants, a liner, and a water pump.

You don't have to spend any money on the elements you add to the bird bath if you are able to source them from your property, but there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind when planning your design. First, depth. The fire pit may be a bit too deep for birds to comfortably bathe in, so you can add pebbles or stones to reduce the depth to 1 to 2 inches. You will also want a slope somewhere for the birds to wade in. If you purchase materials, a bag of landscape pebbles can range from $5 to $20. Natural stone can cost around $8 per 15-inch slab.

If you are using a liner, you can choose from any pond or landscape fabric, but landscaping experts recommend using EPDM rubber pond liners, which cost under $10 for a small layer. The best bird baths have moving water, which you can achieve by putting a water bucket with a hole above the bath or installing a bubbler. Bird bath bubblers are available for under $15.