Turn An Old Broken Statue Into A Whimsical And Unique Bird Bath

The use of statuary in gardens stretches back to ancient Egypt, where statues of gods and sphinxes were common. Even now, human figures are popular choices for garden decoration. Many of these modern statues hold up an eye-catching glass globe, known as a gazing ball, that reflects the landscape around it. While a gazing ball is an attractive addition to the garden on its own, its original purpose was to ensure good luck or to keep evil away. If you have one of these figures in your yard and the ball gets broken or spirited away, the figure that used to hold it up can easily be transformed into a one-of-a-kind bird bath with the addition of a new basin for water. If you don't, keep an eye out for one when you're out thrifting or swinging by yard sales on a weekend morning.

Birds appreciate a bird bath as much as they do the steady supply of seeds you provide in your birdfeeder. They need water for both bathing and drinking. When water is scarce, birds will travel as far as two miles to visit your yard, simply because you've provided them with a water source. A basic, shallow basin kept filled with fresh water will meet their needs. While some birds are happy with a ground-level bird bath, elevating the basin to the top of a quirky statue helps keep them safer from predators. The birds that you usually see at the birdfeeder, like chickadees and finches, will visit your bird bath.

You can adapt lots of things to replace the missing gazing ball on your statue. Birds prefer a shallow basin, no deeper than 3 inches, without a slippery surface. Replacement basins made from a variety of materials and in myriad colors are readily available, but if you'd prefer to be more creative, a shallow serving platter, a pie plate or cake stand with a raised rim, a flower pot saucer, even a vintage fruit bowl will serve the purpose as long as it's water tight and will sit on the statue without tipping. The basin can also be glued in place with the appropriate glue for the materials you're working with. If the statue itself is flawed, you can repair it or embrace the flaws for a classically rustic addition to the garden. Play it safe by using a non-toxic acrylic or latex outdoor paint if you choose to paint the bird bath.

Change the water in your new bird bath daily. The easiest way to do this is to use your garden hose to flush the old water out of the basin and add fresh water. Scrub the basin with mild soap and water once a week to prevent algae growth. During the winter, use an electric or solar heater to prevent the water in the bird bath from freezing.