Turn Concrete Blocks And A Trash Can Lid Into A Cheaper DIY Bird Bath

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 95% of bird watchers in the United States do so from the comfort of their own homes. So if you're hoping to bring more of that backyard action to your own yard, take note that making your own bird bath is one of the many budget-friendly DIYs you can try to attract more birds. This means that you don't have to go out and spend a lot of money on items like expensive, tiered water fountains or $20 pavers. In fact, feel free to take a page out of Facebook user Lori Kay Brown's book and DIY a bird bath using a trash can lid and some concrete blocks.

Brown's unique bird bath design uses a solar water fountain as the centerpiece and water source, with the trash can lid acting as the basin. This DIY also features a pile of about eight curved concrete edging pavers to elevate the bird bath, and just like that, a functional water feature was made.

To replicate this design, you'll need a solar water fountain, such as this Mademax Solar Bird Bath Fountain (Amazon, $16.79). Similar pavers are available, meanwhile, at home improvement stores like The Home Depot for under $2 apiece.

As for the trash can lid, a very important note is that you should not use one made of galvanized steel, due to zinc potentially leaching into the bird's water. In fact, in response to a commenter on Brown's design, she updated it to say she was replacing her original trash can lid with a Crescent Garden polymer resin saucer. So for the lid, if metal, only use one made of stainless steel.

For this project, the size and desired height of your bird bath's basin (the pan) is going to determine how many pavers you're going to need, so be sure to determine its dimensions before purchasing your pavers, if you don't have any spare ones already around the home. Remember that the ideal bird bath location is a shady area in the yard, somewhere that is visible from a window, where you can watch the birds as they visit. Experts recommend positioning the bird bath so that it's at least 2 feet or 3 feet off the ground to keep the birds safe from predators while they're bathing. 

So for this specific design, you'll need to stack quite a few rows of pavers, instead of just two like in the example — but that's up to you to decide. For example, this Oldcastle Haloedge edging stone from Lowe's is $3.48, and measures 3 inches in height; you would need to stack these at least eight times for 2 feet. Again, if you have old pavers around the house, that would be ideal to repurpose here.

That said, when you're ready to make the bird bath, stack the pavers in a circle in your chosen spot, laying them sideways with the curved or natural edges facing outward. Once you've got the height you want, set your metal pan or clean trash can lid on top, so the rim faces up and holds the water like a shallow basin. The last step is simply to add water to the basin along with the solar water fountain, which will kick on automatically as long as the sun is out.

But you don't have to stop at function. You can easily decorate this simple bird bath with a coat of paint on the pavers, or a few decorative stones inside the basin. Above are two more DIY bird baths, one featuring a base made of concrete blocks or pavers (from Kathleen Conwell McGoo) and the other with a solar fountain and rocks (from Eugemia's Creations). Other ideas for your bird bath? You could add a strand of fairy lights near the fountain's base or perhaps surround the bird bath with a few small potted plants or native shrubs that would tie it seamlessly into your existing landscaping. 

Also, about the metal pan or lid. Another way to go is to replace it with a plastic one, which will likely be cheaper — and you can choose from multiple colors to help match your bird bath's (or your backyard's) theme. Like any DIY, what's great about this project is that it can be redone in various ways, whichever works best for your budget, vision, and space.