Helping attract wild birds, butterflies, and other wildlife to patios, balconies, and backyards everywhere
May 9th, 2009

Want a Water Feature But Have No Way to Supply Water? 5 Cordless Water Feature Styles

Wild Birds » Attracting Wild Birds » Water for Wild Birds


Cast Iron Cranes Birdbath with Water Wiggler

Do you want a water feature to attract wild birds to your porch, patio, deck, or balcony?

Does where you live prevent you from a hooking up a water line or power line to your fountain, sprayer, or other water feature?

You still have plenty of choices when it comes to water features -- some solar, some battery-powered.

Quick Tips

  1. Keep It Filled. Letting the water evaporate is bad for the solar-powered pump.
  2. Protect From Freezing. Some materials just don't handle freezing well.
  3. Clean It Regularly. Solar pumps are made to pump water, not a wet mix of debris.

1. The Two-Tiered Fountain


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Waterbury Garden Fountainicon

For a classic look, try a solar-powered two-tier fountain like one of the following:

2. Simple Fountain Birdbaths


Smart Solar Frog Ground-Level Birdbath

Just about any birdbath -- pedestal, hanging, or ground -- can have a water feature that moves water (you can even add a kit to your existing birdbath, see below, if it's big enough).

Solar birdbaths generally cost less than the two-tier fountains but can be more appropriate for a small space.

Some examples:

3. Wigglers (aka Ripplers)


Lighted Aurora Water Wiggler

Less expensive, a battery-powered wiggler sits in a birdbath and ripples the water outward to the rim. The movement attracts birds and may discourage mosquitoes.

4. Drippers, Sprayers, and Misters


Somerset Solar Verdigris Bird Bath Fountain

Water features imitating rain attract birds. Some fountains (above) will spray a gentle rain and so fall into both categories.

5. Other Water Features and Accessories


Smart Solar Sun Jet 150 Fountain Pump

Other units burble and gurgle water up vertically slightly, or even provide little waterfalls. These not-quite fountains are better in areas with drought restrictions on actual fountains that spray.

These solar-powered pump kits can be added to any water feature wide enough (usually 22" diameter or more).