The difference between a bird stopping at your yard or passing by could be the sound of flowing water! This is true for all birds, but hummingbirds in particular are drawn to the sound of rippling water. This attraction to water is definitely limited to soft, quiet sources of water. A huge waterfall or a noisy fountain is not appealing to birds at all. A gently flowing fountain or a gently rippling pond is perfect.
Getting the sound of running water in your backyard is easier than you might think. Simply put a tool like the Water Wiggler for Bird Baths into your backyard bird bath. This little tool creates ripples in the water, which creates a very appealing sound for birds. It operates silently, so it will in mo way disturb or scare birds away. The Water Wiggler for Bird Baths operates on two D batteries, and you leave it on 24 hours a day. It is so simple to use, there is no plumbing or wiring! You can even use it in a heated bird bath for the winter.
If you do not want to worry about replacing batteries, you can get the Solar Water Wiggler for Bird Baths. All you need to do is make sure your bird bath is placed in an area that is exposed to the sun during the majority of the day. It also runs 24 hours a day, as the Solar Water Wiggler will run at night on the solar energy it stores during the day.
An added bonus to using a Water Wiggler is that that rippling water prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs! In turn, it can also prevent the West Nile Virus from spreading. While rippling water is healthier than stagnant water, you will still need to make sure you clean out your bird bath often. Birds know the difference between clean, fresh water and water that isn’t as fresh. They are unlikely to visit filthy water, even if it is making a pleasant flowing noise.