Cast Stone International Fluted Pedestal Column Bird Bath. Elegant, simple design from a manufacturer and distributor headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida. 

Size: 17 1/2 x 17 1/2 x 26 1/2 in. 

#7031 . 

A bird bath (or birdbath) is an artificial puddle or small shallow pond, created with a water-filled basin, in which birds may drink, bathe, and cool themselves. The bird bath is an attraction for many different species of birds to visit gardens, especially during the summer and drought periods. Bird baths that provide a reliable source of water year round add to the popularity and “micro-habitat” support. The concept evolved from ancient techniques for catching wildlife to eat, by providing sources of water or sustenance that would draw animals in to be captured. Many cultures developed a system by which they could have a plentiful regular supply of smaller animals by doing so, allowing some to indulge and go free while taking others (usually older or larger), so that all animals would not choose to avoid the spot due to perceived danger. The earliest bird baths were simple depressions in the ground, and hieroglyphics which seem to depict a bird bath-like object were observed on the walls of the Luxor Temple, suggesting that the process had evolved beyond a basic hunting technique by the time of the Ancient Egyptians. During the Renaissance the cultivation of gardens rose in prominence, and designers strove to come up with innovative aspects to improve their quality and opulence, sometimes even modeled after Biblical descriptions of the Garden of Eden. A bowl would be hung from a tree limb, or a hollow carved out from rocks and boulders at strategic levels so the birds were easier to see. The first contemporary purpose-built bird bath was developed by the United Kingdom garden design company, Abraham Pulman & Sons, in the 1830s. Their style remains virtually unchanged today, and has proliferated extensively: customarily, bird baths can be premade basins on pedestals and columns, shallow but gradually deepening in the center, with open surroundings near it to minimize stalking by cats. Modern designs sometimes incorporate mechanical pumps and other filtration systems to provide clean, renewed, and constantly refilled water in order to keep them clean to avoid contamination from algae and fungi, as well as prevent the nesting of mosquitoes. Two inches of water in the center is sufficient for most backyard birds because they do not submerge their bodies but simply dip their wings to splash water on their backs. Deeper or wide basins can have “perch islands” in the water, which can also help discourage feline predators. Bird baths can be made now with a wide variety of materials, including molded concrete, glazed terra cotta, glass, metals (stainless steel, copper, etc.), plastics, mosaic tiles, marble, or any other material that can weather the elements and hold water. Birds are attracted to the sight and sound of running water, so integrated or nearby fountains are helpful elements to bring birds to the garden as well.