Last Updated on August 16, 2021 by Nancie
I currently have five birdbaths in my yard. Two are DIY, another is an old tiny decorative metal birdbath and one hangs off my front porch rail. But this Studio-M Birdbath Art Pole is my favorite birdbath. It is very popular with the birds too. Here’s why.
I found this particular birdbath at my local bird store, Mother Natures in Columbia Maryland. It is from a company called Studio-M that creates decorative items, including birdbaths. My local store had two or three decorative versions of the Studio M birdbath and this one spoke to me. When I brought it home and showed it to my husband, I found that it didn’t speak to him. I think it is a little too flowery for his taste, but I liked it and he actually didn’t really mind so it got to stay.
If you are intrigued by a Studio-M Birdbath Artpole, be sure to check them out online because they offer these in different designs and one of them may just speak to you. This particular birdbath design is called “Butterfly Haven”. I purchased it about two years ago and have used through all four seasons, including all winter (by adding a birdbath heater.) The company says the artwork on the PVC base should be fade-resistant for up to five years. So far it is still looking quite nice.
Why I Like The Studio-M Birdbath
So, “why do I like this birdbath?” you ask. Well, beyond its decorative value, it’s also probably the most practical birdbath in the yard. The birds really seem to like it and I have found that it is very easy move around and to clean and fill.
This birdbath is lightweight. The base is a tall narrow squared off PVC tube that is open on the top and bottom. The top is hand-hammered stainless steel. (Some of their birdbaths alternatively have a copper-plated stainless steel top.) So unlike a big heavy cement or stone birdbath, a regular person can pick it up and move it easily. Because it is made of PVC and stainless steel, I was able to have it out and in use all winter and not have to worry about cracking cement.
Putting the Birdbath Together
There is actually a third part of the birdbath that you don’t see, a long auger pole that lives inside the base. This is what holds the birdbath in place, anchoring it to the ground. Even though it is lightweight, when installed over this pole, it stays put and doesn’t blow over.
To install it, you insert a large screwdriver into the top holes in the auger pole. The bottom of the pole is threaded like a screw and so you use the screwdriver like a handle to twist the pole into the ground, being careful to keep it straight, until it is deep enough that the exposed pole height is a little less than the box-like PVC base. The lower holes should be a few inches above the ground.
To make sure the base fits snugly to the pole, there are two centering rods that you thread through the top and bottom holes of the pole and secure by hand with hex nuts and cap with rubber end caps.
Then you lower the decorative PVC base over the pole so that the centering rods fit into the base’s inside corners.
Place the stainless steel bowl over the top and you’re done. It’s pretty simple really.
Cleaning the Birdbath
But it is the cleaning and refilling that is what I really love about Studio M’s birdbath. To refill it, simply lift off the stainless steel bowl and toss the water out. Replace the bowl and add fresh water. Try doing that with a heavy cement birdbath!
If the birdbath gets dirty, it is easy to clean. I find that dirt or other gunk doesn’t tend to cling to the slick surface of the bowl as much as it can with my other birdbaths I’ve used. But if it does get a little scum on it, usually all I need to do is simply put just a little bit of water in the bowl and use a stiff birdbath brush to give the surface a quick scrub. Then I toss the water, rinse it and re-fill it. It usually takes less than a minute.
(Note: Also see my post on Does Your Hose Provide Clean Water For Birds?)
Birds Using The Studio-M Birdbath
The birds seem to enjoy this birdbath too. It’s quite popular in the yard. Most of them sit on the edge to sip water, but it is shallow enough that some of the larger birds will get fully into it and enthusiastically bathe. It’s not super deep but I think it may still be a bit deep for the tiny birds to bathe. But for drinking, they seem happy to sit on the edge. The folks at the local store suggest adding a handful of colorful decorative marbles if you want to make it shallower. But several of my birdbaths are shallow enough for the littlest ones to bathe if they like and I don’t want to have to mess with the marbles and keeping them clean, so I haven’t bothered with that here.
I like this birdbath a lot. True, my DIY birdbaths are less expensive, but this one is bright and fun and so easy to use and the birds love it.
Nancie
More Posts About Birdbaths
Does Your Hose Provide Clean Water For Your Birdbath?
Choosing & Maintaining Heated Birdbaths
Improvised DIY Heated Birdbaths
My Newest DIY Birdbath Has Something to Hide!
Taking Care of Summer Birdbaths
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Oh, I love this and have been trying to decide whether to get one or not because of the reasons you mention.
I have also been worried about bird baths carrying disease so this would make it easier to clean.
Thoughts on the disease part?
Hi Julie, Birds love birdbaths. The way I look at it, if you get a birdbath, you are taking on the responsibility of keeping the water clean. I usually give the birdbaths a quick peek each day to see what the water looks like. If the Fish Crows have been using it to soak their food in the spring, then I have to clean it out more often. But most of the time I only need to dump the water, brush off the surface if needed and refill every few days. This birdbath makes that really quick and easy. During the warmer months I use my drinking water hose. In the winter when the hose is turned off, I use a plastic water pitcher. If a birdbath got really dirty and gross, it could be scrubbed out with a very diluted bleach mixture and then completely rinsed, dried and re-filled but I find that if I keep up with brushing it off and re-filling it, that is almost never necessary and I’ve never had to do this for this birdbath because of the slick surface. One way to look at it is that if you provide clean water, the birds are not forced to drink water elsewhere that isn’t as clean.
Oh! One other point about birdbaths. In my area, mosquitoes are a big problem and you have to be careful about standing water. From what I’ve read about mosquitoes though, their eggs need about a week in the water to hatch so that is another reason to be sure to swap out the water more often. (You can also use Mosquito Dunks in the water if it is something that worries you.)
Hope this is helpful! Nancie
I’ve been looking recently at getting one of these birdbaths. I love the designs and how easy it would be to move and clean, etc. I’m wondering though about how hot the metal gets in the sun? I live in the south, and metal and summer sun do not generally go together. Has that been an issue at all? I’m sure the part covered by water would be fine, but what about the edges where the birds perch?
Hi Amanda,
That’s an interesting question. I honestly wouldn’t have thought of that. But, I’ve personally seen no problems with it. I live in Maryland where temps in the 90s and even up to 100 are not uncommon at this time of year and I’ve never noticed a problem. Birds hop on and off of it all the time. It is currently about 93 degrees outside and I just went out and put my hand the rim and it is totally fine. A little warm but not any warmer than anything else outside at the moment. I think you’ll be fine.
Good wishes,
Nancie