Well, because there is little water here right now. I like fountains and such well enough, but am too lazy for the maintenance. A bird bath would be simple and elegant. And would in no way discourage mosquitoes from breeding any where close to me! Could put one in without the water, but kinda contrary to the purpose, eh?

If you change the birdbath water every couple days, the mosquitoes wouldn't be able to live in it (and wouldn't it evaporate in the TX heat?). I never get mosquitoes in my birdbath, simply from either changing the water or letting it evaporate becuase I forget to fill it (oops)

I think the birds will also eat the larve won't they?
At any rate I have never seen mosquito larve in a birdbath of mine. Plenty of other places but not in a birdbath.

I learned something recently- you may already know.

Hummingbirds eat mosquitoes! By working to attract the hummers, I'm also helping out my mosquito population.

They eat not just mosquitoes but gnats & other small insects too. Matter of fact they are voracious insect eaters. Don't feel bad Trish; I only learned that from a friend about 2 years ago. Since that time I've learned to listen for their chatter & look in the sky for them hovering & then dashing off to catch a bug! It's so cool to watch. Or any time you see a hummer sitting still on a branch, bush or power line; you can pretty much bet it's waiting to spot insects. If you watch them you can catch them flying up to snatch the morsels out of the air & then return to their post to wait for the next victim.

Someone on my greyhound message board said to put half a banana in muslin, and hang it outside... the hummers will come to eat the insects (fruit flies, etc) that are after the muslin-wrapped nanner.

Someone ought to experiment with that one & see what happens. You suppose a bananna peel would do as well?

flaflwrgrl said:Someone ought to experiment with that one & see what happens. You suppose a bananna peel would do as well?

I would think so...

We had a beautiful concrete birdbath in our front yard, and I loved watching the birds there. I kept the bird feeder filled, too. But my neighbors' cats kept stalking the birds at the feeder, and one of them jumped up on the birdbath and actually tipped the top part off and broke it. (sigh...) I miss seeing the birds, but I haven't found an affordable replacement yet.

One day I want a pond. I have the perfect spot! But it's not in the budget yet. In the meantime, I'm loving looking at the photos people have posted!!!