Just visiting, but might stay if you provide the housing.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Birds really make a yard come to life with their colorful plumage, cheerful activity, and interesting calls and songs. Having them around is also a great way to help reduce the number of pesky insects in your yard without resorting to nasty poisons—and backyard bird watching has even been found to lower stress levels.

Planting a variety of trees and shrubs provides places for birds to perch and nest as well as berries and insects for them to eat. But while you're waiting for your trees and shrubs to grow, there are two free things you can do to attract birds right away. Easy, and practically instant, recycled-container birdhouses and birdbaths provide feathered critters with safe places to perch away from predators (like house cats!) and foul weather.

Jiffy Birdbath

Just about any shallow container that will hold water can become an instant birdbath. Pick one that has a wide rim to perch on, is broad in diameter, and has a depth of 1 inch to 3 inches deep in the center (deeper than that and the birds will need some flat rocks in the center to step up on so they don't drown). An old plant saucer, a dented cake pan, a retired pie tin, and a no-longer-needed garbage can lid all make great birdbaths.

You can place your container directly on the ground, or use a stump, a large overturned flowerpot (this is a good use for a cracked one), a length of cut log, a crate, or any other sturdy object, such as a pedestal. Just be sure the combination of container and stand is sturdy and well weighted so a bunch of enthusiastic avian bathers won't overturn the dish or topple the entire thing. If the bath itself is light enough to blow away when empty, put a large attractive stone in the center, and fill it with fresh water.

Place your bath five to 10 feet away from places a cat or other predator could hide, but keep it close to bushes or branches where a bird can retreat if startled by said predator. Outside a window or near a deck that offers you a view of the birds makes for good entertainment, but if you do place your birdbath near a window, keep it within three feet of the house to prevent window crashes, which kill anywhere from half a billion to a billion birds each year. With the birdbath that close, the birds can't pick up enough momentum to do harm after they take off.

Refill with water as needed so your feathered friends can count on always finding a drink when they stop by, and watch the birds queue up for a drink! Dump out soiled water every few days, so it doesn't become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and give the inside a scrub with a stiff brush now and then to keep it clean.