Hummingbird DIY Mister Birdbath

Kris Drake

What You Will Need

• l 5-gallon plastic container, about 20 x 16 x 12 in.
• l 2 unthreaded 1/2-in. PVC pipes, 14 in. and 15 in. long
• l 1 piece threaded 1/2-in. PVC pipe, 18 in. long
• l 2 PVC elbows for 1/2-in. pipe
• l 1 PVC cap for 1/2-in. pipe
• l PVC cement
• l Steel wool
• l Submersible pump
• l Small rocks
• l One 1/2-in.-female-to-5/8-in.-male adapter
• l 3 misters
• l Spray primer, paint and finishing spray

Hummingbirds love water, but traditional birdbaths often don't do the trick for them. As some of the zippiest birds around, they don't stop all that often just to sit at a bath.

So try an alternative: Give them some mist instead. You can find everything you need at a hardware store or online. A mister adds charm to your yard while attracting some of your favorite birds!

1. Start by cutting the unthreaded PVC pipe. (You can use pipe cutters or a handsaw.) You'll need a 14-in. piece for the left leg and a 15-in. piece for the top.
2. In the 15-in. piece, drill one hole in the center for the top mister and two holes for the bottom misters. The size of the sprayers will determine the size of the holes you drill. See the photo at right for a close look at how the misters fit into the pipe.
3. The third piece of PVC, for the right leg, should be threaded at both ends. This piece is likely precut to 18 in. long. You'll want to cut this to roughly 12 in., but first do a little measuring. Attach the adapter to the end of the threaded pipe and pump. Meanwhile, place the cap on the left leg. Stand both legs up so they're even. Mark the top of the right leg to mimic the length of the left leg and make your cut. (Once everything is attached, you'll have a large U.)
4. It's time to attach all the plumbing pieces together. First rub the ends of the PVC pipe and the insides of the PVC elbows and cap with steel wool. This will help the pieces adhere together. Dust the pieces off, apply PVC adhesive to the outside of the pipe, and connect the elbows and cap. Be sure the holes you drilled face up and down. Let adhesive dry.
5. Remove sprayers and adapter from the piping, and lightly sand the pipes with steel wool. Start with a coat of primer on the piping and let dry. Prime your container, too, if needed.
6. Once the primer is dry, paint the piping and container with the color of your choice.
7. After all the paint is dry, it's time to get creative. Paint flowers or your choice of design with acrylic paint. When complete, spray your work with a clear matte finishing spray.
8. Now it's time to insert the misters. Use a toothpick to add a pea-size amount of cement to the base of the misters. Insert into the drilled holes, making sure not to clog any sprayer openings. Allow cement to dry.
9. Use the adapter to connect the piping to the pump. (If the seal isn't tight, you might need to add thread seal tape.) Place inside the container as shown in photo at left, and secure in place with small rocks or bricks.
10. Set outside near your hummingbirds' favorite feeder or flowers, and add water. Enjoy!

Kris came up with this project after learning how much hummingbirds love mist. To see more of her creative work, visit kadeedesigns.com.