Japanese Inspired Self Filling & Cleaning Bird Bath
Introduction: Japanese Inspired Self Filling & Cleaning Bird Bath
PROJECT SUMMARY: Fully automated bird bath that fills and cleans itself using two types of irrigation valves. Filling is accomplished with normal landscape irrigation, while cleaning is by a zero pressure ball valve timer that simply drains the basin. Both can be adjusted as needed for your individual design and needs. (BONUS: No electricity needed.)
I just finished setting it up so the birds haven't found it yet. And I've heard there's been sightings of a very rare bird in our area. Hopefully he'll stop by soon and I can get a picture of him ;)
This project is an entry in the 1000th Contest. Please vote if you like it.
We really enjoy feeding and watching all of our native birds. We have woodpeckers, coopers hawks, roadrunners, cactus wrens, and hummingbirds all either frequent visitors or nesting on our property. Many years ago, I added an infinity overflow fountain using that same large dark blue pot for landscape aesthetics, and as a bonus all the birds really took to it, but it was a pain to keep clean, keep in working order, and also was a fairly large use of water and electricity since it ran 24/7. So the fountain has sat empty several years, but we really missed watching all the birds drink and clean from the water, especially the hummingbirds (Google "Hummingbird Bathing" videos. They are hilariously cute!).
As an alternative to the fountain, I created this concept primarily as a low water consumption replacement, but it wasn't until I stumbled on the zero pressure ball valve timer that the final component of the system design was realized. With that in place, the self cleaning feature was made very easy. (Without it, a pump would have been needed, which needs electricity, and the complexity and maintenance goes way up, which is what I was trying to avoid in the first place.)
Terminology: Ill just refer to the Zero Pressure Ball Valve Timer as the "Drain Valve" hereafter.
Supplies
1. Vessel Sink (I somehow got his for $35, price is now corrected. Home Depot has a lot of very similar ones in the $40-$50 range.)
2. 1" PVC Slip Slip Union
3. 1" to 3/4" PVC Reducer
4. 3/4" PVC Slip to Male Hose Thread (MHT)
5. PVC Primer and Adhesive
6. Adhesive Sealant or Silicone (I used this.)
7. 742
Teflon Tape
8. Zero Pressure Ball Valve Timer ("Drain Valve")
9. 1/4" Irrigation Hose and Fittings
10. Bamboo (1-1/2" Diameter)
11. 1/4" Jute Cord
12. Electrical wiring and low voltage lights (Optional)
13. Screen Material (Optional)
14. Decorative Rocks (Optional)
TOOLS:
1. General Shop Tools
2. Masonry Cutting Tools (Hole Saw and/or Grinder)
3. Level
4. Hammer
5. Tools for Irrigation Hoses and Fittings
6. Radial Arm Saw with Wood Cutting Blade (For Bamboo)
7. Sandpaper
8. Marine 2 Part Epoxy Putty
9. Black Sharpie Marker
10. Drill
Step 1: Vessel Sink Drain Preparation, Part 1 of 4
For the sink itself the only objective is to attach "Something" to the drain hole that functions as a drain but then terminates to a Male Hose Thread (MHT) fitting:
In the second image above, the smallest part in the top right is the MHT fitting.
(The MHT fitting will directly connect to the Female Hose Thread (FMT) on the Drain Valve.)
NOTE: Hose thread is the common name for the type of thread on garden hoses
I say "Something", because a normally plumbed sink would never attach to a garden hose. So, you basically have two options:
* Attach a proper drain and work out how to convert to MHT
* Mix and match PVC fittings that can effectively seal the sink drain hole while connecting to FHT
I didn't even consider starting with a proper drain as only a few simple and cheap PVC fittings got me directly to a solution. And for less $$ than just a drain would cost alone, which would then add up quickly depending on the number of adapters/fittings to get to MHT, which might not even be possible.
Step 2: Vessel Sink Drain Preparation, Part 2 of 4
The Slip Slip Union is made up of three individual parts. 582