New Product: Colorful bird baths

Most people await dry summer days when they think of birdbaths, but actually now is the time to consider placing a birdbath in your backyard. Birdbaths can be a focal point for your flower garden. There is a second benefit: Birdbaths help fledglings find much-needed water at a time when they may not have the wing strength to travel far for natural sources.

One of the most popular birdbaths from The Bird House is a line produced by Burley Clay, a 90-year-old company in Roseville, Ohio. This season we've begun carrying the Zanesville Collection, a beautiful design made of glazed clay. The baths are carefully crafted and a handsome addition to the backyard (or front yard, for that matter!).

Burley Clay employs the lost art of "jiggering." In this technique, a plaster mold is placed inside a spinning steel drum. The craftsman then adds the appropriate amount of clay to the mold. As the clay begins to dry, the plaster mold draws water from the clay. The ware is then removed from the mold and any rough edges are trimmed. The final step is glazing, which leaves a glossy bath that is easier to clean that most conventional baths. 

This acquired skill requires a period of apprenticeship and sometimes is passed down to family members who have worked in Ohio potteries for generations.

The Zanesville baths come in two parts: the saucer and the pedestal. The bath has a locking mechanism to keep the two intact.

Burley Clay baths should not be used in the winter because they could crack. These baths are about 2 inches deep. We recommend adding pebbles (such as clay-based stones that available at The Bird House) to make birds feel comfortable when drinking or bathing.

We've been carrying a variety of Burley Clay products over the years, and they've always been popular among bird-lovers. Come on in and see the glazed Zanesville Collection.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!