We know that birds are attracted to water, especially running water. However, most fountains or small ponds require a 120-V electrical pump, which may be expensive to install, may require permitting, and — if not installed properly — could potentially pose an electrocution danger to humans and wildlife. Mel Hinton of the San Diego Audubon Society has come up with a solar-powered alternative. And the best part is that you can make it yourself!
Mel’s design uses readily available parts and it’s inexpensive (about $85), easy to maintain, and is relatively simple to build and install.
You can see complete instructions, including a parts list and suggestions for installation, on the Audubon Website. By the way, don’t be put off by the pictures at the top of the page: those are of the unit before installation. There are several pictures of the installed final version near the bottom of the article, and they look pretty doggone good!