I keep one of those tiny, blue hard-plastic wading pools for our local animals to drink from.  Squirrel, all manner of birds, ducks, I've seen everything out there.  I've had a problem lately of occasionally finding a dead bird in the pool - drowned, I'm sure.  I guess they get their feathers too wet and can't get back out.  I tried only put a few inches of water in there, but I'd still find a few.  The edges of the pool are rolled, so there's probably nothing for them to grip there, either.

I want to put something in the pool for them to 'grab' onto.  I tried different logs and branches, but of course they want to float.  A brick or two here and there isn't enough, plus it may damage the pool.  Dd says I need something with 'texture', but I need some (hopefully frugal) ideas...Liz 

What about a broken piece of concrete? I did that because we replaced part of a walkway and the broken pieces when you turned them over were bumpy and full of rocks.

 Smooth river rock, one or two of those $ store baskets with the open slatted sides, a couple of thrift store colanders, cut thru on side of a black rubber hose and slide it over the edges, hhhhmmmm?

This is just the kernel of an idea.  Somebody who lives in a house with glass sliding doors help me out, please!  I've read that there are some sort of static clings that tell birds not to go "there."  Maybe if you put them in the pool, spaced far apart so as not to keep them out from drinking at all.  Also, this is no idea at all, as it would spoil the water fro drinking, but Dawn detergent -- no other kind -- is used o rescue birds fro oil sklicks.  Probably both very poor ideas indeed ....  Sorry!

Well, I waited long enough and my df came up with a solution!  He took a large piece of walnut he'd been hacking on in his shop and formed it to fit over the pool rim.  Then he nailed a 2 x 4 to it like a sliding board.  He says it's handicap access for the birds, lol!  So they have a nice hunk of wood to sit on in there, plus a gradual climb either in or out of the water.

I still need an idea for the pool's rim, though. I like BC's hose idea, but the only hose I have, I'm not sacrificing, lol.  Maybe I can find a yard sale one.  Any other ideas for the rim are welcome - sanding it didn't work, the plastic's too tough.  Do you think putting some sand/grit in some paint and painting the rim would stay very long with all the water the thing sees?   Liz 

 Hey Liz, what about using the open weave material that keeps rugs from skidding across the floor(cant think of the darn name!), you could just glue it on here and there and cut to fit. I bought a couple of placemats made out of the stuff at a yard sale for a nickle a piece...

 PS: Love the handicapped access for birds!
 

Birds don't swim, that's why birdbaths are usually very shallow.  If you put something around the edge of your pool for them to grip onto, be sure that you keep the pool filled to the rim, so that they can reach the water without falling in.  That's probably what happened, they fell in and couldn't get out.

Why not offer up your feathered friends some homemade bird baths:  I have an assortment of glass pie plates that I set in the yard and fill with water for them.