I could not decide which one of these I wanted, i.e. the 13" or the 18" or the 18" with the ground stake. I liked them all. (I figured maybe eventually I would buy them all!) After a few weeks, I finally decided to give the hanging 18" a try. It seems truly a well made item. It is indeed quite large, but the size will easily accommodate a solar fountain and more than 2-3 birds if the birds are willing to share all at once. There is plenty of room. I have noticed House Finches are happy around one another, and so are Sparrows, etc. Once you start mixing up the types of birds to a feeder or a bath, then there could be problems, so we shall see how this works out. Hopefully, this larger birdbath will encourage several birds to use it at a time and not feel crowded. I have one complaint. My birdbath arrived with one of the hooks broken clean off it right out of the box. I blame Amazon for this, not the maker. Amazon once again shipped an item to me in a manufacturer's box, and once again, the package arrived with holes in it, tons of tape all over it, and stickers all over it, and the item inside was damaged. I have spoken to Amazon customer service about this problem several times, and I was told that the "team" responsible for shipping my items would be sure to use a shipping box in future . So far, it has not happened. Why would anyone want to receive an item like this without having it put in a shipping box? The manufacturer's box is nice and sturdy for storage, but if Amazon ships out in the manufacturer's box of course it will arrive with stickers and tape all over it, and of course it stands a great chance of damage along the way, and once again in this case, my item was damaged. If this happened once in a great while, it would be frustrating, but at this point it is absolutely maddening. This was NOT a cheap purchase. I think it deserved a shipping box, but hey, Amazon has shipped me an expensive rice cooker, an expensive microwave, and other items this way, and ALL were damaged in transit. In an effort to save on shipping boxes, they are causing damage to purchases, upset customers, and items that have to be returned and replaced. To me, this makes NO SENSE at all. PLEASE STOP THIS PRACTISE AMAZON!! ETA: 02 November 21 After all the assurances that this would not happen again. It happened AGAIN. The replacement was shipped in the manufacturer's box AGAIN. The box was cut open down one side and then sealed with tape. There was a ton of tape all over the box. The box was covered in stickers/labels---9 in total. 1 red; 1 orange; and, 7 white. Someone used black permanent marker to mark all over the box in letters and numbers---codes no doubt to do with shipping but that should not have been written on the manufacturer's box. One side of the box was rather caved in. I was so disappointed and upset I could have cried. Had to phone customer service for a replacement for the replacement. That too quite a while on the phone. They young man was very nice, but this is a problem that is seeing no improvement. I am really annoyed in the extreme with Amazon. I wanted to order another one of these that has the stake for putting in the ground. I would have ordered at least two more, but this issue is stopping me. Likewise, there is a vacuum cleaner I want to order but have not done so for this same reason. PLEASE NOTE: At the time I placed my initial order, and at the time the replacement was ordered, the item's page said NOTHING about the item not being shipped in a shipping box. Since my initial purchase and the first replacement, they have changed all of the birdbath pages to say "item is visible upon arrival" or something like that. Translation: We ship in the manufacturer's box. The manufacturer also has a website of their own. Maybe it is time to start ordering from their website instead of from Amazon. Buyers you have been warned. Heaven only knows what shape your item maybe in upon arrival, but I assure you the box will be taped like a mummy, there will be stickers/label all over it, there will probably be cuts and holes in it as well. Whether or not the contents will be okay is anyone's bet. Shame on you Amazon!!!! THREE STARS REMOVED THANKS TO AMAZON.
