Those Georgians that feed birds have been busy during the past few days keeping their feeders stocked with suet, seeds, cornbread and other bird favorites. However, I suspect many folks have not offered their bird neighbors water. The truth of the matter is that birds need water in winter as much as they do in summer.
The problem is that when the temperature drops below freezing our birdbaths freeze. Nothing is sadder that watching birds fly up to a frozen birdbath vainly looking for water.
With that in mind, if the water in your birdbath does freeze, there are a few things that you can do. One is to pour water onto the ice. If it is not extremely cold, birds will be able to drink and bathe before it freezes.
Another thing that you can do is to place a shallow pan such as those placed beneath potted plants atop the frozen ice. If you do take this approach, fill the pan so that it is only 1.5 inches or so deep.
You can also purchase devices that heat birdbath water. My wife and I received one for Christmas. The problem is it is still in the box!
I have 3 heated bird baths and they were a happening spot today! Lots of drinking of course, but a lot of bathing, too. Then the bathers would fly into the shrubs, preen, and then tuck their heads in and take a little nap.
Suzie,
I can well imagine your bird baths are popular today. Often, we overlook birds need water in the winter too. Thanks for sharing your comments.
Terry
We do use a bird bath de-icer. Bought it 30-35 years ago, and have used it faithfully. Clean it up every year, and put it back in the box it came in. It of course is good for one bird bath (we have 5 bird baths out, so 4 are often frozen and unusable.) I researched a little and bought another one online a couple months ago. It wasn’t what i thought they advertised it to be, and returned it. They can be expensive. The one we bought 30 years ago was from Strictly For the Birds, and cost $42.95!! One can buy a decent toaster oven for that! More on this one I have… I stretch a hundred-foot extension cord from the deck having an outdoor outlet about 75 feet to the bird bath and de-icer. Works like a charm. However, when the forecast for an ice storm came our way, Lilburn, southwestern Gwinnett, my neighbor(s) offered the use of their generators (on their property) should the power go out, which we all bet that it would. So I un-installed the de-icer, pulling the extension cord to be used with one or two more waiting for the power to go out to run the cords to one of the two neighbors’ generator. So now this morning, the power hasn’t gone out and probably won’t go out, and it’s 20 degrees and windy. The bird baths are frozen. I bundled up and tackled reconfiguring and re-installing the cord to activate the de-icer. Navigated a few icy surfaces and being careful of not falling, I got it all plugged back in. And the birds are appreciative. I can safely say it’s the only liquid water probably for a mile or more. Glad to be able to do so. So if you haven’t gotten the underlying message here, I’ll spell it out. Get the de-icer out of the box and get it installed–Now. Thanks for listening, Rick Krause in Lilburn
Part II The de-iced bird bath is also a welcome treat for squirrels and other small mammals. So that’s neat. One other thing, which I don’t do, is move the water. That would apply to any time of the year, in which the water is moved noticeably. Good for attracting top-of-trees warblers and such as they are migrating, and residents too. Thanks again, Rick
Rick,
Thanks for sharing your experiences keeping water open during cold weather. Needless to say, you offer a super testimony for this device. I hope you enjoy a great birding season!
Terry