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Feeding birds is only one way in which to attract birds to
your yard. Providing water is just as important and you will even see a greater variety of birds.
Many types of birds will never visit your feeder but will be attracted to the
birdbath. Birds are not fussy about the type of
containers you use and are happy as long as the birdbath is placed near
cover and contains water no more than 2 1/2 inches deep. |
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Water in
Winter |
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Heaters are inexpensive to
operate and open water can usually be provided for as little as 10
cents /day.
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Use of a thermostat
reduces costs even more.
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Using a heater is
perfectly safe.
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The entire bathing area
does not need to be kept ice free in order for the bath to be used.
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You can solar heat your
birdbath by placing the bath on the south side of your house to receive
full sun and reduce heating cost.
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NOTE: DO NOT add
glycerin to the water to prevent it from freezing. It coats the
birds' feathers so they can't fluff them out to stay warm.
Click
here for a selection of low-priced birdbath heaters
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Providing birds with a source
of drinking water becomes increasingly important as natural water sources
begin to freeze. It is just as important to provide drinking water
in the winter as it is to consistently provide a source of food.
This is easy to accomplish with a birdbath heater. You can purchase
a bath with a built-in heater or add a heater to your existing bath.
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Make it Yourself
Adding a source of water to your
yard is simple. You can either purchase a ready-made birdbath or make
your own with supplies that are readily available. Here are a few quick and simple ideas:
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A plastic garbage can lid
turned upside down and placed on a shallow hole
to make sure it doesn't tip over.
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Place a clay flowerpot
saucer on a tree stump.
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Stack three clay flowerpots upside down
with the largest on the bottom and smallest on the top. Then use a
large clay flowerpot saucer for the water dish on top. Use paint and
stencils for a decorative touch.
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Turn-over a 55-gallon drum and pound an
indentation in the bottom so it holds about 1-1/4 inches of water. You
can then paint it to blend into your yard.
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Keep
it Clean! |
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| No matter
what type of birdbath you use it is very important to keep it
clean. Frequently clean the bath using a used S.O.S. pad or
scrub brush and rinse the bath well before refilling it.
For a more thorough cleaning pour a
mild bleach solution into the bath and let if soak for 15
minutes. Be sure to cover it so the birds can't drink or bathe
in the solution. Then rinse the bath thoroughly before
refilling it with fresh water.
Daily cleaning works best and takes
only a few minutes to accomplish and will keep your birds happy and
healthy. |
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