From the National Wildlife Federation https://blog.nwf.org/2014/12/dont-forget-water-for-birds-in-winter/
Here are some tips for easily—and safely—providing water for wildlife during the cold months:
- Before the cold sets in, replace delicate solar or fountain birdbaths with sturdier, winter-ready water features. Because ice can cause cracks and leaks, concrete baths should be stored or covered in winter.
- Place baths in a sunny area to make them more visible to birds and to help keep the water liquid.
- While birds are unlikely to submerge themselves in very cold weather, you can help them stay dry and drink more easily by adding several stones to the bath or placing a few sticks on top that the animals can use as perches.
- Even during winter, birdbaths (as well as feeders) should be cleaned regularly.
- To keep water from freezing, consider adding an immersion-style water heater. More recent models will turn off if the water in the bath dries up.
- If using a heater, add a ground-fault interrupted circuit (available at hardware stores) to prevent electric shorts. Check that cords and outlets are sheltered from snow or ice buildup.
- As a homemade alternative to a heater, place a light bulb in a flower pot and put a small water basin on top of the pot.
- A simpler option—particularly if you have no outdoor electric outlet—is to buy several heavy-duty plant saucers that will not be cracked by ice and replace frozen baths with fresh ones each morning.
- Avoid adding glycerin to a birdbath as antifreeze; if birds ingest too much, it can dangerously elevate their blood-sugar levels. Glycerin solutions also may mat birds feathers, decreasing insulation at a time when the animals need it most.
Posted by: Carlotta Lucas,
Photo by: Jocelyn Anderson, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
