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Thu 2 Oct, 2003 11:25 am
Last year I received a heated birdbath for Christmas. Last year the weather in December, January, February and March did not inspire me to get out in the beautiful snowy landscape dragging extension cords and buckets of water.
This has been a completely uneventful summer for backyard birding. Late in April, the Resident Bear raided the feeders and I didn't want to run a lunch counter for the Resident Bear.
Do winter birds really enjoy having water in liquid form? Or is the "need" for winter water developed by the heated birdbath manufacturers of America?
I think they need some open water for drinking, though they probably know how to do clever things with snow. But I can't imagine they would be too enthused about bathing, per se.
Here's what I've read regarding birds and their need for water.
The need for and attraction of open water any time of the year is so strong that many bird species that do not visit seed feeders will show up just for the water. Birds must drink year 'round to avoid dehydration, and because they do not have salivary glands, they need water for digesting food. Water also is necessary all year to maximize feather maintenance. A bath, followed by careful preening, keeps feathers functioning to help regulate a steady body temperature.
and they like nice scented bubbles in the water as well
If the water was too warm I would worry about bacteria. Otherwise it sounds like a pretty good idea.
Thanks, all. That's another chore on the Indian Summer list.
I'd caution you that once you set up the heated bird bath, you need to keep it maintained throughout the winter. You can't give up partway through. It's guaranteed bird death.
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