Exploring Nature: Winter Water

We are fortunate to live in an area where freezing temps are not all that common, even in the dead of winter. That means water in birdbaths may have a thin skim of ice some mornings, but will seldom remain completely frozen all day.

That being true, I think you would be wise to keep a birdbath with fresh, clean water available to your avian visitors. Especially in the winter, when sources of water are often restricted.

I’ve experienced an everchanging cast of birds drinking from, splashing in and perched upon my heavy concrete birdbath. Let me review just a few of my recent visitors. A hulking black vulture stood in the bath and took a delicate sip.

A mob of about 12 cedar wax wings took turns drinking.

Two plump American robins dipped beaks sidewise to drink.

What’s more, a number of yellow warblers and several white-tailed deer enjoyed taking drinks.

I have rigged up a garden hose so it drips down from an overhead branch into the birdbath. This makes it easy to fill the bath and birds love to drink dripping water. One robin even flew up and tried to drink from the hose itself.

Let me stress that a heavy, concrete bath is preferable to a light-weight plastic bath. Concrete is much harder to tip over.

So get thee to a hardware store or bird supply place and buy a birdbath. I suggest getting a two-piece pedestal and bowl unit for easier transportation and setup.

You’ll find the bath is a bird magnet and, if you are like me, you’ll be continually surprised at what shows up.