Thursday, January 7, 2010

A Little Food... A Little Water...

The aluminum heater for a birdbath has never been large enough for the entire birdbath, so I placed a small terracotta saucer on top of the heater. This means there's a little water in the birdbath and water in the saucer, too. I was able to catch some activity here!




Are you able to provide fresh water for the birds this Winter? In our cold climes, the water is as important as the food. Looks like this fellow enjoys the heated water! :-)

12 comments:

Noelle Johnson said...

Doesn't it make you happy when you see the birds enjoying food and/or water you leave for them during the winter?

Unknown said...

It's hitandmiss for us where providing water is concerned, in winter. We get all these crazy freeze/thaw cycles, but I put out grapes, oranges and other fruit to help the birds out, on those real cold days.

Anonymous said...

I am sure they are grateful for fresh water. This time of year, they need all the help they can get.

Ricky Luz said...

That's what life is all about! I could site down forever and watch these little cuties by my porch. Well done, my dear! Well done!

Sandra said...

I never had good results with traditional bird bath heaters. Last year I found a shallow stainless heated dog food bowl that has worked very well. I put a rock in the center sticking up for the birds to perch on. And the stainless is very easy to clean out.

Shady Gardener said...

Noelle, Happy indeed! :-)

Jodi, You are really doing something nice! And you know all about Winter weather - as compared to what we usually receive!

Hi Chad and Brandi, I couldn't believe how he was actually bathing in there. I think that was a "first" for me! :-)

Hi Rick! Thanks for the encouragement! (It's all I need to spend more time at the window!) ;-)

Sande, Your inventive bowl sounds like just the ticket. I cannot believe the little aluminum thing I have is now going through it's third winter. It still works. But when it quits, I'll be looking into something like your invention.
Happy Bird Watching! :-)

Anonymous said...

Shady, those dear little sparrows are so sweet -- they're one of the birds I look for each winter, though we have them year round. Unfortunately, our bird baths tend to go from thawed to frozen and back again, day to day, as jodi said. A simple kindness is to break the ice that forms on puddles and small rivulets of water when you see them iced over. :)

Phoenix C. said...

How wonderful!

Here there are bluetits roosting under the tiles on the baywindow, and I love to think of them snuggled up all warm, with the heat from the window radiator warming them!

Anonymous said...

Hi Shady, how wonderful! I have been thinking about a heater for the birdbath here. The pond pump is disconnected to let the water bubbling keep it from freezing for the fish and the birds. It is really being visited right now with the birdbaths all frozen.
Frances

Nutty Gnome said...

I seem to be in and out like a yoyo at the moment - it's so cold that the water freezes really quickly. ....please can I borrow your heater?!

Gail said...

Hi Shady, I added a heater and it was exciting to see visitors. Btw, I loved your pie pan creation....very smart. gail

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Nancy, I wish I'd signed up for Project Feederwatch this year. Guess I'll make sure I do it in time for next year. This is surely the year to be feeding the birds! One does what one can... :-)

Phoenix C, I'm going to have to look up Blue Titmouse. We have the Tufted variety here. They're very quick at the feeders... in/catch a seed/out! ha.

Frances, At least you have open water for the birds. That's the main thing. This is quite the winter weather everyone is having... even Florida! The fun thing about the birdbath is that it's very near the window. :-)

Liz, I'd Love to let you borrow my heater!! What I have was very inexpensive and was purchased at a local "farm supply" store... Wonder if you have something like that available?

Hi Gail! Good for you!! I'm sorry I haven't visited lately. It's all I can do to try to get things back into order after all the traveling we did... HOW are you doing??? :-) thanks.