 The Duncraft Hexagon Heated Post Bird Bath is fitted with a ClickShield Cord Lock to protect the electric connection from water, ice, and snow.  Fresh water for bathing and drinking is an important part of any feeding station, and it benefits a variety of birds, such as this female Northern Cardinal. |
Water is a vital resource for birds any day, even during cold winter weather. Providing winter water during freezing temperatures will require a heated bird bath with an electric thermostat, but if you already use a heated bird bath as part of your feeding station or landscaping, you know the value of this product as a bird magnet and as an important benefit for birds. Lucky sunbelt birders who never have ice in their bird baths may want to use a dripper or mini-fountain in your existing bird bath, because the sound of water will help birds find your water source initially.
If you are about to add a heated bird bath to your yard, you will appreciate how a heated water feature adds appreciably to your backyard birding enjoyment. When we say “heated” though, the water is only heated enough to keep it from freezing. An added incentive for a heated bird bath is that it can be used year-round – just unplug the heater during months when the temperature stays above the freezing mark. And as an added incentive to add a heated bird bath to your yard, appreciate that you may be providing the only ice-free water in the area that birds can rely on during stressful winter weather.
When shopping for a heated bird bath, keep in mind that you don’t want a deep dish. It’s best to select a bird bath with a shallow water basin that birds can easily stand in to bathe, along with a low rim for birds to easily bend over to drink. Then it’s up to you to keep an eye on the water level and top off the water to about 1½ inches daily. It’s also best to choose a heated bird bath that is mounted on a pedestal or that can be attached to a post or deck rail. An elevated bird bath provides a better view for you to see all the avian action, and we don’t suggest ground-based bird baths because it’s easier for a feral cat to try to access the birds.
To begin shopping for a heated birdbath that fits into your plan to provide winter water for birds in your yard, at your office, or at school, check with a local birding products store, like a Wild Birds Unlimited store, or refer to online sales at Duncraft, BestNest, Songbird Essentials, and Wild Birds Unlimited for starters.
Also, it is important to insure a safe and secure outdoor electric connection during rain, melting ice, or snowy conditions. The Watertight Cord Connector encases the electric plugs that connect your heated bird bath to an extension cord (available from BestNest); or look into a similar ClickShield Cord Lock from Duncraft.
Wherever you live, by providing fresh water through the fall and winter, your water feature will surely be the hit of the neighborhood for birds during cold-weather months. Enjoy the action, enjoy the birds, and appreciate that you are providing a valuable resource for birds, even though it’s simply water.
Share your backyard birding experiences and photographs with The Birding Wire at editorstbw2@gmail.com