Bluebirds visit a heated birdbath
Water is a vital resource in the day to day life of birds, and during the winter unfrozen water can be scarce. Birdbath heaters and heated birdbaths allow you to offer unfrozen water during the cold winter months. When all of the water in and around your yard is frozen, your heated bath will attract birds like a magnet.
During winter birds need water not only for drinking but for bathing as well. Why would a bird want to get wet in freezing temperatures? Because when their feathers get dirty, they don’t insulate as well. A dip and splash in the bath will get their feathers back to optimum performance.
Deck Mounted Heated Bird Bath
There are two approaches to heated bird bath setups, a dish with the heater built in or adding a heater to an existing birdbath. Most of these have built in thermostats that conserve energy by only turning on when needed to keep the water ice free. Use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord to plug them in.
Plastic dishes with the heater built in can be used year round by tucking the cord under the dish. Allied Precision offers heated dishes that can be mounted on a deck or that come complete with a pedestal.
Their EZ Tilt deck mounted heated birdbath model allows you to easily tilt and dump the bath off the edge of the deck when cleaning and refilling. The Farm Innovators Heated Ground Bath is a natural looking sand coated oasis that provides water where birds expect to find it, at ground level.
Fits existing birdbaths
If you want to use a heater with an existing birdbath you must use a metal or plastic dish because they can tolerate freezing temperatures without cracking. The heating elements come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate the size and shape of your bird bath. When selecting the right one, make sure it leaves enough room for birds to get in and bathe.
Don’t forget the Water Wiggler, from Allied Precision, a battery operated device that ripples the water to attract the birds’ attention. Moving water attracts even more birds and the Water Wiggler can be used in winter, but only in a heated, ice free birdbath.
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