Back Yard Birding Blog

I’ve started having a feeder outside, and also a small water dish, not a real birdbath, but something out there. I think it’ll be nice to have some birds around this winter, so I want to see what I can do to keep water out too (in Wisconsin where it freezes pretty bad). So I might buy a heated birdbath. I’ve read it’s better to have one that lays on the ground as it’ll use some heat from the earth, although the frostline is pretty darn deep around here, so want comments on the best type to use in really cold climates. Then, in regards to the heater, would it work or make any sense to use a timer on the heater? I can’t see running the heater all night long when it’s below zero and the birds are all huddled up in a tree someplace. Like maybe have it start up around 4 or 5 am (well before sunrise), and shut off around sundown?? I was thinking something around a 50 watt heater.
I’ve been using a tube feeder for sunflower and safflower, am just now experimenting with ground feeding.
Was talking with an elderly lady who feeds, how about what she does: Just forget heating it, she pops the ice out and adds warm water, and it takes a hour or two for it to freeze, she says the birds are smart enough to get their water/bath in before it freezes. Does this every day or two. Since I work odd hours, I could do this pre-dawn, but go ahead and use a heater, and have a timer on it so it just runs for a few hours, so it’s on for the first few hours of daylight??

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