Providing water for birds during bitter cold snaps

[topaz_eyes]

As we know, birds need water year-round, especially during winter. It's even more important during bitter cold snaps, like the one that's expected this weekend in many parts of the US.

I live in Alberta where we get winter temperatures as low as -40. We've found that heated pet bowls work very nicely in winter as bird baths. We place stones in them where birds can stand to drink.

You will need to keep water in heated pet bowls at all times so they will work. Thirsty deer also appreciate fresh water sources; they will drain baths entirely, which burn out the heaters in heated bowls if left dry too long.

We've also found that ground-feeding birds like pigeons really appreciate having a water bowl available on the ground.

Whether using heated or non-heated bird baths, be sure to check them frequently while it remains below freezing. Thaw/replace the water as needed.

Comments

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is a great resource. I can add a few others:

In areas cold enough to freeze, but not deep cold, a good solution is thermal mass. A black puddlestone such as basalt will hold a lot of heat from the sun, so that water stays liquid at much lower temperatures. Black plastic isn't as powerful but will still provide some benefit, especially if surrounded by dark rocks or concrete.

If many and/or large creatures tend to drain a small birdbath or pet bowl, consider a larger container as meant for livestock, also available with heating options.

Some systems have auto-fill and auto-shutoff options; these are more expensive up front but may save you money if you keep losing equipment due to hardware mishaps.

A cheaper option lets you substitute work for equipment: buy 2+ shallow black dishes, such as livestock pans or pot saucers. Fill one with hot water. When it freezes, move it somewhere warm and out of the way to thaw, then fill another with hot water. Providing water 2-3 times a day is helpful even if you can't keep it liquid all the time.