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01/21/08, 05:49 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western WA
Posts: 4,729
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Backyard birds and the cold weather
We are fortunate to have a pretty active backyard bird flock that frequent our feeders, ponds, and bird bath. With this weather both the pond and bird bath are frozen. The birds keep trying to take a bath in the ice and they are not happy.
Do you have backyard birds? What kind? Are they very active during the winter?
Do they make some sort of electric heating element that will keep a bird bath deiced? Preferably one that will not shock them also.
Thanks
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01/21/08, 05:56 PM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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Yes
Yes, I have heard a local shop that caters to those that appreciate birding advertise them on the radio. Other than just knowing they exist I haven't any more information.
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01/21/08, 05:57 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: fentress county, Tennessee
Posts: 137
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here's a place that sells heaters
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01/21/08, 06:38 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: near Abilene,TX
Posts: 5,323
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We had a bunch of birds at the feeders this morning. I had hung up a thistle sock, so the little wild finches were very busy picking out seeds. I have square wire feeders that hold compressed seed/sunflower cakes. The wild white winged tip doves out of Old Mexico were busy at that...a single bright red Cardinal also appeared..we enjoy our birds.
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01/21/08, 07:18 PM
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Chief cook & weed puller
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 5,549
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I put out ear corn, grains and seeds. We get blue jays, chickadees, sparrows, titmouse, 2-3 kinds of woodpeckers, and once an American kestrel. Although apparently he wasn't there for the seeds. Once years ago we had a scarlet tanenger. They are truly brilliant. Sometimes I'll put out stale crackers, nuts, or bread. We have to quit that towards spring though, because what falls on the ground attracks skunks!
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01/21/08, 07:26 PM
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Just happy to be here!
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,122
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I put out wild bird seed mix that I get at the local walmart. It brings in cardinals, doves, bluejays, house finches, and sparrows that won't leave. I also get dark eye juncos that winter over here. I also have a finch feeder with nyger seed and it was loaded with female goldfinches last week.
I keep a small bird bath heater in the bird bath all winter. Works great. Just gotta remember to keep the bath full of water.
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01/21/08, 09:09 PM
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Guest
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,799
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I've got five regular birdfeeders with mixed birdseed and sunflower seeds. And five thistle socks too. We see cardinals, bluejays, goldfinches, chickadees, titmouses (titmice?), doves on the ground underneath, and some birds I haven't identified yet. I tried putting out suet blocks but they've been pretty much ignored.
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01/21/08, 09:27 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Appleton, Washington
Posts: 79
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Birds and cold weather
I have bird feeders off the back porch. I feed the birds every morning. I feed them a mixture of scratch grains and bird seed and black oil sunflower seeds. I also feed them "animal" bread that I get at the day old bakery. It cost a dollar for a plastic grocery bag full. Been doing this where I live now for over 7 years. I also have an electric element in the water for them. This way they have water year around. The primary birds I get here are the Steller Blue jays and the northern flicker and chickadees. Right now it is 13 degrees out and everything is frozen except for the water for the birds. There is also between 2 and 3 feet of snow on the ground so there is not much for the birds to eat except what I feed them.
Rod<---in Appleton, WA
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01/22/08, 12:54 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,845
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01/22/08, 12:59 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: high up and far out
Posts: 423
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http://www.wbu.com/
Nice place and they know their birds.
__________________
Mutton and Chocolate! YUMMMMMMMM!
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01/22/08, 05:30 AM
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Max
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Near Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 6,560
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Wayne02
We are fortunate to have a pretty active backyard bird flock that frequent our feeders, ponds, and bird bath. With this weather both the pond and bird bath are frozen. The birds keep trying to take a bath in the ice and they are not happy.
Do you have backyard birds? What kind? Are they very active during the winter?
Do they make some sort of electric heating element that will keep a bird bath deiced? Preferably one that will not shock them also.
Thanks
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do you really think it is a good idea to let birds get wet in this weather?
I dont think you would be helping them.
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01/22/08, 05:38 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,803
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those are beautiful photos, Jason, especially the first one, which is my favorite.
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01/22/08, 07:11 AM
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Halfway, OR & Wagoner, OK
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: I live in Oregon part time, and Oklahoma part time. Nice, huh?
Posts: 3,306
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by sherry in Maine
those are beautiful photos, Jason, especially the first one, which is my favorite.
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Yes, Jason...beautiful photos of your birds!
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01/22/08, 08:21 AM
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Guest
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,799
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I think the heated birdbath is more so they can get something to drink. But maybe they bathe when it's cold out too?
We have a pond that never freezes, so I don't have a birdbath.
Beautiful photos, Jason....is the third one a nuthatch? I like the chickadee best.
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01/22/08, 08:43 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Adirondacks
Posts: 6,775
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We keep two feeders out year round - one with regular mixed seed and one with sunflower seeds. In the wintertime, we get a lot of purple finches, nuthatches, black capped chickadees, and other finches and sparrows. Once in a while we get a blue jay or a cardinal. We have a large barberry bush near the feeder that the birds hide in. It's especially useful to them when the Cooper's hawk comes looking for dinner!
We keep a birdbath out in the summer but put it away in the winter. There are usually enough puddles faround for the birds if they want a drink.
__________________
"Never stop questioning - curiosity has its own reason for existence." Albert Einstein
"I used to be a terror, now I am a tired man" Jim Croce
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01/22/08, 08:51 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 3,030
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Those are really spectacular photos, Jason!
We have one big feeder that I keep black oil seed in, plus a suet feeder. During the winter we have blue jays, cardinals, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, house finches, various sparrows, slate juncoes, downy, hairy, and red bellied woodpeckers, starlings, doves, and gold finches in their greenish winter stage. For some reason, we've also had small flocks of cowbirds all winter. They aren't supposed to be here now! Our pond rarely freezes, so I don't normally put out water, but I've seen bird bath heaters before. I use a heated bowl for my chickens this time of year. The raptors are really hungry now. I made a thread a few weeks back about a hawk that took off with a stuffed toy bunny in our yard! Last year I put out some freezer burned venison, which the red shouldered and broad winged hawks really enjoyed. I'll probably clean out the freezer soon to see if I have some for them again.
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Melissa
Reformed hoyden. Please forgive me if I relapse.
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01/22/08, 08:57 AM
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Apple addict
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Back in New England
Posts: 368
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__________________
Wherever you go, there you are. Buckaroo Banzai
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01/22/08, 08:57 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,141
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Jason, What kind of bird is that in your lst photo? Great shots. Rita
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01/22/08, 09:22 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 226
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Jason - beautiful pictures! What kind of lens did you use? I made a list of the kinds of birds we had when we first moved here. It is about 40 different species. I love watching the birds and they are so much more active when it is cold. We have plenty of natural water so we don't do the birdbath, but we have lots of feeders. I don't want to think of what I spend on seed! My winter favorites are the Towhee and cardinals. In the spring we love to watch for Indigo Buntings, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Warblers.
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Mtn Granny
Happiness is a by-product of an effort to make someone else happy.
- Gretta Brooker Palmer
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01/22/08, 09:52 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 295
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by michiganfarmer
do you really think it is a good idea to let birds get wet in this weather?
I dont think you would be helping them.
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It would be one thing if you were turning the hose on them without their permission...but birds are pretty smart, that way, and know what they can and cannot do with the water! 
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"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something.What I can do, I ought to do. And by the grace of God I will do." -Lou Holtz
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