Solar bird baths don't work in winter

Every so often, we’ll get an inquiry about whether we sell solar-powered heated bird baths for winter use.

We don't. We haven't heard of one that actually works.

The idea behind a solar-powered heated bird bath is that the sun's power will keep the water in the bath liquid so the birds can drink. If the temperature does dip below the freezing mark during the night, the ice will melt once the sun comes out.

The most commonly touted bath, the Solar Sipper, uses a black plastic top to shield a 1-quart water basin. The cover has a 1½-inch opening from which the birds can drink. However, they can't bathe.

Solar Sipper

We tried a Solar Sipper. We were dissatisfied. When nighttime temperatures fell below freezing, the water froze. Even when the sun was out all day, the water did not thaw completely. When the sky was cloud-covered, the water stayed frozen. As per the manufacturer's instructions, we placed the Solar Sipper in a location that would get sun all day.

Our region gets more clouds than sun during the winter months. The National Weather Service reports that we usually get seven sunny days per month from December through February. We get another eight partly sunny days per month. That leaves clouds shielding the sky for about half of the month. On average, the overnight temperature is below freezing from December through March. 

The Solar Sipper may work in Denver, where the most of the days are sunny, or in Atlanta, where temperatures never get very low for long. But here? No way.

Our research has found no manufacturer of solar products that promises to heat the water during the winter. In order to accomplish that, there must be a battery that charges from the solar power and then continues to keep the bath warm enough to keep the water thawed. Again, we have not found one.

The solar-powered baths that we've found are designed purely for summertime use. They have solar panels that generate low-voltage electricity to power a pump that splashes water in the bath. The manufacturers emphasize that these fountains and bubblers require plenty of direct sunlight to operate properly. If clouds pass overhead during the course of the day, the fountain or bubbling effect may be reduced. The baths can't be used during winter because the basins and pedestals are made of materials that will crack in subfreezing temperatures.

Also, these solar-powered baths are a bit pricey. The smallest one—just 14.6 by 7.1 inches (about the size of a placemat for the dinner table)—has a list price of $129.99. A larger fountain-style bath runs as high as $299.99.

It's unfortunate that there isn't a product on the market that uses the sun to deliver drinkable water for birds during the winter. Maybe someday there will be. Technology for solar cells is improving. We'll keep looking, and we'll let you know if we find one that works.