Holiday gift idea: all-season bird baths

A junco enjoys an ice-free bird bath

Heated bird baths are essential at this time of year. Birds need water for drinking and bathing. When puddles and backyard ponds are frozen, what do they do?

They might get a little liquid from frozen berries but they can't bathe. If snow is available, they might take "snow baths." Ingesting snow for drinking only leads to hypothermia, making it more difficult for birds to maintain a healthy body temperature.

Birds might fly to bubbling creeks but these may be located outside their normal territory. Long flights burn off calories that the birds need to stay alive. The biggest water source in our area is the Lehigh River. In some places there are small watering holes. Other locations are steeply sloped and the current is fast moving. Birds can get swept into the rushing water.

You can take a simple step to resolve these problems—and one that may make your bird-watching experience all the more fascinating: placing a heated bird bath in your backyard.

Heated baths come in two styles: one that has a heater integrated into the bowl or one that has an external de-icer that can be added to a conventional bath. (If you use a de-icer, make sure your existing bath can withstand wintertime temperature fluctuations.)

All-Season 3-in-1 Bath

One misconception about heated bird baths is that they will turn the bath into a sauna. They won't. They have thermostatic controls meant to keep the water temperature just above the freezing point. The water will remain largely free of ice, giving the birds an opportunity to drink and bathe. Most also have gently sloped bowls, enticing birds to enter, and rims for birds to make use their claws for stability.

The Bird House has several models available for this holiday gift-giving season.

The All-Season 3-in-1 Bath is unique in that it has the widest number of options for mounting. The bath can be placed at ground level, clamped to the rail of an outdoor deck or affixed to a fence post or deck post. (All hardware is included.) The thermostatically controlled heater is an electricity-miser, activating at 75 watts only when the temperature falls to 32 degrees. The heating element is hidden within the bowl. Another nice feature is that the electric cord can be tucked under the bowl so you can use the bath has a pleasing look during every season of the year.

The All-Season Heated Bird Bath from Birds Choice is more powerful at 120 watts. It promises to remain ice-free to minus 20 degrees. It too is thermostatically controlled to save energy. The heating element is in the bowl and is easy to clean. This bath includes a textured surface to make it easier for birds to alight and navigate. The bath is mounted on a metal stand. Made in the United States, the bath carries a four-year warranty on manufacturers' parts. 

The Allied All-Season Bird Bath is designed for year round use. The bowl is supported on a durable metal stand. Like the other baths, the heating element is hidden beneath the bowl. When spring arrives, you can leave the bath unplugged or you can remove the heating plate, cord and all, and store them until the next time cold weather arrives. Made in the United States, the bath is economical to operate, running on 50 watts of current.

Allied Heated Bird Bath

The Allied Heated Bird Bath is the most powerful of the three, having a 150-watt heating element concealed beneath the bowl. The manufacturer says the bird bath has been field-tested to below-zero conditions. A textured surface and a gradual slope encourages bathing. The bath is the widest of the three, measuring 20 inches in diameter. It is meant for attaching to a deck railing (the hardware is included). Made in the United States, the bath has a one-year warranty.

If you already have a bird bath that can withstand the cold, consider adapting your bath to wintertime use by placing a de-icer in the bowl. The de-icer has a thermostatically controlled wand that keeps the water above freezing. It doesn't overheat the water, so it poses no injury to birds' feet. The nonstick aluminum coating has a large heating area. The wand includes a 10-foot-long weathertight electrical cord. Made in the United States, the de-icer has a three-year warranty. 

De-icer

(One word of caution: Burley Clay baths may not work well even with a de-icer. Some baths are clay with just a light finish. Clay absorbs water. When water freezes, the ice expands, splitting the bird bath. Burley Clay baths work splendidly in warmer months, and they are among the most beautiful ones on the market today.)

Naturally a heated bird bath or a de-icer must be connected to an outdoor electrical outlet using a weather-proof extension cord. Many newer houses have outdoor outlets, especially around patios. Check the location of your outlet to decide whether a heated bird bath is right for you.

Click Shield cord protector

Plastic wrap sealed with electric tape can be used to prevent water or snow from seeping into the connection between the bird bath and the extension cord. Better yet, you can purchase a Click Shield, a weather-resistant cord lock. The internal gasket assures a tight, unbreakable connection. When spring arrives, just click the connection to reopen the device and disconnect the electric cords. The Click Shield easily blends into the landscape.

Four cautions about buying a bird bath: 

• During very cold weather, ice may form on the lips of the bowl of a heated bird bath. That's not unusual. Heating elements usually don't extend to the lips; manufacturers confine them to the bowl, where the water is. The birds are able to grasp onto any ice build-up.
• Stay away from aquarium heaters popular at pet stores. They're meant for indoor use only. 
• Forget trough heaters. They are meant for livestock and are apt to generate too much heat, which will harm the birds. 
• Solar heaters do not work in our area. We've tried them. They require direct sun on the black top, usually take until late afternoon to melt the ice, and as the sun falls, the water refreezes and the whole sad cycle continues. Our area contains too much cloud cover, and the temperatures too cold. 

If you buy an all-season or heated bird bath, you might want to consider the location. Keep in mind the outdoor electric outlet. Probably the best wintertime site is close to a window or a patio. That way, you'll get the maximum enjoyment watching the birds drink, bathe and jockey for their turn!

Products sold at The Bird House may run short close to the holidays so hurry in for the best selection!