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Birds need water, no ice!
By Mary D. Edwards

A cold snap like we’re having now means I don a rarely-used long down coat when I walk the dogs. I know I’ll be fine out there with it. For our resident birds, the cold can be a killer. They need food, water, and shelter as usual, but what’s tough to get in sub-freezing temps is unfrozen water.

Duncraft.com sells heated water basins for birds

My solution has been to fill a yellow plastic bowl with water in the morning and place it on top of the frozen bird bath. My yard is a year-round source of water and food, so I draw regulars. It’s not the best, but I work at home, so it’s not terribly inconvenient. At night I bring it in to thaw. The birds seem to appreciate it. The other day I had eight tiny birds gathered around my bowl.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has a detailed article, “Providing Water for Birds,” on dos and don’ts for keeping your backyard birds hydrated, year round.

After reading it, I’ve decided to get a heater. Winter’s not over yet. [Ed. note:Some people use a string of holiday lights, but that only works if you use the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs!]

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has other tips for winter bird feeding. Please visit here for more information.

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