Bird Watching Binoculars

Cheapest Way To Provide Water For Birds In Winter

If you live in a part of the country or world that has harsh winters, you’ve got a few choices to provide water for birds in winter. You can either buy a heated birdbath, buy a birdbath heater, or get creative.

The method I’ve been using for years is creative and has proven to be very fuss-free and effective. It involves no extension cords or electrical wiring to bury or any electric power consumption at all. Just two readily available components and a little help from you.

Fiberglass Resin Birdbath

The first thing you need to do is go down to your local home repair/improvement store (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) and look for a fiberglass resin birdbath. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A bowl that screws off is best.? You’ll soon see why this is.

You’ll probably need to get some play sand to fill the center column with for ballast as well.

Rubber Mallet

You probably have one of these laying around but if not, you should be able to pick up a rubber mallet for under ten bucks. You need a rubber mallet so you don’t risk puncturing your birdbath in the next step.

You should be able to get the birdbath, play sand and rubber mallet for well under $100.00. Probably closer to $75.00 depending on where you shop.

Your Part Of The Process

Once you’ve got your birdbath installed where you want it and located your mallet, you’re ready to begin. If you’re ground is too hard to properly install the birdbath, you can set it up on your porch or patio. Just make sure the bottom hole is covered so your sand doesn’t run out.

Every morning, you’ll follow these simple steps:

1. Unscrew your birdbath bowl.
2. Break the ice up with the rubber mallet.
3. Refill the birdbath bowl with tepid water.

The best part about this is it takes almost no time to do and it provides water for birds when they are most actively feeding. Plus, in almost no time at all you’ll discover a very cool thing about this method.

Your Birds Will Learn Your Schedule

This falls under birds being a lot smarter than we have a tendency to give them credit for. In a very short time, you’ll see the birds will learn your schedule and be waiting for you to put the new water out. As long as you stick to the same schedule, they’ll be waiting for you each morning.

I should note here if you are self-employed, a stay at home mom or get home before sundown each day you can repeat this process in the afternoon. Once again, it’s important to keep a schedule that works for you.

Does backyard birding get any better than that? You’ll be giving them what they desperately need in winter and have a tough time finding-water.  Plus, you get a chance to see who’s in your backyard this time of year.