Archive for the ‘Heated Bird Baths’ Category
It Is Another Day
And another celebration of my many years on this earth. I love birthdays that go beyond the actual date. Yippee, it means 2 celebrations for me. And, it means more presents for me too.
So what did I get today, besides a great dinner at my favorite restaurant? My grandchildren pooled their funds and got me a new bird bath heater for my heated bird bath.
I am just so blessed to have friends and a loving family. Who could ever ask for more?
Just A Thought
“Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.” Charles Swindoll, Author & Pastor
So, with that thought, choose to make it a joyful weekend. Take a walk in the park, the woods or just around the block. Fill all of you bird feeders and don’t forget to check the suet supply and the water in the heated bird bath.
Have an awesome weekend!
Did You Know
Peregrine Falcon
Birds have feathers, but not another living creature does
Do you sleep with one eye open? Many birds do. They do it so their predators cannot come toward them without being seen
When an Eagle strikes, the force is twice that of a bullet shot from a rifle
A male great bustard can weigh as much as 46 pounds. They can still fly and that makes them the largest of the flying birds
The fastest of the flying birds in the world is the peregrine falcon. They can reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour
The hawk has probably got the best eyesight. They have been known to spot a mouse in a field from a height of one mile
Hard-boiled ostrich eggs? Only if you have a couple of hours. It takes 2 hours of boiling them to get them to a hard-boiled state
Next time you are filling your bird feeders, or adding water to the heated bird bath, just remember a falcon could be needing a meal and a bath. It could be a treat!
Found Some Gratitude
What a day! I won’t get into it here. It was one of those horendous days that reminded me that all is not perfect in my world. I came home, closed my eyes and got the stress out by thinking of all I have to be grateful for.
I am so blessed. I am more blessed than the lovely bluebirds who frequently visit the heated bird bath and feast on the mealworms at the mealworm feeder.
Some of us take things for granted. I know I do. When was the last time I was hungry? There has never been a time when I didn’t know where my next meal was was coming from, or how I was going to pay for the gas I needed for my car, or where I was going to place my head and on what pillow. That doesn’t mean that money hasn’t been tight - it has as at times, even stressful. Today it was a blessing to me to meet some of those who don’t have some of those even very basic things like toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, clean clothes and a roof over their heads
What an eye-opening day!! Enjoy yours.
The First Major Frost
We have been seeing frost on the ground in the mornings off and on for the last few weekss. We haven’t seen any serious frost. You know, the stuff that makes the ground look likbe there was a snow shower. It as been gone shortly after sunrise. We really hadn’t seen any serious frost until last night. The outside temperature dipped to about 24 degrees, and at daybreak and well beyond the frost was shining bright on the grass, the roofs, and on any windshield that spent the night out too.
It was quite beautiful, and I was especially grateful that I had plugged in the heated bird bath. If you don’t have a heared bird bath and your bird bath is concrete it is time now to remove any water that may be in it and remove the dish so water cannot freeze and break it.
Thanksgiving Joy
I thought it fitting that the greeting of the day come from a bird. After all this is the Bird Essentials Blog.
I am grateful every day. I am grateful for the abundance God has given me. It seems I always have everything I need. This is a special day of gratitude, that I am still able to fill the bird feeders with their favorite foods, provide a heated bird bath in the winter, and to God for the bords and wonder and enjoyment they add to my life. I am always grateful for my family, friends and church family. I now it is time for me to get moving and finish preparing the dishes I will be taking to Ephrata, PA in just a bit where I will wallow in the fun and frivolity of my grandchilren.
Have a safe, memorable and happy Thanksgiving.
“O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever”
(I Chronicles 16:34 AMP)
A Bit More Sparrow Speak
The American Tree Sparrow has an unstreaked breast with a distincive black central spot, gray head and rusty crown and ear stipe. The white wing bars and unique two-toned beak (black on top and yellow below) help distinguish this sparrow from the others. It is found in fields, weedy woodland edges, marsh edges gardens and roadside thickets.
Despite its common name, it forages on the ground, nests on the ground, and breeds primarily above treeline in the far North. They are common backyard visitors during the winter months, and they love the ground platform feeders and are often seen at the heated bird bath.
The Fox Sparrow has a striking rusty body and tail, heavily streaked breast and gray rump. It is found in woodland thickets, weedy pastures and brushy roadsides. Its vigorous “double-scratching,” kicking backward in ground litter with both feet to uncover food, often draws attention to its presence under a bird feeder. They are not a real common visitor in the winter. They are among the migrants or wintering birds and seek a warmer climate.
Water In Winter
A customer recently asked me, “Won’t birds freeze if I give them water in a birdbath in the winter and they get wet and cold?”
This is common concern, but only when it is extremely cold and the temperature dips to zero degrees or below for a prolonged period of time. Even then birds normally seem to know when to drink and when to bath. Offering heated water will attract a huge variety and number of birds.
Why? Well, in the winter you will see birds looking like they are all puffed up. They are puffing out their feathers to trap air inside to act like a feather blanket to keep them warm. When their feathers are soiled and matted, they lose their insulation effect and then the birds will suffer and even die. Keeping water out is actually more important in the winter than in the summer. You might consider a heated bird bath or a bird bath heater. Most of these have thermostats that only have them running when it is 35 degrees or less, it only costs pennies a day in electricity to run them,
Frost and Freezing Temps
Depending on where you live, there may be frost and freezing temperatures. Here in Eastern PA, it is cold, just not quite freezing yet. The low temperature predictions, did give me reason for pause though. My bird bath is concrete, and therefore will crack when water freezes in it.
There are several solutions. One is to put the concrete bird bath away and get a heated bird bath for the winter. The other I have written about before, is the water wiggler and there are a number of heaters that can be purchased to keep the water from freezing. No matter what you decide, you are to be saluted for caring enough to keep a good supply of clean water available for the birds in the colder seasons of the year.
Create a Winter Hotspot for Birds
You can attract birds to your garden all year long with bird feeders, but you’ll really be rewarded in the winter months with the dozens that will flock to your heated bird bath. When the temperature drops below freezing, there are few places for birds to bath or drink that aren’t iced over. Your backyard will literally be the winter bird hotspot for your bird watching pleasure!
Now is the time to purchase a heated bird bath. If you wait until the winter, you might not be able to find one and you’ll be out of luck for the season. Another option is to buy a heated bird bath insert that fits in your regular birdbath. This can be less expensive and a good way to keep a nice stone birdbath from becoming iced over and cracking. Don’t forget to check for an outdoor outlet near your birdbath. If you don’t have one, pick up a weather-proof outdoor extension cord at your local home and garden supply store.