HOW TO PROVIDE WATER FOR WINTER BIRDS
It’s pretty normal to see bird feeders in everyone’s yard in the winter to help keep all the overwintering birds well fed. But it’s less common to see water set out for birds.
It can be challenging to keep water from freezing in the winter, but birds need to have a water source in winter when everything is frozen. While there are fewer bugs for birds to eat, they can usually forage enough berries and seeds from natural areas to keep themselves fed. It’s much more challenging for them to find water to drink, and dehydration is very dangerous for birds, just like it is for humans.
But it’s not just drinking they need the water for. To regulate their body temperature, birds need to preen and keep their feathers in tip-top shape. They also need water to help keep their feathers clean and aligned.
There are a few different ways you can provide water for the birds, and probably a few squirrels, in Indianapolis this winter.
HEATED BIRDBATHS
The best kind will have an automatic thermostat, so it only operates when the water starts to freeze instead of running all the time.
There are bird baths available that have a heating element built into the base of the bowl. They are probably the easiest to maintain and keep clean, and are a great investment. You just need to make sure you have an outdoor-rated extension cord for them. It will also make it easier to keep it clean and full if you set it up 10-15 feet from your house for the winter.
BIRDBATH DE-ICER
If you already have a birdbath that you'd like to use, you can easily add a deicer element. You can get plug-in ones that are very economical to operate. The best kind will have an automatic thermostat, so it only operates when the water starts to freeze instead of running all the time. There are solar birdbath deicers available if you'd prefer not to run an electrical one.
HEATED PET WATERING BOWL
There are quite a few different pet water dishes available that are heated. These are an easy and affordable option. You'll also need an outdoor extension cord for these, and they can be a bit more challenging to keep clean since they're usually quite large. It’s a good idea to arrange some twigs or branches around and across the top of the water, so smaller birds have somewhere easy to grip, since the plastic edges can be quite slippery. Plastic types are best, rather than metal, so there’s no risk of wet feet freezing to the dish.
WHERE TO PUT YOUR BIRD’S WATERING STATION
Ideally, you want to put your winter bird watering station somewhere you can see it from a window, so it’s easy to monitor. You’ll also want it reasonably close to an electrical outlet, and where it’s easy to access for cleaning and refilling.