Birds, like any other creature need water to survive. Not only is water critical internally, it is also required in order for birds to keep their feathers clean and in tip top condition. Most of the year, and in most areas water is fairly easy for birds to find in nature. They will drink from and/or bathe in streams or shallow ponds of water. They will even get some moisture from fruits and berries, as well as from rain-water that is gleaned from leaves. In the winter however, when the berries are gone and natural water sources freeze up, birds are especially vulnerable.

A heated bird bath or bird bath heater can solve the problem. These products are designed to keep the water just barely above freezing so that birds can still get a drink. In fact, an ice-free source of water will make your yard an absolute bird magnet.

Bird bath heaters are generally divided into two groups. They are either thermostatically controlled or not. I would recommend the thermostatically controlled ones simply because you will not be wasting needless energy. These heaters are designed to turn on only when the water approaches zero degrees Celsius, and then turn off once the water reaches about five degrees. Also ensure the water is deep enough (about 1 ½” to 3”) so that the heater is well submerged and not controlled by the air temperature.

Bird bath heaters generally use between 75 and 200 watts of electricity with higher wattage heaters maintaining a larger area of your water surface ice-free. For example the Blue Devil heater which is our most popular seller is rated at 200 watts-the highest of any commercially manufactured heaters. Keep in mind though that some ice around the edge of the bird bath is not a bad thing since it will serve as a visual cue to birds not to bathe when the water temperature is too cold.

Most bird bath heaters come with a short electrical cord and you will therefore need to use an extension cord with most. For safety, wrap the connection with electrical tape and make sure your extension cord is connected to a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlet.

As far as the location of your bird water-feature, try to situate the bath at least ten feet from any shrubs or other hiding places where predators could lurk. Locating it by a tree will provide birds with a high place where they can retreat to if necessary. If possible try and locate your bird bath in a sunny location so that again you will conserve the energy required by your heater.

As with any season of the year, it is critical to clean your bird bath at least weekly to remove any droppings or food matter that may have accumulated. Both by-products can harbor toxins that can be fatal to your backyard friends.