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Heated Bird Baths Allow Some Birds to Over-Winter
With the end of summer, so comes the migration south for many song birds. A few favorites may stick around if their habitat suits them well enough. Bluebirds in my yard for example, surprised me last year when they decided to over-winter. Probably because of the juicy live worms they were offered everyday, and mostly because of the heated bird baths in the yard. This season we had three successful broods!Heated bird baths really are important to wild birds. As temperatures drop and local water sources tend to freeze over, the baths offer an oasis for drinking and bathing. Clean feathers are a must for birds to stay warm too. When you see them “puff up” it is a mechanism they use to retain body heat. Some folks believe birds can eat snow for water, and they can, but it takes them many calories to convert the snow to water. And these are precious calories needed to just stay warm.
If you already have a favorite bath, please don’t empty it and turn it over for winter. Consider adding a heater or deicer to it for the birds. They need fresh water in winter just as much as hot summ
er months. Many of the newer heaters are safe for use with all bird baths, so there’s no worry about having a metal heater in a plastic or resin bath. The Heated Rock for example, is an innovative new heater that’s safe with all types of baths. Mat-type heaters can be used with all baths as well.Help birds to thrive and flourish this winter by offering a consistent fresh water source with heated bird baths. You never know who may surprise you and decide to stick around?
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Bird Baths Handcrafted the Old Fashioned Way
Want to entice more feathered friends? Better than any birdhouse or bird feeder, bird baths really do the trick. Fresh water is very appealing to many species, even those who may never visit a feeder or use a birdhouse.The water element is in fact the most crucial one when creating a wildlife habitat.If you fancy the nicer things in your garden, there are pedestal type bird baths that are still crafted the old fashioned way by talented artisans. Fine clays are used to create elegant designs, many are even hand painted. The Best Friends Bird Bath shown at left features an intricate relief of cats and dogs. The character is charming, and you can be sure birds will love it too! With a patented locking lid system for added stability, this bath will last for many seasons of use.
Although the production methods differ significantly they share certain features – an emphasis on quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, offering beautiful, American-made bird baths and garden decor.
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Whole and Shelled Peanut Bird Feeders
Offering a variety of foods will attract more species of wild birds to your feeders. Seed feeders are wonderful for many birds, but some have no interest in them at all. Suet is another food (especially in winter) that will entice more feathered friends.Peanuts are an absolute favorite of many birds. Jays, Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, Grosbeaks, (and even Bluebirds in winter) will chow down on peanuts. Some birds prefer shelled peanuts, while others will go for whole peanuts too. Squirrels on the other hand, will eat any peanuts!
Adding one or even two peanut bird feeders to your existing setup will definitely entice more species to your yard. Most of these feeders are made from metal and durable stainless steel, but wooden models are also available. If pesky squirrels are a problem, be sure to install a quality squirrel baffle to keep them away from feeders. If you enjoy feeding squirrels, there are peanut bird feeders like this innovative and fun whole peanut metal wreath feeder. It suits both squirrels and birds….providing the little piglets leave some food for the birds!
As always, be sure to offer a fresh water source like a birdbath, as this will increase the number of species and sheer numbers of visitors to your place.
Birding Tips, Information & News