We had a little cold snap last week and the water in our main birdbath froze solid, as we had yet to install a deicer.
With my wife’s urging, I took a 2 quart container of fresh water, removed the ice and filled the birdbath. Before I could get back inside there were two bluebirds and a chickadee drinking water. As every birder knows, if you really want to attract birds, provide them with a source or multiple sources of fresh water.
Come winter, birds need water more than food. In an ordinary subdivision without a flowing creek or river, it’s hard for our fine feathered friends to find a little drinking water. Hooking up a deicer to your bath will attract birds like you’ve never seen before. Over the years, we have used numerous deicers and below are some top notch products.
– First, Farm Innovators offers the standard 500w cast aluminum utility deicer. This is a rugged and dependable product designed to give you years of service and it’s priced under $30.
– API sells a lower wattage 250w deicer that is compact and durable, and safe even for plastic birdbaths. It has a convenient 10 foot cord and sells for about $29.99.
– An interesting new product is the Heated Rock Birdbath Deicer from Drs. Foster and Smith. As the catalogue states, “This rock-shaped deicer keeps birdbath water ice-free in sub-zero temps. The thermostatically-controlled unit runs automatically, only when needed. The 75-watt heater works in any birdbath and operates for just pennies a day and is disguised as a decorative rock. Priced at $29.99, it is safe in all birdbaths and has a 3-year manufacturer’s warranty.”
No matter which deicer you select, your bird friends will thank you for it and they will grace your backyard throughout the winter.