A better photo of the guests in our backyard sauna (link to previous post added)

[Omaha Steve]

It was 12 degrees outside when I took this at about 10 AM. I forgot to turn off the flash while shooting through the glass, so the photo is faded to the left. We now know we have at least five of the blue Birds. We have lived here six years. This is the first time we have ever had Blue Birds. That is a Gold Finch on the right.

The previous post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022186719

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. lovely

[mr_hat]

2. I have the same heater.

Love seeing birds bathe in the winter.

[DonRedwood]

15. I've never heard of such a thing!! But I just got permission to go and get one

Wow...I'd never even thought of a birdbath heater! But we really enjoy having the birds eating at our feeder. Watching them bathe will be even more fun!

[Omaha Steve]

18. Get this one & the extension chord for yours and the birds safety

http://www.sears.com/allied-precision-ind-250-watt-aluminum-bird-bath/p-SPM6393420308?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1



Product Description

Allied Precision Ind 250 Watt Aluminum Bird Bath De Icer W250

Bird bath de icer
Keeps birdbaths from freezing
Compact aluminum base in a low profile design
Safe to use in plastic bird baths
Non-Stick coating and flowing water all combine to reduce mineral buildup
10' cord
250 watt
Length: 6.75
Width: 3.25
Height: 6 - Ship Weight: 3.00 lbs.


http://www.songbirdgarden.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=9471



Safely connect outdoor heated accessories in rain or snow! (also there is a 50ft model)

LOCKNDRY Power Supply Extension Cord - 16 guage, 25 ft long. The revolutionary LOCKNDRY is the only detachable power supply cord approved by Underwriters Laboratories for use only with Allied Precision heated buckets, heated pet bowls, heated bird baths, deicers, etc. Provides a water-resistant seal while keeping the connection firmly secured. the specially designed plug on the LOCKNDRY cord fits any standard outlet, but when mated with the LOCKNDRY compatible power cord, the large black nut pulls the plug tight against the gasket to form a water-resistant seal. The red nut the locks everything in place and prevents cord separation. The LOCKNDRY is great as an all-purpose extension cord too! Made in the USA!

[progressoid]

31. I was recently told that dehydration kills more birds than lack of food.

Especially in the winter.

Time to get a Bird bath de icer!

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

3. Just beautiful!

The downside of living in Florida is there is no need to take care of the birds. Of course the upside is all the birds to enjoy Lovely picture--thank you!

[Brother Buzz]

4. No sauna, or even a hot tub

Today, we were inundated with ceder waxwings. Hundreds Thousands of them feeding on the Cotoneaster berries.

I'd be happy to trade five-hundred ceder waxwings for just one Blue bird. Lucky you, and the birds, too, for you to provide the heater.

[justabob]

23. we just had some of those come through last week... I like them

For the last few years, we have a flock(?) of dozens of waxwings come through and eat all the berries off our holly trees. It takes them a couple of days to get them all and then they are gone again until the next year.

[Brother Buzz]

27. The ceder waxwings are just one of many groups to visit us

They don't stay more then a day or two, only to have another bird replace it. I know the ceder waxwings because they are larger then most and kinda uniquely cool looking, but most of the others, we just call."LBJ's" (Little Brown Jobs).

[LeftInTX]

25. Bluebirds would show up in our yard when we used to feed our dog outside

Dry dog food. Haven't seen them since. But they would show up when there was dog food.

I'm in South Central Texas

[Brother Buzz]

26. We had a blue bird that visited regular to eat cat food of the back porch

Only he was a Scrub Jay; brazen little fellow. The cat is long gone, so is the Jay.

I don't think there are Blue Birds in California, but I've been known to be wrong.

[Glimmer of Hope]

5. So pretty and cute.

[patrice]

6. I think the blue and red ones are Indigo Buntings. nt

[Auntie Bush]

8. Sorry, they are Bluebirds...not buntings

[patrice]

10. No need to be "sorry".

[Omaha Steve]

11. We do get Indigo Buntings too

Just not at this time of year.

[XemaSab]

20. They migrate

I think they're all in South America this time of year.

[csziggy]

28. Lazuli buntings are blue with reddish chests

Lazuli Bunting live in the western US


Eastern Bluebirds are similar


And so are Western Bluebirds


Indigo Buntings that live mostly in the East are solid blue.


And to make it completely confusing Mountain Bluebirds are also solid blue!

[Demoiselle]

7. That's a female goldfinch, right?

We've got a few of them hanging out at our feeders. But I haven't seen any of the flashier males (I think they're GOLD, right? With black trim.)

[Omaha Steve]

13. Yes it is

[NRaleighLiberal]

14. could be males - they molt the bright yellow feathers for the winter - both look the same right now.

[In_The_Wind]

9. Birds love heated birdbaths in the winter.

I watched a starling splashing around for a while just the other day.
There was six inches of snow everywhere else.


Your feathered friends look happy.

[malaise]

12. Gorgeous

Thanks

[pangaia]

16. Oh man. You got me all excited.

I was looking for maybe some naked chicks.

[Politicub]

17. I love wild birds

Had no idea a birdbath heater existed.

Want!

[Omaha Steve]

19. Safety first

http://www.songbirdgarden.com/store/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=9471

Safely connect outdoor heated accessories in rain or snow!

LOCKNDRY Power Supply Extension Cord - 16 guage, 25 ft long. The revolutionary LOCKNDRY is the only detachable power supply cord approved by Underwriters Laboratories for use only with Allied Precision heated buckets, heated pet bowls, heated bird baths, deicers, etc. Provides a water-resistant seal while keeping the connection firmly secured. the specially designed plug on the LOCKNDRY cord fits any standard outlet, but when mated with the LOCKNDRY compatible power cord, the large black nut pulls the plug tight against the gasket to form a water-resistant seal. The red nut the locks everything in place and prevents cord separation. The LOCKNDRY is great as an all-purpose extension cord too! Made in the USA!

Some dealers are sold out for the season on the Allied Precision line.

[Politicub]

24. Thanks for the extra info and the link

Can't wait to order the stuff I need.

[Chorophyll]

21. Thank you for the smile. This is lovely.

"may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old"
—e.e. cummings

[MsPithy]

22. Looks like the edge is a little too high.

I hope you do not think this is hypercritical, I don't mean it to be.

I had a deep bird bath with steep sides like yours. It was OK for most birds, but I noticed the tiny birds had trouble reaching for a drink and they could not wade in to bathe.

I added some stones, with large flat ones part over and part under the surface, like a ramp. Or, I think you could place some sticks, in the water and up the side, example, one Bluebird is climbing down the heater cord.

Thank you so much for helping these wonderful birds.

[csziggy]

29. A lot of birdbaths are not well designed

As you say, the smaller birds prefer shallower bird baths. I've put slate stones in some of mine to give the little birds a safe place to drink and to take baths and they really like that.

Last summer we put in a fish pond (actually it is a 800 gallon horse water trough with a 200 gallon fiberglass mold of a syrup vat) and the birds go there to drink sometimes, but it's mostly the mourning doves and cardinals, not the chipping sparrows, goldfinches and magnolia warblers that use the smaller bird baths. I plan to make a 'beach' or some sort of flat shallow area in the pond for the smaller birds to splash around on.

On the other hand, we have a small water trough for the horses that is about three feet by eighteen inches and one foot deep that the large birds love. The crows will jump right in and take baths and every so often a red shoulder hawk will do the same. I hope to get some pictures of them playing in there!

[Omaha Steve]

30. Not hypercritical at all

We actually usually keep the water level all the way to the top of the bath. I just had not filled it up yet before I took the photo. The bath sits at a slight angle, so there is a high end and an end the water comes right up to. You can see in Marta's picture from the weekend how it looks. But a few sticks etc. are a great idea.