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Keeping water ice-free
In freezing conditions birds will become more dependent on water provided in gardens, since many natural sources of water are frozen over.
It can be difficult to stop a bird bath from freezing, but try using any of the following methods:
- A metal container placed on three or four bricks with a night light underneath, sheltering it from the wind with further bricks.
- A thermostatically controlled immersion heater, or a light bulb inside a tiling pipe on which the dish is resting, but they must be fitted with suitable external wiring.
- A light ball, placed in the water, which will be moved by even a gentle breeze and will keep just a small amount of water ice free, even in fairly severe conditions.
- Line the bath with a polythene sheet that you can lift out along with the ice.
- Pour on hot water to melt the ice.
- The ultimate is the Solar Sipper, a bird bath that uses solar energy to prevent the water from freezing.
Avoid chemicals
On no account should any chemical, such as glycerine, anti-freeze or salt, be added to the water, as it could destroy the insulating and waterproofing properties of birds' feathers and even prove toxic.