Arctic blasts are common in Montana! In Episode 3 of our “Let’s Ask Sandy” series, Birds & Beasleys owner, Sandy Shull, talks about how to care for your bird baths in the depths of winter, and which variety is her favorite.
Today, I want to talk to you about heated bird baths. Today is certainly the season for heated bird baths, so if you are thinking about doing something for the birds, this is the best thing right now.
All birds, whether they’re seed eaters, berry eaters, all need water. So, if you can provide water for your birds all year-round, you will have more birds in your yard than just with a traditional feeder. It is simple, these are bird feeders that we love, it is easy, we can see the open water, you take a brush, clean it out, get rid of the extra bird poop, I put a rock in the middle of mine in case the bird falls into the bird bath they have another place to stand and be safe. It also means they can stand here on the rock and look out so they feel safe. Then, it is simple, all you do is fill up the bath like this.
Now, the secret about this bath is that it is a heated bird bath, it is plugged in, it has a thermostat. So, it will turn on when it drops below 32 degrees and it will turn off when it gets warmer. A typical Montana day, cold at night, the bath stays open, morning comes around, the water is still available. Let’s say it’s 40 degrees, it turns off, so it is not using your electricity.
What’s also wonderful about these particular bird baths, which are my favorite, which are Allied Precision Baths, they come in two sizes, you can then unplug it in the summer and use it as a bath all year long. Sometimes I tell people, you know, bring your bath up closer to your house where your outlet is, where you can fill it up because you do not necessarily want to walk around in the snow with water, come summer, push it back out into the yard. So, if you want to do something for the birds right now, think heated bird bath, we have plenty to show you, but my favorite right now is the Allied Precision.