Category: Water Warmer

A Winter Essential

It’s wonderful to feed the birds. They become friends, these little feathered visitors. But there’s something more they need – water, not frozen water, but water in liquid form. So many birds gather ’round my birdbath. I know they appreciate it.

I’ve recently had questions about what water warmer I use. I wouldn’t recommend one unless I had total faith in it and that certainly is the case with the one I use. I can’t tell you when I bought it. It was that long ago. And I’ve only had this one all these years. So, yes, I’d recommend this one. In case you can’t quite see the labeling, it says, FARM INNOVATORS, INC DE-ICER 50 WATTS 120VAC. I’ve checked on the Internet and I see that they’re still available at a variety of prices. Hoping you have a water warmer already, or can find one for your bird friends.

Robins in the Snow

On Monday, January 3, 2022, nine inches of gorgeous, wet, stick to the trees snow, dumped upon my cabin making a fairyland of the woods around me. And as if to laugh at those who say robins are a sign of spring, today, just a short thirteen days since the start of winter, a large group of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) has descended upon the Eastern Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana) here and the birdbath which has a water warmer in it to provide them with water devoid of ice.

Some Robins do migrate but many others don’t. What they do is move in large groups to find food, fruits and berries. Those fruits and berries are their food choice during the winter, an easier meal than worms and insects.

These many Robins were the only species in the crowd today. Often though I’ll see them with Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) or Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus). Maybe tomorrow their friends will show up. I hope there are some berries left for them.

Birdbaths in Winter

During the winter my birdbaths really draw the birds. Bring in birds that aren’t interested in the seeds and suet that I put out at the feeders. Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) and Robins (Turdus migratorius) don’t eat at the feeders but they sure take pleasure in the water.

Another on my list of those that have no interest in the bird feeders, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), who shows up simply because I use a water warmer to keep ice from freezing. A water warmer along with a long medium duty/outdoor extension cord.

And still another bird on that list, a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), affectionately know as Butterbutt.

Birds can eat snow to get the moisture they need but it takes precious energy to convert that frigid chill of snow to the bird’s body temperature. Precious energy. Some birds even bathe during the cold of winter to keep their feathers clean IF water is available. And of course there are all the birds that eat the yummy suet and seeds that are out there in the feeders. They need that water in liquid form too. The more the merrier at the ol’ watering hole.

Song Sparrow

Some might think this an LBJ. A little brown job. But certainly deserving of more distinction than that.

This, a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and a master of camouflage.

A bird that is known for its rich collection of songs. Quite the crooners, males use their songs to identify their territory and to attract females.

Song Sparrows are year round residents in much of their range. In the northern most parts they will migrate south for the winter.

The diet of the Song Sparrow includes a large variety of insects and invertebrates, and many different berries. If you put out a platform feeder close to good cover with sunflower seeds or peanut hearts you’ll probably find Song Sparrows coming to your buffet.

Of the native sparrows in North America the Song Sparrow species is one of the most abundant. But NOT just LBJs.

And, as you can see from my photos, if you’ve got a bird bath that you can put out summer and winter (with a water warmer) they’ll love it.

Yellow-rumped Warblers

An occasional visitor to my bird bath, in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. A Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). Fondly called Butterbutts by birders. If you don’t have a bird bath, I sure recommend one equipped with a water warmer to keep the water from freezing during the coldest that winter can throw at you.

These warblers don’t partake of the beautiful bird buffet that I put out for them but I’ve read that they do enjoy suet, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and raisins at back yard feeders. AND down at my Mom’s feeder in Citrus County, Florida, they enjoy her suet. Maybe I should ask my sister for her recipe. They don’t seem interested in MY recipe.

When they’re not at a feeder during the winter they will feed on the berries of juniper, poison ivy, poison oak, greenbrier, grapes, Virginia creeper, and dogwood. Butterbutts also eat the seeds of grasses and goldenrod.

During the summer while they’re up north they eat spiders, and many insects like beetles, caterpillars, gnats, wasps, aphids, and grasshoppers.

Best of luck at getting to see Yellow-rumped Warblers and don’t forget, if I didn’t have a bird bath equipped with a water warmer I doubt I’d get to see these sweet little birds.