Bird lovers advice please - Page 3

peggyhbsl · ‎12-15-2012

@on the bay wrote:
@peggyhbslI'm so sorry-how beautiful and sweet she looks. I understand-I had 3 granddogs-loves of my life but I feel they are with me in their spirit 24/7, otherwise I could not bear it without them.What a sweetheart she looks

I have her ashes in a tin. I brought the tin down when I made Thanksgiving Dinner because she was a "foodie". I appreciate your warm sentiments everyone!

peggyhbsl · ‎12-15-2012

@Bird mama wrote:
I feel bad for my birds and squirrels because the bird bath has frozen over. The water is freezing as soon as I add some. I told the birds and squirrels today, look, there is still some snow on the grass, get munching if you are thirsty :-)

I nearly fell over in the kitchen yesterday evening when I looked out the window that faces the backyard. There were 4 ducks in my yard - two male and two female.

My yard has become popular for two duck couples over the last couple of summers. While I expected to see them return in May or June, I never expected them last night at dusk.

That is so funny. I would love that. The next time I can get to the store I will buy some feed. I will look around for something for them to perch on. I sure do miss watching them.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@milkbone wrote:
I have a bird bath....and two DOGS...and hundreds of squirrels

I did a little reading.
The backyard has to be a food chain to attract more birds etc.

This bug eats that bug, that bird eats that etc !

I look at mine.....its full most of the time...Its up to the birds !
sorry

I use use to feed the birds until it started attracting RATS at the bird feeder! YUK! That was the day I let the birds fend for themselves.....no more rats.

fortune · ‎03-14-2010

@chickenbutt wrote:
I love love love the birdies! The way I get them in my bird baths - put water in there! Seriously, they will seek out water.

I don't know about the heated thing, though. If they go from heated water out into the cold that seems like it might not be good for them.

I've had birdies in the bird baths around my house, and the water bowls I have for them (they LOVE bathing in the water bowls!) even if the temps are in the 30s to 40s. Then they find a place in the sun to spread out and dry (so cute!!).

If there is no sun you won't see them bathing, though. Just like you might think that you'd see them bathing more in the hot weather - but you don't. I think it's the contrast. If it's cool or cold, they seem to enjoy the cool or cold water.

I do see them bathing in the spring and summer too, but I think that going from cool water (that has probably been warmed up some by the heat) out to the warm weather is a lot easier than going from warm water into the cold weather.

Now, that's my experience anyway, FWIW.

I take a zillion birdie pics each year. I thought this robin in one of the water bowls was pretty cute. Like his own private yacht.

You're a great photographer, CB!!!

kcladyz · ‎04-30-2012

As a bird owner they like shallow water to bathe in but to drink i suspect since its so cold they will be less inclined to visit a bird bath even if its heated. You can try putting a bird feeder next to it.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@kcladyz wrote:
As a bird owner they like shallow water to bathe in but to drink i suspect since its so cold they will be less inclined to visit a bird bath even if its heated. You can try putting a bird feeder next to it.

Yes. Only shallow water please! I did not know better one winter and put out a dish that was too deep....the poor little finch I found drowned as he could not get out! I was so so sad!

peggyhbsl · ‎12-15-2012

Well the birds never used it when it was heated but once I unplugged it, they started using it now. I missed them so much. I am happy to see them again!! They actually wait on my Roses of Sharon bush for me to put fresh water in which I do 2x a day.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Awww, I'm so glad they're back! I miss my birdie babies like crazy when they're not around, so I totally understand.

When the water freezes in either one of the bird baths or one of their water dishes I just pour a little bit of hot water onto the block of ice (it cools quickly so I'd never hurt them) and sometimes it might take doing this twice but once the block gets loose enough that I can grab, or pour, it out, then I replace the water.

Of course, that's not as practical with the bath as it is for the water dishes so I get that. But my little babies also take baths in the water dishes as much as the bird baths anyway. Sometimes they're dirty little birdies! ha! I have to watch that so I can clean the bowls and replace the water.

I'm noticing now that the little boy birdies are flicking their little tails and following the girls around!

dreamieLil · ‎01-02-2014

@chickenbutt wrote:
I love love love the birdies! The way I get them in my bird baths - put water in there! Seriously, they will seek out water.

I don't know about the heated thing, though. If they go from heated water out into the cold that seems like it might not be good for them.

I've had birdies in the bird baths around my house, and the water bowls I have for them (they LOVE bathing in the water bowls!) even if the temps are in the 30s to 40s. Then they find a place in the sun to spread out and dry (so cute!!).

If there is no sun you won't see them bathing, though. Just like you might think that you'd see them bathing more in the hot weather - but you don't. I think it's the contrast. If it's cool or cold, they seem to enjoy the cool or cold water.

I do see them bathing in the spring and summer too, but I think that going from cool water (that has probably been warmed up some by the heat) out to the warm weather is a lot easier than going from warm water into the cold weather.

Now, that's my experience anyway, FWIW.

I take a zillion birdie pics each year. I thought this robin in one of the water bowls was pretty cute. Like his own private yacht.

You're a great photographer!

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

Thank You, Dreamie! That is very kind. I love taking their pics. This was one of my favorites that week and I have him as the wallpaper on one of my computers.