Overview
- With ponds and puddles freezing, conservationists say birds need reliable drinking water, especially seed-eaters like finches and sparrows that get little moisture from dry seeds.
- Set up a shallow dish or flower saucer with a few small stones as perches and fill it with lukewarm water to make drinking safe and accessible.
- Replace water daily, scrub the container with hot water, alternate between two bowls so one can dry, and remove any ice before refilling with lukewarm water.
- Position water and feeders out of predators’ reach by placing them higher up or hanging them, and consider apples for blackbirds and robins to provide moisture and quick energy.
- Experts caution against cheap seed mixes bulked with wheat, advise regular feeder cleaning and occasional relocation to limit disease, and recommend offering water year-round to prevent birds drinking salt-tainted puddles.