Scully, yep - we are a bit warmer here, but it's the overnight hard freezes that crack birdbath basins. On cold winter days, if I notice an ice skim forming, I'll add warm water too, but if I'm gone for the day the risk of freezeover escalates. The heater works 24/7. We've had a warm fall too, but if the Old Farmers Almanac is right, once it gets here, we're in for it this winter. Btw - Everytime I open this thread I get a mental picture of Woodstock ice skating on the birdbath - brings a smile to my face ....... thanks! Another little aside is that in the heat of summer, I take a pitcher full of ice cubes out to the birdbath - the flapping about definitely increases when I cool it down! :o) Love my birds!

I just drove over and delivered it to her. She was just blown away. I told her I would put it out in her garden for her on her table and she said no way absolutely not that is going in my house on the table in the living room. I explained it was for outside and was a bird bath and she said oh no it is much too pretty to go out. So I carried it into her living room and put it on the table and she brought over her Mother's day calla lily plant and set it in the "bird bath" LOL She started to cry! I could not believe it. I sat and talked with her for almost 2 hours. I ended up leaving with a bag full of glass items from her for me to use. That was sure worth the effort expended!!

Californians called on to help study disease afflicting native pigeons "(Reuters) - California wildlife authorities are asking residents to take down bird baths and feeders if they spot sick or dead birds in their yards as experts closely monitor a disease afflicting the state's only native pigeon species. Increased mortality rates have been reported since mid-December among California's band-tailed pigeons, which are seen in flocks up to 200-strong during the winter in coastal areas from the San Francisco Bay Area south into Santa Barbara County and in the San Bernardino Mountains. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) blames the deaths on Avian Trichomonosis, a disease caused by a single-celled microscopic protozoan parasite transmitted to the band-tailed pigeons by non-native rock pigeons, also known as city pigeons, which were introduced to North America from Europe. CDFW environmental scientist Krysta Rogers said on Wednesday that the department's Wildlife Investigations Laboratory wants members of the public to be on the lookout for band-tailed pigeons this winter and go online to report any sick or dead bird species they see." This post was edited by claire on Thu, Feb 5, 15 at 13:10

I know that as far as birds go, Swainson's hawks can have trouble finding nesting sites since by the time they arrive from Argentina in the spring, most spots are taken by red tails and such. They often are forced to nest on less desirable spots like power poles which can be very dangerous and also puts them at risk for being destroyed as a "nuisance" or a "hazard." Bees though, I am a little surprised. Many of our native bees, including bumble bees, arw ground nesting, and the rest typically utilize small cavities. Neither would be affected by nesting birds that I could imagine.