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Installed a birdbath heater, but no birds

13 years ago

It had been extremely cold and dry here in the Midwest, so I figured the birds needed s source of fresh water. I purchased and installed a birdbath heater.

Just a few weeks ago before the big snow, I filled the bath and within minutes dozens of robins had swooped in to feast and bath. Other species took their place as available. It looked like everyone had been pretty thirsty.

Now I've had the bath filled and heated for almost 10 days, and have not seen a single bird even go near it. I had to relocate the bath closer to the house when I installed the heater because of extension cord limitations. Plus, I needed to be able to get to the bath to fill it. It is still over 10 feet from the house and 25 from the closest door. Am I just being impatient? I cleaned and refilled it today in hopes that might help.

Any ideas?

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Comment (1)

donald lucius
13 years ago
mine is just a few foot outside of the kitchen window.
the pine siskins use it a lot but not many of the other birds. But our weather is crazy here. One week below zero at night and the next week rain showers and melting days. and then back to cold and snowy and then another warmup.
Has been 30's and 40's daytimes and i see birds drinking from puddles some days, have some deer coming through and drinking from it and have to fill it most days. we will have several more months of bad weather here and could be in a deep freeze again or not.
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