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've just put a photo of the birdbath on my gardening journal blog. You can see it here: http://laurarittenhouse.wordpress.com/ Sorry, but I'm not sure how to include a photo in this post. The birdbath is about 60cm across and 8cm deep. I've put a few stones in it to allow birds to sit before "plunging" into the deeper bits if they are so inclined. This is my first birdbath so I'm not sure if they'll like it (just filled it today). I may paint the inside to get rid of the white (will that scare them away?). And yes, I want birds to enjoy this more than the plants. I just thought the plants might look nice. I do plan to grow a creeper (probably fig) up the trunk. Here is a link that might be useful: Laura's gardening journal

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

A standing birdbath on the patio has gotten only limited use for several years. Also far from the house and a pain to keep clean. This year I bought one of those deck-railing birdbaths. It's only steps from the kitchen so easy to keep clean in hot weather, and it's being used for both drinking and baths. The red-headed sparrows that drink from the ant cups unfortunately still use the ant cups as well as the birdbath. Well who wouldn't like to have two sources of water? :) I thought a brick too high so used a small flagstone type stone and a couple of 3-4 inch river rocks in the middle. However, they drink from the edge.