Comments on: What to Look For: Late October http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/ A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:53:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Linda http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/comment-page-1/#comment-4717 Linda Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:11:12 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=677#comment-4717 Thank you, I will look into both options. I look forward to taking care of the birds this winter. Thank you, I will look into both options. I look forward to taking care of the birds this winter.

]]> By: Libby Strizzi http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/comment-page-1/#comment-4712 Libby Strizzi Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:45:02 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=677#comment-4712 I have tried both methods. Both are thermostatically controlled to turn on when the water temp gets below about 42 degrees. First I tried the heater in the birdbath. It worked, but it was a little tricky getting the heater to stay placed properly in the birdbath. Then I wondered how much the electricity cost using the heater. I can't remember the math now, but I think we concluded about $10 a month. Cheap enuf, but then Candy Gonzales of New Castle recommended the heated dog dish (which you can buy inexpensively at a place like Wal-Mart). She said its electrical cost was cheaper. And it's easy to use since the heater is built in. The dog dish is quite large and deep, so adding a couple of rocks gives birds something to stand on. I have tried both methods. Both are thermostatically controlled to turn on when the water temp gets below about 42 degrees. First I tried the heater in the birdbath. It worked, but it was a little tricky getting the heater to stay placed properly in the birdbath. Then I wondered how much the electricity cost using the heater. I can’t remember the math now, but I think we concluded about $10 a month. Cheap enuf, but then Candy Gonzales of New Castle recommended the heated dog dish (which you can buy inexpensively at a place like Wal-Mart). She said its electrical cost was cheaper. And it’s easy to use since the heater is built in. The dog dish is quite large and deep, so adding a couple of rocks gives birds something to stand on.

]]> By: Marcy Cunkelman http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/comment-page-1/#comment-4690 Marcy Cunkelman Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:35:20 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=677#comment-4690 I also use a heated dog dish and put rocks in it so it doesn't blow away andso it isn't too deep for the birds...sometimes the birds, esp the song sparrow, will keep trying to get a bath, even with the rocks. I too am not ready to have more dark than daylight. I also use a heated dog dish and put rocks in it so it doesn’t blow away andso it isn’t too deep for the birds…sometimes the birds, esp the song sparrow, will keep trying to get a bath, even with the rocks.

I too am not ready to have more dark than daylight.

]]> By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/comment-page-1/#comment-4686 Kate St. John Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:10:02 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=677#comment-4686 There are two ways to provide water for the birds in winter. One is a heated birdbath (the birdbath itself plugs in), the other is a birdbath heater (something you immerse in the birdbath). You can buy either of these at garden shops and birdseed stores. To see them online, try www.birdbath.com There are two ways to provide water for the birds in winter. One is a heated birdbath (the birdbath itself plugs in), the other is a birdbath heater (something you immerse in the birdbath). You can buy either of these at garden shops and birdseed stores. To see them online, try http://www.birdbath.com

]]> By: Linda http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/10/16/what-to-look-for-late-october/comment-page-1/#comment-4685 Linda Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:59:45 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=677#comment-4685 I enjoyed reading "what's to come" but I don't like the idea of driving home from work in the dark. I wish we would just leave the time alone. I am looking forward to having the Junco's back at my feeder this winter along with the cardinals and the sparrows. I would like to know if you can recommend a way to keep water out in the winter for the birds so that it won't freeze. Thanks as always. I enjoyed reading “what’s to come” but I don’t like the idea of driving home from work in the dark. I wish we would just leave the time alone.
I am looking forward to having the Junco’s back at my feeder this winter along with the cardinals and the sparrows.
I would like to know if you can recommend a way to keep water out in the winter for the birds so that it won’t freeze.
Thanks as always.

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