Over the next several days, Bill and I snapped pictures whenever we happened to see activity at the bird bath. We kept the camera within grabbing distance of the window.
A flock of cedar waxwings flew in for a pit stop on their flight north...
and hung around to check out the local bar scene. The finch and bluebird in flight decided to make a snack run to the feeders.
Sub-freezing temperatures caused the watering hole to ice over at night and sometimes freeze solid, creating the need for another upgrade. The ground-level water dish was replaced with a high-rise bird bath, complete with heating system. Yes, the heater is electric, but we haven’t fried any birds yet. The rock island was installed to satisfy a building code requirement that the plastic structure not tip over in strong winds. This pic was taken one morning during a snow storm. The birds seem to appreciate having warm water.
We’ve noticed that the finches, bluebirds, cedar waxwings and, yes, even the sparrows all belly up to the bird bath to quaff a few together. However, when a bully bird swoops in—mockingbird, woodpecker, blue jay or grackle—it scatters the smaller birds, then drinks alone.