While most creatures are seeking drinking water, birds are also looking for bathing water. A bird bath may attract more kinds of birds than a bird feeder. Bathing helps birds to stay warm by keeping their insulating feathers in tip-top condition. Keeping your bird bath clean and free from ice will help birds and other creatures to survive the winter. Heated bird baths, which keep the water just warm enough to keep from freezing and use little electricity, can be also purchased.
Winter is the time for backyard wildlife watchers to brush up on their identification skills.
Keep a field guide and a pair of binoculars at hand to help identify your winter visitors. Practice identifying trees and other plants while they are dormant and without leaves. Take time to notice the beautiful bark and branching patterns revealed after the leaves have fallen. Looking for birds, bird nests and insect galls is also easier in the winter when bare branches expose them. Look for nests and galls in shrubs and low trees and along the edges of fields and clearings.