In our suburban Maryland yard, a pair of Fish Crows has nested each spring/early summer for the past few years. Many of the other birds are not that crazy about the Fish Crows. I understand they sometimes will eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds. So I do understand the animosity.
But even so, I must admit that I really like the Fish Crows. They are some of my favorite birds in the yard. They are smart and social and will sometimes interact with me (when food is involved) so I enjoy them and encourage them in the yard.
As in large parts of the US, it has been bitterly cold here in Maryland. My bird feeders are hopping with birds, as are the birdbaths. When everything else is frozen solid, a heated birdbath is a big draw for birds . . . and OK, also squirrels and neighborhood cats. Everyone is looking for a place to get a drink. To keep birds coming, you need to choose your birdbath well and maintain it!
I have several birdbaths in my yard and all but one is a simple inexpensive DIY version. You really don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to offer birds water. Most of mine are simply large plant saucers from the local home improvement store that I set on the ground and keep filled with water year-round. (In the winter, I add a heater to one of them.) But I decided recently to create one more. This one actually has a base so that it sits higher . . . and it has something hidden underneath it!
The Following Are Posts About:
