New Year Day visitors at the bird bath

House sparrow drinking water from the bird bath

Somehow I didn't realize how much the birds would be using the bird bath for their water source even in the cold winter weather. After being away for several weeks, I observed house sparrows, white crowned sparrows and chestnut backed chickadees frequenting the bird bath all day yesterday, as their water source. They only used it as a bath during the hot summer days.

Lesson learned, provide birds with a clean water source all year round! These photos were taken within a few minutes of each other.

chestnut back chickadee at the bird bath

white crowned sparrow waiting in Cape Honeysuckle hedge for its turn at bird bath as a chestnut back chickadee exits after drinking its share of water.