Fill the bird bath with sand or similar leaving just the top inch or so empty. Lay some heavy duty black polythene over the top and lap up over the sides. This should give you a nice shallow bath for the birds in the winter. The black polythene will warm up in the sun and keep it frost free in the day hopefully and can be lifted out if frozen, cleaned easily and refreshed. You can tie the edges of the polythene around the waist of the bowl with string if needs be.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
@maisie_mac- I bought a shallow, round black tray from one of those cheap shops to fit on top of a big container I have, which has no holes in it. It was ideal as a little bird bath, and an excellent 'extra' watering hole for insects and birds
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We've got a similar, although not so ornate, concrete/stone? birdbath which did crack one winter. The problem is that unless you cover it completely over the winter, (which defeats the object) it will always fill with rainwater, which then freezes occasionally. I got some brilliant, if messy, sticks of stuff (can't remember the name off-hand) to mend the crack and it's been okay since. I tried the plastic saucer in the top but it just kept blowing away in the wind.
This is what I use. It’s about 12” or so, just drops in the bath. Doesn’t look that elegant, but does the job in the winter. Last year we had ice on the pond 4” deep. Gets very cold here sometimes, maybe they come in a grey colour.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
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@maisie_mac- I bought a shallow, round black tray from one of those cheap shops to fit on top of a big container I have, which has no holes in it. It was ideal as a little bird bath, and an excellent 'extra' watering hole for insects and birds
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Mine was tucked in too, although this is a 3 yr old pic.
I did have a pic of a sparrow having a bath in it, but I can't find it.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...