Winter Water Even in the coldest winter, animals need water to survive. Birds are luckier than mammals; most birds don't "waste" as much water as mammals. Mammals lose more water than birds by breathing out lots of steam, sometimes losing water in sweat, and excreting a lot of water in their urine. So birds are better at conserving water. But if birds don't waste a lot of water, they still need to drink some—even during deep freezes. How do they get it? Here are some popular ways birds get water in winter: Dripping icicles Melted puddles Springs, rivers, and other open water Drinking melted snow Eating unmelted snow Some people provide birds with heated birdbaths in winter. If it isn't terribly cold, this can be a wonderful way for your birds to get a nice, warm drink. But when the air temperature is about 15 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, unfrozen water can get steamy. This steam may coat a bird's feathers and then freeze, which could be very dangerous. And some birds may sit in a heated bird bath, which feels as warm and inviting as a hot tub, until their feathers get soaked. Then if they leave the birdbath, the frigid air may freeze their wet feathers solid. So make sure if you provide heated water, you make it very shallow, or cover it with wide, plastic-covered screening so the birds can slide their open beaks in for a drink without being able to soak their whole bodies. Try This! Journaling Questions Look around your school grounds or your own yard and imagine you are a thirsty bird searching for water. Where might you find it? List in your journal as many places as you can think of where a bird might get water. Are some of these water sources cleaner or safer than others? Put a star around what you think would probably be the best water source. Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form