"Sacha" wrote ...

Not unless it's a container they can't get into but can only dip their
beaks into. Even then, I'd check with the RSPB site. Ray tried
smashiing the ice on our water trough and on two of the ponds and
failed to do so on the first and made a tiny corner in the two latter.
We've put a dog's dish out for them and will keep replenishing it as
it freezes. I've just chucked peanuts around the lawn for the
collared doves, as well as some slivers of cheese and its of apple.
All the bird feeders are well-used and to my great delight I've just
seen a thrush. They seem to be very rare around here. Now we have
freezing fog. I feel so sorry for those caught up in deep snow and
worse than we have. It's terrible to think of what some people are
struggling through, so I can't complain at the very little we have to
put up with here. As long as the plants survive and we all do, too,
we're doing well!

Hope there weren't any fish in the ponds. Smashing ice on a pond can cause
serious damage to the fish due to the shock waves and at the least frighten
them at the time of year when they should be almost dormant. Better to warm
up a pan of water and then simply place the pan on the ice and it will melt
a nice round hole. Don't leave it there too long or it will get iced in. :-)
Just looked out and our pond seems to be free of ice today but we get very
few birds drinking in it anyway.
Was going to do some digging on the allotment but don't think I'll bother
now, we'll marzipan the cake instead.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden