The birds that visit our garden seem to be as appreciative of the bird bath as they are of the feeders. I think it’s important to have a supply of decent water as well as food for them. We try and keep our bird bath topped up and clean but that doesn’t mean we’re out sterilising it each day, we just keep it from going stagnant and mouldy by regular sluicing and replacing the water.
During the winter we also try and keep it open and free of ice so birds can still get to water.
With temperatures dropping, the bird bath is beginning to freeze over these days and we’re having to break through the ice regularly. It will soon get to the point where all the water freezes into a single solid block that has to be lifted out and replaced with hot water, which gives the birds spa facilities for a short time (it cools very quickly).