Dog Dish Birdbath

Oh my gosh it's cold.  We are having January temperatures in the middle of November.  I can handle a lot of cold.  I actually prefer it, but this is too cold, too fast.  The birds are being very active at the bird feeders, but the bird bath had to be put away for the winter.  The frozen water doesn't do the birds any good, and if water is left to freeze, the bird bath can crack.  My daughter gave me a bird bath heater several years ago.  It worked but the squirrels would always knock it out of the birdbath.  This year I wanted to come up with another plan.  While at the store buying more birdseed, I saw heated dog dishes in the pet department.  They were a lot less expensive than any other options I found.  I bought it and set it up last week.  We filled our fountain base with sand.  Then we set the dog dish on the sand.  I filled it with water and plugged it in.  When the temperatures fell below freezing, the water didn't freeze.  Some birds and squirrels are beginning to use it.  I haven't taken a photo yet, but I have seen critters there.  I was concerned about the birds freezing while bathing in the winter.  I researched it, and it is safe.  The feathers will shed most of the water and insulate the skin from water.  It is small enough so it provides water, but the birds can't submerse themselves.   I would think that is a good thing.  I just have to remember to check the water level everyday.  The downside is that it has to be plugged in so I couldn't put it where I wanted it to be in the yard.  I didn't feel good about running an extension cord far across the yard.  It isn't where I want it, but it is more important for the birds to have water than it is for me to be able to see it easily.