Creating a Wildlife Garden: Water
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Aug 1, 2009 | by Adrian Binns
Continuing with the theme of creating a wildlife garden, can there be anything easier than providing water? Nothing attracts wildlife into the backyard better than a water feature. Birds need water on a daily basis to bathe and drink, and it does not have to be anything elaborate, it can be as simple as a dish to hold water!
However, if you want to attract all kinds of wildlife and enhance your residential landscape, bigger is better! I built my pond (above) to do just that. The main pool, on the lower level, holds water lilies for frogs to sit on and fish to hide in the shadows. Native plants such as rushes and irises provide a place for dragonflies to perch. A shallow winding stream, on the upper level, leads to the waterfall. The stream has shallow pools, that cascade from one to the next, that the birds love to bathe in. Birds are attracted to the sound of water, and the waterfall provides a soothing sound for those sitting out on the patio. By planting around the pond I provide a safe place for wildlife to approach the water as well as a place for them to hide should they feel danger lurking.
Whether it is a bubbling bird bath or recirculating shallow stream, birds and mammals will be attracted to the sound of running water to drink and bathe. Above, a Gray Catbird is using the stream.
Amphibians, in particular frogs, somehow instinctively sense water and make themselves at home shortly after installing a pond. Vegetation provides them a place to hide.
Aquatic vegetation not only adds to the balance of the pond but plant stalks make wonderful perches for dragonflies such as this Blue Dasher (above). It is the dragonfly larvae that control any mosquito larvae in the water. The additional wildlife is most welcome and enhances our enjoyment.