Adding water features to your yard or garden is a fast and easy way to attract wildlife. This works more effectively than expensive bird feeders or butterfly gardens. The type of water feature is what really matters. Choose a water feature that meets the needs of your target wildlife species.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceThe Magic Formula: Shallow Edges & Movement
The best wildlife water features include areas where wildlife can drink, as well as areas where slight movement of water is present to deter mosquito breeding. A fountain pump set up in a shallow basin is an ideal setup. The fountain circulates the water keeping it fresh and prevents mosquito breeding, while allowing birds to drink safely. To create landing zones for birds, you can set rocks and branches at different levels. This creates access points for small warblers as well as larger cardinals.
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Set up your dripping rock feature (30 minute setup)
Using a large flat rock, you can create a wildlife favorite water source by drilling a small hole through the rock and placing a submersible pump underneath it, running tubing through the drilled hole. The constant drip mimics a natural spring and will drive birds crazy. This method is under $40 and will work with containers of at least 18” width.
The Impactful Container Pond
Water, a small fountain pump, and a 'beach' area made of flat stones will create a little ecosystem in just a few weeks. To do this in a half-barrel or large ceramic pot, fill it with water and add a small fountain pump. Then use the stacked flat stones to create a 'beach' area. Submerged pots with pickerelweed or cardinal flowers will draw dragonflies to lay eggs and birds will flock to their new bathing area!
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Strategic Stone Setting: Wildlife Landing Strip
Rocks serve a purpose besides looks; they help support wildlife. Use big, flat rocks and put them in your water feature so they are partially submerged. This will help create different zones for different creatures. While birds prefer water that's only 1-2 inches deep, and may even enjoy a rock barrier, bees and butterflies like a barely wet surface to perch on. With a gentle slope made of rocks that look natural, everyone can safely use your shoreline.
Collaborative Plants That Benefit Each Other
Depending on the plants you select, different wildlife species will move in permanently. Water lilies offer shade and shelter to frogs and provide dragonflies with ideal landing pads on their wide leaves. The blooms of Cardinal flowers attract hummingbirds to the water. Pickerelweed provides nourishment (through nectar) to the adult insects and offers egg-laying sites for the aquatic insects who are food for fish and amphibians.
Easily Maintain Your Seasonal Water Features
A small de-icer that keeps one section ice-free will allow wildlife to access water from your water source. Other areas will naturally freeze. Make sure to check the water source regularly and clean the filter when needed. A constant water flow and wildlife activity will keep algae and mosquito populations in check. That means you'll spend less time maintaining your water feature compared to a pond.
Appeal Throughout the Year: What Methods Work When
As spring arrives, it is the time for migrating birds searching for clean water after long flights. Shallow bathing areas become important as summer heat sets in. Continuous fall migration means more visitors needing fuel and water, creating yet another volume of visitors. When everything freezes solid in winter, your water feature becomes a prime resource in the neighborhood. Plan the placement of your bulbs to be of interest in each season. These can be spring bulbs around the edges, summer blooming plants, and standing seed heads for winter bird food.
The change occurs quickly. Just a few days after adding the water features, new bird species appear. Just weeks after that, dragonflies and other helpful insects arrive to set up their territories. By the end of the season, your backyard will sustain entire communities of helpful animals, and will be classified as a wildlife habitat. The moving water, birds, and insects will turn your backyard into a living garden and the wildlife will change as the seasons and days go by.
