Water is a wildlife magnet. If you live by a stream or pond, you’ve likely witnessed this firsthand and year-round. But you don’t need a large water feature to invite nature’s natives to your garden. Even an effortless birdbath on the lawn can draw a wide selection of birds for your viewing pleasure. (If the water makes a splashing sound, it’ll be even more attractive – and thoroughly irresistible – to many wildlife species.)

Water features of any scale will draw birds to your yard. They need little more than a shallow basin filled with fresh water and room to perch.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

A garden pond and stream with running water can serve a large population of birds. If you add a shallow beach, butterflies may rest and drink, too.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Frequently change the water in birdbaths to keep it fresh, or install a small pump to circulate and aerate the water.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

If you have limited space, take advantage of eaves on your home or limbs of a tree to hang a suspended birdbath.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

While it looks natural, this lovely brook with its waterfalls and pools is man-made. It comprises an electric recirculating pump, piping and a stone-filled watercourse lined with a rubber liner.

Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Providing water in your landscape can be a simple task or an elaborate one in planning and design. For smaller birds, a simple birdbath is ideal (and likely the most economical). Birdbaths should be placed in an area that gives birds easy access and humans good visibility. They should also be situated somewhere that keeps birds safe from predators. Keep the water in the basin – up to an inch deep – fresh and clean. Very shallow water can even attract butterflies – tailor to their needs by adding some moist sand a bit higher than water level.

Depending on the scale of your landscape, you might also consider including a pond, fountain, bog garden, container water garden or a small pool to your yard. Any of these can make a lovely focal point, as well as beckon the birds (among other creatures). You can even include watercourses, waterfalls or sound-producing effects, although they’ll require more effort and resources to plan and install.

Small ponds are relatively easy to clean and maintain, and they do a good job of holding their temperature and oxygen levels. Larger water features can host more aquatic plants, or their perimeters can simply be planted with moisture-loving plants. (Flexible liners, available at home and garden retailers, are best for large ponds; use rigid preformed liners for smaller water gardens.)

Aquatic plants and fish add another dimension to a water feature, while attracting frogs and turtles. Fish-filled ponds need special care and should be at least 3 feet deep. Use natural-looking rocks, copy wildlife settings and include foliage overhangs to shade the water, creating habitats and crevices in which water-loving creatures can hide. Other animals may come to drink and live near your water feature, too. Before you know it, your pond may become its own tiny ecosystem.

As you start to design your water feature, take the following points into consideration to ensure you have the proper scope, site and resources:

First, decide the scope of your project. Will you create an elaborate pond with a waterfall, or install a simple birdbath? Much depends on your site’s size and your resources, as well as your time available for installation and ongoing care.

Is your site in a quiet spot? Is it readily visible? Remember, big or small, your water feature should be easily accessible to wildlife and in an area that can be easily seen by you, your family and guests. Be sure it fits your space and the scale of your landscape. Evaluate the light conditions, the slope and the water source. Keep in mind that ponds beneath broad-leaved trees or conifers will collect debris, so they should be located on the upwind side of such trees to reduce the need to constantly clean. Include some natural elements in your feature’s surroundings, too – fieldstones, rough wood and plants – to make the setting more inviting to wildlife.

Next, consider the resources you’ll need for your water feature – from equipment and materials to installation and maintenance. With the exception of a simple birdbath, most water features require a recirculating pump plugged into a weatherproof electrical receptacle with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). Depending on the size of your project, you may need to plan for the installation of water pipes and power to the site, which may require you to obtain a permit from your local governmental agency and/or receive approval of your neighborhood association. (You might also consider hiring a licensed professional to assess your plan, as well as install your pipes, electricity and/or other equipment.)

Water is a powerful draw to all kinds of wildlife, and your options for your landscape are many. Choose the type of water feature that best fits your needs, budget and lifestyle. Whether you add a small birdbath or an elaborate pond, the birds (and other wildlife) will like it no matter what.