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October 1999, Volume 33, Number 2
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Backyard Birding: Protecting Coastal Rocks, Islets
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Backyard Birding Water Gardening for Birds, Part One By Judy Brinkerhoff The sound and the presence of water are attractive to wildlife, especially birds. On a slope in their yard, Diane and Bryant Hichwa used the following plan to create a spa that is used by many species of birds, from hummingbirds to quail and hawks. Maintenance is easy (no chemicals; top off with water once a week) and so is the installation. The project uses three wine half-barrels (about $15 each), a simple fountain pump ($25 and up; select a pump appropriate to your slope and containers), a clear plastic water-return tube, and two or three clear plastic spillways. These materials can be found at nursery, gardening, and hardware stores. Of course, you'll also need an outdoor source of electricity. Barrels: The barrels do not need to be lined, but they should be water-tight. Place them just below and up against each other, so the water can tumble from one to the next without spilling. Level the soil under each barrel. Spillways: To create the spillways, cut a notch about 1" deep by 3" to 4" wide in the edge of each of the top barrels just above the barrel below. The plastic spillway will carry the water into the next barrel. Birds especially love standing in the spillway notches where the water is moving. Pump: Place the pump in the bottom barrel, with the tube running back up to the top one. The constantly moving water makes mosquito fish unnecessary, but you can turn the pump off at night to save motor use. Place rocks, cement blocks, or bricks in the top barrels, so the birds can bathe in shallow water (1/2" to 2") near the top of the barrel. If the birds bathe too deep inside the barrel, you won't be able to see them, nor will they see predators. The bottom barrel can be deeper, but provide a stick as an exit ramp for birds or other creatures that may fall in accidentally. Modifications of all sorts can be made: using just two barrels, or a much deeper or wider spillway notch, for instance. Dead twigs can be attached, arching out over the barrels as perches for birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and other insects. Be creative and please, let us know what works in your yard. Note: If there are cats around, don't tempt them to lie in wait by putting the water too close to a shrub or other hiding place. |
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