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I was asked for some details on my creek and pond mentioned in an
earlier post; I hope I'm not too detailed. . . .
I had the idea for a home pond after visiting several birding spots
in the Rio Grande Valley, all of which had man-made water set-ups to
attract birds. The common theme was some running water--I've been
told the sound of drips or cascades is a big draw, especially in arid
areas.
I researched ponds at Home Depot and on the internet and found the
best source for me was a company called Unit Liner in Shawnee,
Oklahoma. They were very helpful over the phone, and offer a wide
variety of pond packages that are of better quality and significantly
less expensive those found at DIY stores. They can be found at
www.pondliner.com.
The basics of pond building are pretty simple: layout the design,
dig the requisite hole(s), line the hole with a polyethylene or
rubber liner, install the water circulation system (pump, tubing,
filter, outlet), and decorate. The pump and filter size are
dependent upon the size of the pond, whether you have water plants or
Koi, etc. The folks at Unit Liner can help out with the sizing.
Though initially daunting, the set up and installation of the
circulation system was very easy; in fact, it was the easiest part of
building my ponds. The most difficult part was laying out the rocks
to make it look as natural as possible.
The first pond I built is pretty small and shallow. It consists of
an upper pond and a lower pond connected by a small rock cascade.
Water cascades into the upper pond through a pair of holes I drilled
through two large rocks (easier than it sounds). I ran the outlet
tubing into the holes and sealed with "waterfall foam," an expanding
foam sealant. I've watched birds drink directly from these outlets,
and had a Pine Siskin use one of them as a jacuzzi last winter.
The rock cascade between the upper and lower levels is a favorite
spot for bathing birds--shallow, moving water. The waterfall foam
was indispensable, as it fills the gaps under and between the rocks,
forcing the water to run over the rocks. Both the upper and lower
ponds have flagstone bottoms and sides for a natural appearance and
to allow birds to get in and bathe easily.
I placed the pump in the deepest part of the lower pond, where it
pumps into a filter placed pond-side. From there, the water flows
into the outlets described in the upper pond.
My recently completed second pond was somewhat more ambitious. I
placed it on the other side of my house, and it seems to attract a
different set of birds. It consists of an upper waterfall that is
split into two creeks. One creek drops about five feet in about
eight feet and is lined with flagstone. Again, waterfall foam forced
the water over the rocks, allowing birds to drink and bathe in the
quick water. I've even watched Anna's Hummingbirds sip from the
cascades.
The second creek drops about one foot over about ten feet. Though
still lined with flagstone, I used small gravel to fill between the
rocks. Some birds seem to prefer this slower, more meandering creek,
while others seem to prefer the faster cascade. Through a series of
drop offs, both creeks meet together to form a large, deep pond,
where a skimmer filter and pump send the water back up to the upper
waterfall.
The sound from the creeks and waterfalls is great. Even my neighbor
can hear it, and fortunately finds it relaxing. I think the sound of
the water has really pulled in the birds, especially the species I
hadn't seen here before.
A couple of final suggestions. The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector
Control in Concord provides Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis) free of
charge, provided your pond has no drainage into any natural system.
I was amazed how quickly mosquito larvae appeared, even though I have
moving water. Also, fish and bird safe chemicals are available to
kill algae that may form in the ponds. They do work, and don't harm
the fish or birds; in fact, my mosquito fish have multiplied
significantly.
I apologize for my verbosity, but hope this helps those interested in
home ponds. They're relatively easy, not that expensive, and very
rewarding. I've loved mine, especially when they draw in unusual
birds such as the juvenile Accipiter, the warbler, and the orioles.
I can't wait for the next surprise.
Happy Backyard Birding,
Steve Hutchcraft
Alamo
I
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-khtml-line-break: after-white-space; ">I=
was asked for some details on my creek and pond mentioned in an earlier =
post; I hope I'm not too detailed. . . . =A0
I had the idea for a home =
pond after visiting several birding spots in the Rio Grande Valley, all =
of which had man-made water set-ups to attract birds.=A0 The common =
theme was some running water--I've been told the sound of drips or =
cascades is a big draw, especially in arid areas.
I researched ponds at Home Depot and on the =
internet and found the best source for me was a company called Unit =
Liner in Shawnee, Oklahoma.=A0 They were very helpful over the phone, =
and offer a wide variety of pond packages that are of better quality and =
significantly less expensive those found at DIY stores.=A0 They can be =
found at www.pondliner.com.
The basics of pond building =
are pretty simple:=A0 layout the design, dig the requisite hole(s), line =
the hole with a polyethylene or rubber liner, install the water =
circulation system (pump, tubing, filter, outlet), and decorate.=A0 The =
pump and filter size are dependent upon the size of the pond, whether =
you have water plants or Koi, etc.=A0 The folks at Unit Liner can help =
out with the sizing.
Though initially daunting, =
the set up and installation of the circulation system was very easy; in =
fact, it was the easiest part of building my ponds.=A0 The most =
difficult part was laying out the rocks to make it look as natural as =
possible.
The first pond I built is pretty small and =
shallow.=A0 It consists of an upper pond and a lower pond connected by a =
small rock cascade.=A0 Water cascades into the upper pond through a pair =
of holes I drilled through two large rocks (easier than it sounds).=A0 I =
ran the outlet tubing into the holes and sealed with "waterfall foam," =
an expanding foam sealant.=A0 I've watched birds drink directly from =
these outlets, and had a Pine Siskin use one of them as a jacuzzi last =
winter.=A0=A0
The rock cascade between the upper and lower =
levels is a favorite spot for bathing birds--shallow, moving water.=A0 =
The waterfall foam was indispensable, as it fills the gaps under and =
between the rocks, forcing the water to run over the rocks.=A0 =
Both the upper and lower ponds have flagstone bottoms and sides for a =
natural appearance and to allow birds to get in and bathe =
easily.=A0=A0
I placed the pump in the =
deepest part of the lower pond, where it pumps into a filter placed =
pond-side.=A0 =46rom there, the water flows into the outlets described =
in the upper pond.
My recently completed =
second pond was somewhat more ambitious.=A0 I placed it on the other =
side of my house, and it seems to attract a different set of birds.=A0 =
It consists of an upper waterfall that is split into two creeks.=A0 One =
creek drops about five feet in about eight feet and is lined with =
flagstone.=A0 Again, waterfall foam forced the water over the rocks, =
allowing birds to drink and bathe in the quick water.=A0 I've even =
watched Anna's Hummingbirds sip from the cascades.=A0=A0
The second creek drops =
about one foot over about ten feet.=A0 Though still lined with =
flagstone, I used small gravel to fill between the rocks.=A0 Some birds =
seem to prefer this slower, more meandering creek, while others seem to =
prefer the faster cascade.=A0 Through a series of drop offs, both creeks =
meet together to form a large, deep pond, where a skimmer filter and =
pump send the water back up to the upper waterfall.=A0=A0
The sound from the creeks =
and waterfalls is great.=A0 Even my neighbor can hear it, and =
fortunately finds it relaxing.=A0 I think the sound of the water has =
really pulled in the birds, especially the species I hadn't seen here =
before.
A =
couple of final suggestions.=A0 The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector =
Control in Concord provides Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis) free of =
charge, provided your pond has no drainage into any natural system.=A0 I =
was amazed how quickly mosquito larvae appeared, even though I have =
moving water.=A0 Also, fish and bird safe chemicals are available to =
kill algae that may form in the ponds.=A0 They do work, and don't harm =
the fish or birds; in fact, my mosquito fish have multiplied =
significantly.=A0=A0
I apologize for my =
verbosity, but=A0hope this helps those interested in home ponds.=A0 =
They're relatively easy, not that expensive, and very rewarding.=A0 I've =
loved mine, especially when they draw in unusual birds such as the =
juvenile Accipiter, the warbler, and the orioles.=A0 I can't wait for =
the next surprise.
Happy Backyard =
Birding,
Steve =
HutchcraftAlamo
I