Come by and let's talk birds!"

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Owner Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 25 years of bird study experience.

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Adding Water For The Birds

 by Ruth Simmons, photos by Morgan McKellar

    Do you have a section of the yard that is hard to mow or would you like to accent your garden? Why not think larger than a birdbath and go with a recirculating creek? The wonderful concept of the Avian Aquatics Bird Creek is that it can be adapted to your landscape, whether large or small, steep or flat.

    First survey your area and get the general outline for the water’s course and gather supplies: pond liner, creek gravel, landscape rock, level, shovel, hose, work gloves, plants, and kit. Depending on the location, you may need to have an electrician run a line to your site.

      Then create level areas for each dish and dig out the area for the pond and pump.

         I highly recommend that you line the entire length of your creek with pond liner to prevent leakage.

   After digging and leveling; put the liner, dishes, and pump in place and do a practice run to see how the water flows. As you add the gravel the flow will change, so you can adjust as you need to.

   Now you are ready to landscape with the rocks. The rock that Mark used came from Cripple Creek, they have a good selection of size and color and their prices were very reasonable. During this time check to see that the water does not escape by traveling across the rocks. Keep it in the creek! Wet dirt off to the side of the creek is a good indicator of escaping water. Add plants around and in the water and you are finished!

  Relax and enjoy the sound of the water and watch the birds enjoy it too.

 

"Miley" Photo by Morgan McKellar

Project FeederWatch has helped us monitor the population growth of birds like this Carolina Wren.
Photo by Rick Jordahl

PROJECT FEEDER WATCH

Join us for the 2011-2012 season of Project FeederWatch.  It’s not too late to get involved. Counts go from November 15 through April 9. If you only want to count once then contact Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty (816000-781-8598). For more information on Project FeederWatch visit www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw or call 800-843-BIRD (2473). There is a $15.00 fee to pay for materials.