Water Options
Table of Contents
Ways to Provide Water for Wildlife
Something we all have in common is that we need water. Our animal friends are no different. Urban development, habitat loss, and climate change has made water harder to come by in many places so this page covers a few options for helping them out.
Feature Like "Bird Baths" Help Insects Too!
Adding a rock to the middle will allow butterflies to safely drink
Bird Baths
Life Expectancy
Water generally lasts 2-4 days depending on weather condition and how many visitors the birdbath gets. A concrete birdbath can last for decades even through freezes, in some cases even after being knocked over and chipped.
Benefits
These can look very pretty. You can buy these at most garden supply shops, online, or you can get creative and build one yourself.
Down Sides
These need routine maintenance and or they will grow algae and potentially harbor molds, and other problematic organisms or even viruses. If kept in a sunny location (away from trees) then evaporation rates will be higher. Evaporation in general will be higher than with other options, as these are often shallow, with the exception of water fountains. As these are above ground they can be susceptible to damage during heavy freezes. These may pose a hazard to children and small animals, who may accidentally knock the bath on top of themselves.
Materials
These are commonly made of concrete, but metal stands with glass, or even porcelain bird baths are also available.
Fuel Types
N/A - Just needs vinegar and a brush for cleaning, plus water for cleaning, rinsing, and refilling.
Bird Bath Safety
The biggest concerns for a bird bath are:
Cleanliness to combat avian viruses and algae.
Keeping the bird bath full.
Stability to prevent injuries.
Pollinators and small animals benefit from small pebbles to provide safe access.
Click the link below to learn how to keep your birdbath fresh. It just takes a few minutes about twice week to keep your neighborhood birds healthy!
Dew Ponds
"A dew pond is an artificial pond usually sited on the top of a hill, intended for watering livestock. Dew ponds are used in areas where a natural supply of surface water may not be readily available. The name dew pond (sometimes cloud pond or mist pond) is first found in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1865. Despite the name, their primary source of water is believed to be rainfall rather than dew or mist."
"They are usually shallow, saucer-shaped and lined with puddled clay, chalk or marl on an insulating straw layer over a bottom layer of chalk or lime. To deter earthworms from their natural tendency of burrowing upwards, which in a short while would make the clay lining porous, a layer of soot would be incorporated or lime mixed with the clay. The clay is usually covered with straw to prevent cracking by the sun and a final layer of chalk rubble or broken stone to protect the lining from the hoofs of sheep or cattle. To retain more of the rainfall, the clay layer could be extended across the catchment area of the pond. If the pond's temperature is kept low, evaporation (a major water loss) may be significantly reduced, thus maintaining the collected rainwater. According to researcher Edward Martin, this may be attained by building the pond in a hollow, where cool air is likely to gather, or by keeping the surrounding grass long to enhance heat radiation. As the water level in the basin falls, a well of cool, moist air tends to form over the surface, restricting evaporation." - https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Dew_pond
Life Expectancy
Some old dew pools in Britain are suspected to date back to the medieval period. Traditionally constructed pools can easily last for centuries, but more recent dew pools made from cement cracked fairly quickly.
Benefits
Provides high-elevation water for livestock, wildlife, and it is believed that the nursery rhyme about Jack and Hill may have referred to one of these, rather than an actual well which relies on ground water to recharge. Restoration of the ancient pools can bring back vital habitat for endangered newts. These are also super durable with Sir Gilbert White reporting that in 400 years he'd only found one example of leakage in one of these ponds and that was caused by roots of a tree pushing up through the lining.
Fountains/Water Features
These can be really pretty but need to be maintained, cleaned, and refilled, especially during hot/dry spells. In fact these experience the most evaporation of all the options listed on this page because water tends to splash over the edge and water evaporates more easily while it is suspended in air as the droplets have increased surface area vs water that is in a container.
Life Expectancy: Some of these are hundreds of years old, but may not still function depending on the water source and power source. Modern, plastic versions can be expected to last 5-10 years with adequate care.
Pro: These can look very pretty, and the moving water reduces the opportunity for species like mosquitoes to breed in the water. Moving water can be heard by wildlife and because of the aeration will remain fresh instead of going stagnant like pond or birdbath water easily can. You can buy these at most garden supply shops, online, or you can get creative and build one yourself.
Con: These need routine maintenance and will get blocked up very quickly if kept in shade. If kept in a sunny location (away from trees) then evaporation rates will be higher. Evaporation in general will be higher than with other options, meaning it may need to be refilled more often. As these are often above ground with pipes and motorized parts, they can be susceptible to damage during heavy freezes. These may pose a drowning hazard to children and small animals, who can drown in as little as 2 inches of water.
Solution: To prevent drowning you may want to include a fitted grate over the catchment part of the fountain. You can make a child and butterfly-friendly feature by building a pebble fountain which can be set into the ground or can be built above ground with old pottery or anything that will safely hold water. Service regularly by cleaning out algae, leaves, sticks, and any other materials that might block water flow.
Materials: Plastic tubing, filters, and potentially plastic body. Other materials like stone or concrete can also be used. A power cord and/or solar device will be needed to power the water feature.
Fuel Types: Electricity, including solar power from a small panel system, or simply plug into closest building for grid power. Refill with tap water or any other clean water.
Wildlife-Friendly Fountain Designs
Click the YOUTUBE section of the videos to see a larger viewing.
The link below has written instruction and step by step photos for a "rubble" rock fountain.
Make a Water Fountain for Wildlife
The video above is probably the easiest fountain project (other than digging the hole), but at the end the video shows the pond is right underneath some bird feeders. Do NOT place bird feeders directly over a pond or other water features!
Birds are messy eaters, and the food waste will ruin the water quality, block the fountain, and potentially poison animals who drink from the fountain.
Easy DIY Fountain 6:19 minute video to create a fountain from a pump, clay pots and dishes, silicon sealant, and some fountain attachments.
To make this more pollinator friendly, large pebbles.
Guzzlers
"Guzzlers are basically a man-made rain and snow collection system that provides supplementary water for wildlife. They’ve been around for years, in various forms, but the concept remains the same. Collect rainwater and store it in a reservoir to be consumed by animals during dry periods."
"A guzzler system usually consists of two parts: The collection lid and the storage tank below. When it rains, the water is collected by the lid and gravity feeds it down into the reservoir tank. Animals are able to access the water by walking down a ramp that is built into the lid. About 75% of the lid covers the water reservoir to reduce evaporation." - https://www.rainmakerwildlife.com/resources/guzzler-basics
Humming Bird Feeders
Life Expectancy: If you bring these inside during the seasons when they are not needed, they should last longer.
Pro: These provide hydration and calories to hummingbirds and some insect species even when local wildflowers have been lost to habitat destruction, or problematic weather. Hanging these near a window or other place can be a great way to help children and others get a close up view of these amazing creatures which can increase their concern about the environment on which the birds rely.
Con: The "nectar" in these goes bad very quickly making birds sick or even killing them if not cleaned out and refilled often enough. The can also attract predators, or cause fights among humming birds who can be very territorial if there are too many birds and not enough feeders. These only provide liquid and calories, but not the nutrients that wildflowers offer.
Solution: You can make a batch of nectar and keep some of it in the fridge to keep it good longer an reduce effort to refill the feeders. Make sure to use the correct quantities of water and other ingredients. Give the feeder a proper scrub including the hard-to-reach areas. The flowers for example may pop off to allow for deeper cleaning. Keeping the feeder out of the sun may also help reduce mold growth. Hang the feeder away from where predators can reach (keep you cats indoors!), and hand up extra feeders if you see birds chasing others away from the feeder. Better yet, plant some nectar-providing plants so that the birds have better access to proper nutrition, and aren't forced to come to one artificial point to survive, but can instead explore entire bushes and/or vines of flowers.
Materials: Often plastic, but some come as glass and metal.
Fuel Types: Water cycle + sugar or store-bought mix.
Ponds
Life Expectancy: 25-100 years or more with proper care. Though synthetic pond liners may only last around 20-30 years. Natural ponds are "born to die" as they form then fill in, and are eventually replaced with other types of habitat, providing rich soil from the decayed infill.
Pro: Provides water in a fairly or totally natural form. The more natural a pond and the more diverse the plant species included, the more wildlife the pond should be able to support including feeding and breeding opportunities for insects as well as the animals who feed on those insects.
Con: Standing water and algae can create toxic conditions. Leaf litter is an important food source and vital habitat for the infants of many species, but they can also release chemicals such as tannins which may overwhelm wildlife.
Solution: Placing the pond away from trees can reduce an overabundance of leaf litter. Strategic plantings of grasses and other plants can help shelter the pond, catching leaves on the wind that would otherwise overwhelm (planting this way also enhances the pond's beauty, plus making sure to use native species will provide wildlife with food and shelter). A pump and filter system can help promote healthy water quality while reducing the likelihood of mosquitoes using the water for breeding. The pond should be cleaned out occasionally, to maintain water depth, and protect the water quality, but try not to clean it out entirely, so as to leave some matter for fish fry and bug larvae to eat and hide among.
Ponds add beauty to a landscape, but they can also benefit wildlife by providing habitat.
Materials: These can be made naturally or with the use of plastic pond liners. Pond liners can be prefabricated shelves with pre-built shelves to create habitats at different depths, or can come as sheets that need to be cut or glued together with sealant. Some are stone or concrete but these don't provide habitat for insects and other important species.
Fuel Types: Water cycle or refilled with other water sources. To promote water movement you can use one or multiple water pumps with filters to reduce harm to tadpoles or baby fish. These can be plugged into the grid or run on solar power.
Stream
Spring Creation & Management
Much of our groundwater has been depleted around the world, in large part due to deforestation and over extraction. This has caused springs and wells on every continent to run dry, but we can reverse this with hydrological monitoring and management practices. A landowner can make positive changes to restore an area, or a community can hire specialists for an evaluation and create a management plan that includes different communities sharing the same underground resources working together to ensure water for everyone.
When we have ample water, it's easier to ensure wildlife continue to also have access to water. In return however, letting certain animals live their lives undisturbed can actually increase our water supplies. For example beavers and wild horses have been found to help sequester water, even providing access to water for other species, and promoting tree growth which in turn improve water availability.
Resources & Guides for Spring Management
Springs: A Common Source of A Common Resource (PDF) this guide explains geological and mapping principles, as well as the importance of community coordination as a recharge point of an aquifer in one village may be located in a village elsewhere. The writer warns that projects have failed where these principles were not understood or properly followed.
Vikaspedia: Spring Rejuvenation this resource lists various initiatives, basic principles of spring rejuvenation projects, challenges, roles of different stakeholders, etc.
We can help create springs by planting trees in deforested areas, or by creating gully plugs and allowing revegetation in dry ecosystems.
AR Sandbox: Water Harvesting Check Dams
This 6:07 minute video talks about the many effects of gully plugs or check dams in a dry ecosystem, and how eventually their presences can help replenish ground water to the point that new springs may appear seasonally or year round. This is an ancient technique that has be handed down for generations in South America, and is now being successfully used in arid regions around the world.
Hydrogeological Model of Godavari Landscape to Support Spring Revival and Springshed Management explains that a watershed-based approach to spring management only accounts for the visible water in the watershed, leaving people blind to the water outside of this area, moving through geological structures.
Water Gardens
Water gardens are specifically garden features that focus on housing and displaying aquatic plants that have adapted to living in ponds, lakes, rivers, and other aquatic habitats. These can include ponds or water features, the the main focus is on the plants. Some water gardens are just old, upcycled sinks, bathtubs, or troughs. While ponds can tolerate shade, it's generally recommended to put water gardens in full sun, but this may vary depending on the types of plants you want to grow.
You can grow a wider variety of plants by including different levels in your pond, or by simulating a variety of levels by having some plants resting on the bottom, and other pots set on upside-down plant pots. Some species will free float under the surface or on top, but all of these work together to offer different species the variety of habitats they need to survive different stages of life.
If you water garden is dug into the ground, or fairly low as is the case with old kitchen sinks, then small animals like hedgehogs, or medium sized animals like foxes will be able to drink from them.
Life Expectancy: 7-50 years depending on materials.
Pro: These are the best solution if you have a tiny space, but want to pack a big biodiversity punch. The sound of moving water can help reduce noise pollution, increase feelings of privacy, for humans and wildlife. The pretty plants can be therapeutic to care for but offer many benefits to wildlife (if natives are chosen), and the plants can help improve the water quality.
Con: These rely on a pump and need to be refilled. Plants, the pump, and (depending on the material) potentially the pond itself may be damaged by weather extremes.
Solution: Excess leaf litter should be cleared out to promote health oxygen levels, and reduce tannins or other problematic chemical build up. You may also need to bring in or cover the pond during freezes, or bring in potted plants. You will also want to pull them out and split up overgrown plants, remove dead matter, etc. at least once a year for optimal health.
Materials: PVC (not recommended), butyl, rubber, fiberglass, concrete, or ceramic.
Fuel Types: Not all water gardens have pumps, but the ones that do can be plugged in to the grid or set up with a solar panel. This may require more water refills due to sunny location, plant respiration, and evaporation.
Organizations
North America
USA
Water for Wildlife "is a conservation organization designed to benefit our nation’s wildlife. Our initial emphasis focused on plains game preservation and management through the development of supplemental water resources in selected areas where both the habitat and wildlife are being impaired by lack of water, a vital natural resource. We have now invested in over 500 water projects in twelve western states. These crucial water sources sustain both wild game and non-game animals including songbirds, raptors, waterfowl, fish, and many more. Our charitable goals are to create awareness of increased pressure on water resources necessary for the continued sustenance of wildlife and to increase the availability of water for all wildlife in remote and arid regions of our country. The Benefits Wildlife rely on their habitat for water, feed, and cover. As these resources become increasingly scarce, our projects support the continued viability of wildlife under these conditions. We work with state and federal wildlife and land management officials and other conservation organizations to identify the need for projects, located primarily on public land."
Grants & Funding
North America
USA
Water for Wildlife: Grant Application "The Water for Wildlife® Foundation is committed to playing a pivotal role in the conservation of wildlife through the development of supplemental water/habitat resources. WFWF helps bridge the gaps between agencies and other partners to implement projects. We provide grants each year for the construction of water/habitat developments for wildlife. Water for Wildlife® project applications should show at least a 1:1 cost share match for consideration. Water projects are ranked and prioritized for funding based on benefits to area wildlife, distances to perennial water sources, cost share funding and partners identified, cost effectiveness, public benefit, and completeness of application submitted. Funding levels vary from project to project, but typically range from $1,000 – $10,000. The Foundation is encouraging your agency or conservation organization to partner with us to support our efforts of making water/habitat as accessible to wildlife as possible."
Oceana
Australia
Western Australia
Bird Bath Rebate "The City’s Habitat for Homes program encourages its residents to create habitats in their homes by growing native gardens and having bird baths for native animals to find shelter and food. Cockburn residents can receive a 50% rebate (up to $50) towards the cost of a bird bath."