Aquatic pond birds
If you wish to accomodate birds in your pond, whether they are wild or pet birds, some preparations are necessary. A few changes are needed to make their stay easier and to maintain the biodiversity of the area.
When we create an ornamental pond or pool in the garden, the first thing we tend to think about is how to accomodate the fish - we usually forget about the birds.
This is a mistake, because even if we don't want pet ornamental birds, the pond will inevitably attract wild birds.
Many birds, like wild geese, barnacle geese, ducks, herons and swans, like to gather around sources of water. It provides a place for them to swim, eat and drink.
The water source you create must therefore be prepared in order to prevent these birds from disturbing the balance of the biotope. For example, it is a good idea to install fencing above the shallow water near the banks in order to protect tadpoles. Failing to do this gives future frogs no hope of escaping the voracious appetites of passing birds.
If aquatic birds frequently visit your pond, it is recommended to cover the floor of the banks with pebbles or plastic covering. This avoids sludge from developing. When a duck drops by, it will not be tempted to look for food in the soil, as the mud it digs up dirties the water.
If the pond is frequented by a lot of wild birds, it is essentiel to install big fish, as small ones will quickly be devoured by the birds. The same precautions should be taken if you choose to have pet ornamental birds. You should also install a fence around the water to prevent your birds from escaping and to stop predators like the fox from dropping by for dinner !
There is a huge range of ornamental birds available. 160 varieties of duck are domesticated, ducks like mandarins, shovelers, shellducks, wigeons, pintails and wood ducks. Other birds like teals, and common and banacle geese are also domesticated.
These birds don't require much looking after. If you have a small pond, you may need to feed them from time to time. They should be treated for worms twice a year - this will keep them in good health and will preserve the quality of the water.