WHEN he got tired of refilling his backyard birdbath so often, Larry O. vowed to find a better way to provide his feathered friends with clean water.

His Rockford, Illinois yard now features a "birdbath complex" that includes a shallow pool just for birds, which cascades into a larger pond.

"It's become the centerpiece of our backyard," Larry writes. "We love it, and the birds are happy, too--we've spotted at least 38 species that have stopped by for a drink or a bath."

As Larry and other bird lovers know, water is an excellent way to attract wildlife to your yard. But ponds are great for green thumbs as well. Besides offering an environment where water plants can flourish, they invite many creatures that are beneficial to gardens.

To view a photo of Larry's pond, click here.

"I created a pond to attract toads, frogs, dragonflies and salamanders," relates Barbara C. of Clyde, North Carolina. "Toads eat thousands of insects and garden pests, including cutworms, tent caterpillars and slugs."

Rhonda M. of Columbia, Illinois says her water garden provides the best of both worlds. "I get lots and lots of beautiful birds who drink and bathe in it, and I grow gorgeous blooms there, too," she writes. "If a water garden is installed correctly, it can be easier to care for than a regular garden."

Planning to plunge into a pond project of your own? One of the most important things to consider is its location.

Readers like Nora B. of Enka, North Carolina recommend placing a pond in view of a gazebo, patio, deck or wherever your family often spends time.

> If you'd like it to attract birds, consider placing it near shrubs that provide protection from predators. Include a shallow area with less than 2-1/2 inches of water to give birds a place to drink and bathe.

> Since many birds are attracted to a trickling stream or waterfall, you may want to consider installing a recirculating pump to keep the water moving.

> To grow a water garden, choose a site in a sunny spot. Water lilies need at least 6 hours of sunlight to bloom and water that's 18 to 24 inches deep.

> Ponds that include fish also require plenty of sunshine. And if the fish will remain in the pond during cold winters, it needs to be deep enough to provide them with an ice-free area.

> It's best to avoid placing ponds in low spots where they will collect storm runoff. And be aware that ponds near trees will require more upkeep because you'll need to remove leaves from the water.

For more photos, click here.

Ponds can be made with concrete, flexible liners or rigid forms. They come in all shapes, sizes and depths.

"Although our two ponds are only about 6 feet in diameter, many birds and animals visit them," shares Mollie H. of Woodstock, Ontario. "Over the past few years, they have brought us unusual visitors and so much joy."

Some readers have found that small ponds soon lead to bigger ones. Steve and Carol F., for example, originally put a 3-1/2- x 8-foot pond in their Johannesburg, Michigan backyard.

"Just 5 minutes after we finished, birds started to come down to check out our handiwork--birds we'd never seen before," Carol reports.

"We were so excited that within a week, we started digging a bigger pond--8 x 12 feet--alongside the small one. Now that it's finished, we can relax in our screened porch and watch the ever-changing parade of birds and wildlife."