Hi, it’s me – do you recognise me? Yes, it’s me, Mr Moineau’s pond. Do you remember when we had a chat together one evening by the water’s edge and we talked about how important water is for life and for biodiversity? Oh! Yes, loads of memories are coming back to me. You reminded me that Mr Sparrow couldn’t do without me any more. Yes, it’s a bit of work, but it’s well worth the effort.
I’m not very tall, it’s true—barely 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) long—but I have a good depth at 1.40 metres (about 4 ft 7 in). And then there’s my beautiful waterfall, which draws attention to itself with a rustling sound that even the birds can hear! It draws attention to me, even though I’m very discreet by nature…
Lovely plants
Do you remember May 23, 2026? What a celebration! I had invited a whole crowd of friends to surprise Robert. There was so much life all around me—far more than anyone expected—and what a surprise I had in store for him!
I have to admit, I was dressed to impress. I had put on my finest outfit: ‘Beacon Silver’ spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’). I also showcased my favorite ground cover, moss sandwort (Arenaria verna). To make sure nothing was missing, I placed my tall friend, Japanese ligularia (Ligularia japonica), just behind me. And, of course, to delight my friend the ruby-throated hummingbird, I included scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma) and turtlehead(Chelone obliqua).
In my water, Mr. Sparrow planted blue flag iris (Iris versicolor). Along my edge, he added a lovely clump of marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), which delighted a handsome male Cape May warbler.
Along my waterfall, I was bordered by ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris). They protected me from the hot rays of the sun. You know, my friend, I have sensitive skin. I need protection because if at least three-quarters of my surface isn’t shaded, long green strands begin to appear. They look like hair, but they’re actually algae.
Attracting birds
What a lively day it was, and how many birds came to bathe on May 23, 2026! Yet I remember that Mr. Sparrow had almost given up hope. The weather was beautiful, but the trees had leafed out so much that spotting birds was becoming increasingly difficult. Then, all of a sudden—what a surprise! First, a male Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) appeared at the edge of my waterfall. Then a female Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) emerged from beneath the eastern white cedars (Thuja occidentalis) and plunged straight into one of my pools.
To attract birds, a pool should be no deeper than 4 cm (1½ in). Oh, what a delightful sight! And that was only the beginning. Soon a female Blackburnian Warbler joined in, followed by a male Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia). Mr. Sparrow was overjoyed and thought it couldn’t get any better.
But I still had more surprises in store. Yes, I—the pond—had also caught the attention of two Swainson’s Thrushes(Catharus ustulatus), a male Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), and a new friend, a handsome male Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina).
A welcoming place during a heatwave
Do you remember the recent heat wave? My presence was greatly appreciated—I had plenty of visitors. Of course, the pair of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) stopped by, and I also welcomed a few Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). To spoil my friend Mr. Sparrow, I even had the pleasure of hosting a Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) in my waters, much to our delight. Other regular visitors included a Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), and almost every day, a cheerful Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus).
Other little guests
It’s true, I sometimes get furry visitors too, and they’re always worth seeing. I’m thinking of my friend Twitty, the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus), and even a visitor who can sometimes be a bit troublesome—Mr. Raccoon(Procyon lotor). But with so much life all around me, it’s well worth it, don’t you think?
Unfortunately, though, the neighborhood cats also come by for a drink. Why “unfortunately,” you ask? Well, I like cats—but they come here to hunt my guests.
In Canada, free-roaming cats kill an estimated 105 to 345 million birds every year, and that’s certainly not good. We should think about protecting birds by fitting cats with a Birdsbesafe® collar cover. They’re attractive and highly visible, allowing birds to spot cats from a distance. Another option is to build them a catio—an enclosed outdoor space for cats. Oh, how I wish Mr. Sparrow’s neighbors would help me out!
Speaking of me, the pond, Mr. Sparrow has forgotten one thing that bothers me. He planted some lovely shrubs behind me. They’ve grown over the years, and now they provide perfect hiding places for cats lying in wait. To keep my feathered friends safe, he should have planted those shrubs at least 3 metres (10 feet) away from me.
Friends visiting
Do you also remember hearing some strange calls a few years ago? I used to have a cruciferous tree frog – that tiny frog that sings like an opera tenor. As for Mrs Green Frog, she visits me regularly. She eats the few insects that are on the surface of the water.
Safety rules
When I was created, Robert thought of me. He checked with the local council to find out how deep I was allowed to be, as there are sometimes local by-laws governing my installation. And that’s important when young children are playing near me. They could drown. Robert did put a few goldfish in me in the past to liven things up, but my space was small and not deep enough for the goldfish to survive our cold winter.
He didn’t want me to run dry, so he fitted an automatic top-up system. That put my mind at rest and ensured I never ran out of water. It was not far from the submersible pump that circulated the water in my pond.
I sometimes have lovely visits from insects such as the magnificent Lydian dragonfly, which helps me by catching the insects that live nearby.
So, what do you reckon? If you’d like to bring a bit more life into your home, you can invite me into your garden. You’re sure to have visitors, and you’ll be crowned ‘biodiversity champion’.