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I put a pond in my back yard about 10 years ago, and it has given the best return on investment in units of pure joy of anything I've ever done. Have you ever considered a water feature? Here's my experience in case it's helpful. A thread. 
So there are a lot of expenses up front: a plastic liner to keep the water from draining out of the pit, a pump, a filter, lots of tubing, paving stones, plants, pots to keep the plants in, fish, beneficial bacteria water treatments, etc.
The pump sucks water from the bottom of the pond and into the filter, which spits clean water out into a stream that runs back into the pond. This keeps the water circulating and inhibits mosquitoes and algae.
The stream aerates the water, makes a nice sound, and attracts birds. Everything bathes in it -- cardinals, robins, red-shouldered hawks, goldfinches. During migration, anything could be splashing around in there -- indigo buntings, cedar waxwings, common yellowthroats.
You can pick pond plants that are low-fuss and beautiful. Most of them over-winter (or you can take a cutting inside for the winter), so you just buy them once. Lilies, cattails, iris, swamp pickerel, floating heart, papyrus, hyacinth.
(Also, if civilization collapses, a pond gives you a source of fresh water and you could live for a while on goldfish and lotus roots.)
Pond paraphernalia tend to have funny names. My first pump was called the "Fish Mate 5000," which sounds like something out of Wallace & Gromit. One of the treatments to add beneficial bacteria and break down crud that accumulates at the bottom is called "Muck Off."
Tree frogs and toads found the pond almost immediately and started spawning. Dragonflies, water striders, snails. This year's toad crop just metamorphosed from tadpoles and now tiny toads are hopping all over the place.
The toads are so stinking cute.
If you're considering putting in a pond and are in the greater DC area, go to @LilyponsGardens for inspiration, advice and equipment (including Muck Off). It's a nice day trip even if you're not planning a pond. You can walk the trails on their grounds.
If you don't have much space, a small water feature (bird bath, fountain) with a spitter will attract birds and sound nice. You can get a solar-powered spitter so you don't have to worry about running a power cord.
If the water circulation isn't enough to keep mosquitoes out, you can get these floating tablets called Dunks or smaller pieces called Mosquito Bits that kill mosquito larvae. They're good for planters and drains and other spots where water collects.
Who out here has a pond or other water feature? What's your favorite thing about it? And can we see your photos? If you're interested in putting in a pond and have any questions, I bet all of us pond people would LOVE to talk about it. /end
