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One alternative to removing some grass as a water saving option, is just to improve the soil for the next turf, maintain it better and raise the mower height a bit. That's how you conserve 50% water without removing 50% turf.
In small yards, I usually suggest not fragmenting it into too many little regions. If an intricate planting is preferred, sometimes it is good to remove the turf, and add your tapestry of planting or features.
If you want birds, the most important part will not be trees with berries. That helps, but it's a drop in the bucket. A landscape's bird visitor population gets super-charged with:
1. Small trees to land and rest on.
2. Bird feeder.
3. Small water feature
Edible plants are 4th since they are rarely ever-bearing.
Water feature for birds needs to be fairly chemical free - don't clean with chlorine. But most likely, the fish-safe de-algae products should be okay for birds. Either that or go biological all the way. And the feature needs to be a bit more in the open for safety from cats and predators. Not sure if you even want more birds, but that's the idea anyhow.
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