pest control from the start

Okay so we are in the beginning stages of sculpting our acreage in the hills of East Tennessee. I spent weekends cutting trees and building a driveway with fill, geo fabric and gravel. The driveway will cross a seasonal creek that's currently stagnant (slightly swampy clay soil just downstream from neighbor's retention pond). Most of the rest of the property is uphill, and we plan to terrace the south-facing slope, but parking here any time the weather is warm, either to visit or do work, means fighting flies and mosquitoes as long as you're not either tending to a fire or hiking around.

Our question is how to start making immediate changes in the early foundational stage of our homestead on forested land, to discourage or cull back the pest insect population. I guess the first thing we could think of was planting any/all sensible berry trees/bushes in order to attract birds that might stay for the bugs, but even that could take years. Is there anything we're missing, other than planting some herbs (lemon balm, etc.) to use as repellant?

What we already know (but are not yet able to implement) is that:
A)  virtually any species of bird will help,
B) fish in a cultivated pond will help,
C) predatory insects (wasps, etc.) will help,
D) various fly traps and eliminating stagnant water (buckets, tarps) should be 101,
and E) bats devour mosquitoes BUT also carry diseases we don't want anywhere near our daughter

I think you are giving pests a greater capacity to damage than they deserve.
I understand your perceived fear but relax it can be calmed down with judicial use of the items you hve listed.
Yes bird attracting plants are beneficial, and tress and shrubs take time to establish there is not
better time than now to start planting.
- Stagnant water can have a safe oil poured on top to prevent mozzies.
- bats rarely come near humans and rarely cause health issues I have small bats in my house, I built it for them.
 Bat boxes can be installed around.
- Built wasp and bee hotels for them to live in.
- Dont cut down old ugly trees they are home to many birds and animals that are beneficial

B) fish in a cultivated pond will help,

I like this idea.  Why not turn that swampy area into a small fish pond?

Attracting birds with plants is a great idea and some of those plants could also be edible for your family.

I really like John's suggestion for bee hotels:

https://permies.com/wiki/107921/pep-animal-care/Build-solitary-bee-house-PEP

One thing I'd add is to avoid barn cats. In my area they're popular, but they kill *everything* the major non-flying bug killer in my area is a lizard. There are tons of them and they devour beetles, pill bugs, spiders, etc. But cats have a pretty easy time with them. My neighbor has barn cats and while it's reduced the mice population his bugs have skyrocketed.

I'm a big fan of rat snap traps, especially in the winter and fall when critters are looking to pack on fat or find winter homes. I'll put out several, bait them, and usually have to clear a few of them every day, sometimes multiple times in the same day. It really does put a dent in the population.

The bucket traps work well too, I put ~6" of water in the bottom to keep pack rats from being able to jump out.