I have had my 15,000 pond for 5 years with out any huge predator issues. I realize I need to share some but leave me some. A beautiful osprey has discovered our pond. He comes back multiple times a day. I would imagine he is feeding his family. When we are out in the yard you can see him circling watching for us to leave the area. I do not want to hurt the bird, but find a way for him to find other food sources also. Any ideas?
Thanks, Ep
Osprey Buffet
They have the attachments to use on the end of your hose that have a little beam that blasts a jet of water when something crosses it. It's used to scare critters away from areas you dont want them. One brand is called a Scarecrow. If he's swooping from the top and skimming the water, aside from a net, there's not a lot you can do except add some fountains. The rippled water surface makes it harder for them to eyeball their meal. I had to do that when I had a blue heron problem.
I have the scarecrow and it works but I find having fishing line around and across the water is enough of a deterent that is freaks the herons out that they stopped coming. With the scarecrow it keeps them away but they stick around trying to "out-think" the sprayer. The fishing line actually causes them to stress out and not return (cheaper too).
Do you have any central pond plantings or hide-aways? I have cement blocks on the bottom of my pond that serve 2 purposes. One is to hold my baskets of water plants on a pedestal, but the 2nd is to provide caves for the fish to hide in.
I agree that the fishing line strung kind of like a web around the edges is quite effective, we had issues with herons with our ponds in AZ, and the fishing lines really did stop them. Good luck!
Brenda
I appreciate your thoughts and ideas.
I always thought my problem would be with herons as that is what I hear about. I have a couple heron statues stratigically placed and hoped they might be territorial and leave my fishes alone. I also have minamal shallow areas in my pond around the edges. The rest is 3-4 feet deep.
I do have water lilies covering about 20% of the surface. So, they do have somewhat of a place to hide if they need to. Though I could improve on this. I have some waterlilies that need dividing. Will they be shocked right afterwards and not do as well.? Or, do they thrive with my roots having more space? They are blooming so beautifully. I hate to loose the blooms also.
I will explore the scarecrow and fishing line ideas. I am concerned with my forgetfulness that I might get sprayed more often than the birds. Another thought that I have to think through is that I have other wild life come to take a sip or bathe. I hate to ruin it for them just because the osprey's piggish habbits.
Thanks again for your thoughts and ideas.
Ep
Those statues, while pretty aren't going to do anything. I live on a naturally occurring lake and in the spring the herons fish about 6-7 feet apart. There can be 40-50 of them stretched around the shallow areas-all just a few feet apart.
lol-I guess I it was wishful thinking....
I hope this is not wishful thinking also. On July 4th I walked outside and found the osprey just landing in my pond. I was less than 10 feet away from him. I think I scared him and he has not been back. I hope it is more than wishful thinking that he has found safer better places to get his family's food from. He is a beautiful BIG bird.