We had a blue heron spot our pond Thursday and Saturday morning we woke up to 3 of our fish gone, one being our biggest and sweetest pride and joy. It just made me sick. I've been told that heron don't land in water - but rather land near it and walk in. So if we ran some stakes and wire around the pond - would this keep them out? For know we've placed a netting over to save the others, but it not very pretty. Also notice the fish that are left will no longer come out to us during feeding, probably scared to death, will this change?
Thanks again, Dev
Fish are getting well - Thanks2All - Another Problem Heron
Devonee77, that's awful.
Our local pond store that sells good quality koi and that has several exhibition ponds had a heron problem. The lost some very expensive fish. They did wire their ponds and it wasn't pretty. They had a lot of valuable livestock to protect. The same ponds are not wired this year. I don't know why they decided it was safe to stop.
Personally I have zero heron knowledge or experience, but I, too, am looking forward to posters answers and advice. Ya never know when you might need it.
I have found that the birds come usually at around the same time each day. I camp out during that time and make like a live scare crow and chase them away. LOL If anyone saw this behavior they would probably lock me up.
Jeri
Well our first sighting of him was at 5:30am -- we could always give it a try :-) I'm willing to try it all to safe my fish.
There are also systems you can attach to your hose, much like a water sprinkler, that have a a beam that signals when something is crossing the path of the beam and jet blasts whatever it is. You can turn it on at night, and turn it back off in the morning, but it will discourage night time visitors. Our herons always came between 5 and 7 am. The rest of the day they never showed up.
Steep sides, instead of shallow banked sides, will discourage Herons, because they are infact waders and will not "land" in deep water, but will wander deeper and deeper. You can also use fruit tree netting (available at Walmart, etc) and stake it around the shallow side for a while. I kept mine in place for a few weeks, and it discouraged them from returning, so I finally could take it down.
The sprikler system is 60-80 dollars depending on were you get it. And they use a lot of water. You should try putting plastic animals around the pond..... herons, deers, owls.......... It might scare them away. have you had any problams with night-time visitors?
The scarecrow sprinkler works extremely well. We use it for deer, and also for herons. They really don't like that shot of water and for us, the money spent was well worth it!
Just my two cents worth! : - )
Glenda
There is thr name. yeah maybe the plastic animals will work!
Herons are the reason I will never have expensive fish again! I have found that setting the sprinkler to come on between 5-6 right over the pond helps. I just wonder with all the water around Charleston - why my pond!
I've heard herons in need learn to overcome those motion activated sprinklers. And also become unconcerned with plastic animals, they're very brazen :(
Depth seems to have kept us heron free. My neighbors have been heavily hit while our pond only gets a quick look from them. The pond is too deep for them to get in and fish.
Here's hoping that's the case with us, too, Lynn!
Yeah, I don't think you'll have problems Brenda.
My heart goes for your loss!!! I can emphatize for you because I lost a lot of my kois before it got netted.I think it is the only way to ensure safety for our investments. I say investment because of the $ and time we spend on our hobbies. Bellie
Depending on how large your pond is, you could do what we did when loosing fish to a heron. We used the large opening netting that doesn't block the view, streched it across the top of the rocks around the pond. It doesn't have to be perfect to deter the heron, like you said they walk into the water's edge. The year we had so much problem, was during our drought when their normal streams, etc. were drying up. After about 2-3 months we took off the net and never saw another heron.
I just ordered one of those floating alligator heads... if it works i will let you know.
Don't know where they purchased it but my neighbors with the "San Antonio RiverWalk" pond have a three piece alligator that floats. head-middle-tail. in the evening it can be very real appearing. She said they were told it is a good deterent to many types of varmints that might fish in the pond. They have some 15 or more large koi......so far, so good.
We do have the floating alligator head... it creeps me out! Sometimes it makes visitors jump! Bought off ebay... quite realistic. We hope it combined with the depth of the ponds will keep our babies safe.
Take some pics!
Regards,
RIck P.
Fl Koi Farm
We had an alligator sectional floater that had broke just prior to the heron showing up.....mmmmmmm? Maybe that had something to do with it. Since that time, I fixed it somewhat and just have it laying on the ground near the pond edge and haven't seen another heron.
My alligator broke last year also. I bought another one to go in the pond and have the broken one sitting on the ground also. Those little brackets don't last long that hold the sections together.
Jeri
Metal...water...rust...doh!