Heron in the city

[Pepperqueen]

Hello!
This is my first time to this group, and i'm glad to find it!! My question
is, today, for the first time that i've noticed a heron on my deck which
over looks my pond which is: a 220gallon pond, 58" x 94" x 18". We do live
in the city, luckily i have a mesh covering the pond, because alot of our
neighbors have cats that enter our garden, plus at night we have spotted a
skunk. I do have large goldfish, as well as tadpoles and small frogs.
How can I deter this heron from returning again?
Thank you,
Deb.

[Ka30P]

Hi Deb,

Unfortunately the heron will try and stab through the mesh.
Kind of depends on the size of the mesh. A larger mesh he could still get a
fish, tadpole or frog. Smaller mesh he might get frustrated and leave.

There are a couple things that help

- a finer bird netting over the pond
- put in an pond shock fence
- a motion activated sprinkler
(go to froogle.com to find these products)
and just in case you get advice of a lethal nature....
- Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)

Some herons are very shy. It took a couple of times with the labradors and
myself out in the yard and our visiting heron gave up. But that worked as I am
an at home mom for the most part. Some can be very persistent, if they find the
pond and yard quiet for long periods of time.

Let us know how you do!



kathy :-)
<A HREF="http://www.onceuponapond.com/">Once upon a pond</A>

[Phisherman]

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 20:53:53 -0400, "Pepperqueen"
> wrote:

>Hello!
>This is my first time to this group, and i'm glad to find it!! My question
>is, today, for the first time that i've noticed a heron on my deck which
>over looks my pond which is: a 220gallon pond, 58" x 94" x 18". We do live
>in the city, luckily i have a mesh covering the pond, because alot of our
>neighbors have cats that enter our garden, plus at night we have spotted a
>skunk. I do have large goldfish, as well as tadpoles and small frogs.
>How can I deter this heron from returning again?
>Thank you,
>Deb.
>


We scare off herons, sometimes with a firecracker. A watchdog seems
to be the best deterrent. When I reconfigured my pond I made the
sides drop off steep into the pond which herons do not like to do. I
live in the middle of a somewhat small (pop.30,000) city. There's
lots of rivers and waterways that attract waterfowl. Herons have a
very good memory about their fishing holes. Netting seems to the best
way to prevent a heron feeding spot, but I have not found any netting
that would look invisible or natural for my pond. I only stock with
cheap feeder goldfish, rather than lose expensive koi.

[Remydog]

I live in the woods near lots of waterways and there is even a Heron rookery
on the high school grounds about a quarter mile from my home. My pond is
right next to the house and under a tree canopy. We also have a dog who has
free reign of the property on an invisible fence.

Well, the other day, I was out in the yard and heard an ungodly squak. I
looked up to see a heron in the trees over the pond. Yikes! I screamed like
mad at him and he flew off. I also sent the dog out the whole morning.

Fortunately, I also have an electronic scarecrow -- the one that has a
motion sensor and sprays water at them if they get near. I had not yet set
it up, but risked being late for work to dig it out of the garage and get it
in position.

Don't know if the heron has returned since, but the fish are all there and
happy.

MSK
"Pepperqueen" > wrote in message
...
> Hello!
> This is my first time to this group, and i'm glad to find it!! My question
> is, today, for the first time that i've noticed a heron on my deck which
> over looks my pond which is: a 220gallon pond, 58" x 94" x 18". We do live
> in the city, luckily i have a mesh covering the pond, because alot of our
> neighbors have cats that enter our garden, plus at night we have spotted a
> skunk. I do have large goldfish, as well as tadpoles and small frogs.
> How can I deter this heron from returning again?
> Thank you,
> Deb.
>
>

[Steve \(Dart\)]

Heron are quite territorial. If you can find a fake one, place that next to
your pond and that should fix the problem.
You may also want to string some fishing line up, a few strands here and
there, the birds will get ****ed off and not bother for fear of getting
tangles.
good luck.
Let us know what works for you

"Pepperqueen" > wrote in message
...
> Hello!
> This is my first time to this group, and i'm glad to find it!! My question
> is, today, for the first time that i've noticed a heron on my deck which
> over looks my pond which is: a 220gallon pond, 58" x 94" x 18". We do live
> in the city, luckily i have a mesh covering the pond, because alot of our
> neighbors have cats that enter our garden, plus at night we have spotted a
> skunk. I do have large goldfish, as well as tadpoles and small frogs.
> How can I deter this heron from returning again?
> Thank you,
> Deb.
>
>

[Jeff H.]

On Thu, 17 Jun 2004 23:27:49 GMT, "Steve \(Dart\)"
> wrote:

>Heron are quite territorial. If you can find a fake one, place that next to
>your pond and that should fix the problem.
>You may also want to string some fishing line up, a few strands here and
>there, the birds will get ****ed off and not bother for fear of getting
>tangles.
>good luck.
>Let us know what works for you
>

I can tell you that the fake heron does not work. I have a very
realistic one and the real one stood right along side killing Koi.
The pond is now netted.

Jeff

[NSF]

I had not seen a Heron at my pond until I put a fake one next to it then I
lost half my stock.
I now use an electronic scarecrow -- the one that has a
motion sensor and sprays water and I haven't lost anymore fish


"Steve (Dart)" > wrote in message
...
> Heron are quite territorial. If you can find a fake one, place that next
to
> your pond and that should fix the problem.
> You may also want to string some fishing line up, a few strands here and
> there, the birds will get ****ed off and not bother for fear of getting
> tangles.
> good luck.
> Let us know what works for you
>
> "Pepperqueen" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hello!
> > This is my first time to this group, and i'm glad to find it!! My
question
> > is, today, for the first time that i've noticed a heron on my deck which
> > over looks my pond which is: a 220gallon pond, 58" x 94" x 18". We do
live
> > in the city, luckily i have a mesh covering the pond, because alot of
our
> > neighbors have cats that enter our garden, plus at night we have spotted
a
> > skunk. I do have large goldfish, as well as tadpoles and small frogs.
> > How can I deter this heron from returning again?
> > Thank you,
> > Deb.
> >
> >
>
>