Heron visiting my pond

[Scott M.]

I thought this might happen sooner or later, given my rural location. My son photographed a blue heron scoping out my pond a couple of days ago. I posted three pictures at http://tinyurl.com/5vtng. Look at the last three photos, named Heron1,2 & 3.

The question now is what can I do to discourage the heron and still keep fish and maintain the esthetics of my pond. It looks like my 4 koi have stayed deep enough to stay out of his reach, so far. I have laid some chicken wire fencing over part of the pond for now but need a permanent solution. Should I put up a low electric fence so that he gets shocked when he approaches the edge?

I suspect he will keep returning, now that he knows the fish are there.

Scott M.
Ottawa, Ontario

[Bob Koerber]

Scott M. wrote:

> I thought this might happen sooner or later, given my rural location.
> My son photographed a blue heron scoping out my pond a couple of days
> ago. I posted three pictures at http://tinyurl.com/5vtng. Look at the
> last three photos, named Heron1,2 & 3.
>
> The question now is what can I do to discourage the heron and still
> keep fish and maintain the esthetics of my pond. It looks like my 4
> koi have stayed deep enough to stay out of his reach, so far. I have
> laid some chicken wire fencing over part of the pond for now but need
> a permanent solution. Should I put up a low electric fence so that he
> gets shocked when he approaches the edge?
>
> I suspect he will keep returning, now that he knows the fish are there.
>
> Scott M.
> Ottawa, Ontario



You can try the electric fence, get a fake heron or try the fishing line method around the pond. He definitly will return in my large pond 1/3+ acre I never had great blues in 3 years now this year I have seen 3 different bird at it but never 2 at the same time. I use kids and the dogs to chase them off.

Bob

[Ka30P]

Tips for herons, egrets and other fishing birds:
- bird netting over the pond, usually the quickest method
- put in an pond shock fence, lays out over the water at the edge
- a motion activated sprinkler
(go to froogle.com to find these products and different vendors
and prices)
- Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)

good luck!
kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Pinkpggy]

He is one bold bird. I love the setting of your pond, its so rustic looking.
Beautiful!!
Jan
"Our Pond" Page
http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html

[Scott M.]

Hi,

Thanks for your comments. My pond is in front of a very old 2 story barn.
The first floor of the barn is set into the ground. At 20 x 15 feet, it
makes a great storage shed and is indeed a beautiful and rustic building. I
have the filter set up inside the barn.

Scott

"Pinkpggy" > wrote in message
...
> He is one bold bird. I love the setting of your pond, its so rustic
looking.
> Beautiful!!
> Jan
> "Our Pond" Page
> http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html

[Scott M.]

I'll look into finding a fake heron and I don't know what the fishing line
method is, but I assume it is to string trip wires around the pond using
invisible fishing line to **** him off. Troube is, I like to sit by the pond
and maintain it also, so I don't want to trap myself.

Scott


"Bob Koerber" > wrote in message
...
> Scott M. wrote:
>
> > I thought this might happen sooner or later, given my rural location.
> > My son photographed a blue heron scoping out my pond a couple of days
> > ago. I posted three pictures at http://tinyurl.com/5vtng. Look at the
> > last three photos, named Heron1,2 & 3.
> >
> > The question now is what can I do to discourage the heron and still
> > keep fish and maintain the esthetics of my pond. It looks like my 4
> > koi have stayed deep enough to stay out of his reach, so far. I have
> > laid some chicken wire fencing over part of the pond for now but need
> > a permanent solution. Should I put up a low electric fence so that he
> > gets shocked when he approaches the edge?
> >
> > I suspect he will keep returning, now that he knows the fish are there.
> >
> > Scott M.
> > Ottawa, Ontario
>
>
>
> You can try the electric fence, get a fake heron or try the fishing line
method around the pond. He definitly will return in my large pond 1/3+ acre
I never had great blues in 3 years now this year I have seen 3 different
bird at it but never 2 at the same time. I use kids and the dogs to chase
them off.
>
> Bob
>

[Scott M.]

I'll look them up. Thanks. I would never kill the bird. They are so
beautiful. In my neighbourhood we have plenty of deer, black bear,
porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and other assorted
critters. I had been suspecting raccoons of getting into the pond and
knocking over rocks and plants, but now I know about the heron. The raccoon
goes for easier meals in my garbage cans.

Scott



"Ka30P" > wrote in message
...
> Tips for herons, egrets and other fishing birds:
> - bird netting over the pond, usually the quickest method
> - put in an pond shock fence, lays out over the water at the edge
> - a motion activated sprinkler
> (go to froogle.com to find these products and different vendors
> and prices)
> - Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
> heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)
>
> good luck!
> kathy :-)
> algae primer
> http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

Herons don't tip over plants, that the raccoons, imo. If neither has
captured a meal at your pond, repelling will be much easier. I use a motion
sprinkler on both my ponds, started using one when a raccoon made a huge
mess out of mine. It didn't catch any, but scratches were evident on my
biggest fish sides and shredding of the tail when it got away. The
sprinkler was hooked up before its return (assuming it did return) and I've
never had a problem since.

I had the motion sprinkler on a water timer so only had to worry about it
if I got up really early or went out really late (a rare thing on both
counts). Then last summer a neighbor called to tell me a big bird was on my
roof. This was around noon, so now it is on 24/7 and we're all trained
(from wet experience) to turn it off and on (notes on the door in and out
help) as we come and go.

Your pond is very pretty, amazing how that heron blends right in, except
around the swimming pool, may need a sprinkler there while the kids are
swimming if it is as ambitious as my raccoon that thought it could catch a
24" butterfly koi. ;o)

http://www.km01.com/index.html has them for $53.95 out of Oregon, no sales
tax, and very fast shipping (at least to Washington). ;o) ~ jan

>On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:03:43 -0400, "Scott M." > wrote:

>I'll look them up. Thanks. I would never kill the bird. They are so
>beautiful. In my neighbourhood we have plenty of deer, black bear,
>porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and other assorted
>critters. I had been suspecting raccoons of getting into the pond and
>knocking over rocks and plants, but now I know about the heron. The raccoon
>goes for easier meals in my garbage cans.
>
>Scott
>
>
>
>"Ka30P" > wrote in message
...
>> Tips for herons, egrets and other fishing birds:
>> - bird netting over the pond, usually the quickest method
>> - put in an pond shock fence, lays out over the water at the edge
>> - a motion activated sprinkler
>> (go to froogle.com to find these products and different vendors
>> and prices)
>> - Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
>> heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)
>>
>> good luck!
>> kathy :-)
>> algae primer
>> http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html
>

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

[Dave and Miss]

Hey Scott...Great photography! Just wonderin how you were able to get so
close without spookin him. http://photos.yahoo.com/jeepin9557 Dave
"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for your comments. My pond is in front of a very old 2 story barn.
> The first floor of the barn is set into the ground. At 20 x 15 feet, it
> makes a great storage shed and is indeed a beautiful and rustic building.
I
> have the filter set up inside the barn.
>
> Scott
>
> "Pinkpggy" > wrote in message
> ...
> > He is one bold bird. I love the setting of your pond, its so rustic
> looking.
> > Beautiful!!
> > Jan
> > "Our Pond" Page
> > http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html
>
>

[~ Windsong ~]

"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
I thought this might happen sooner or later, given my rural location. My son
photographed a blue heron scoping out my pond a couple of days ago. I posted
three pictures at http://tinyurl.com/5vtng. Look at the last three photos,
named Heron1,2 & 3.

The question now is what can I do to discourage the heron and still keep
fish and maintain the esthetics of my pond. It looks like my 4 koi have
stayed deep enough to stay out of his reach, so far. I have laid some
chicken wire fencing over part of the pond for now but need a permanent
solution. Should I put up a low electric fence so that he gets shocked when
he approaches the edge?

I suspect he will keep returning, now that he knows the fish are there.
--------------------------------------------
They will keep coming back. More and more will come. We went through that
for several years. Finally in disgust we bought those black bird-nets and
covered the ponds. Before the herons we were losing our koi and goldfish to
water snakes, mud turtles, bullfrogs and herons. In our case it was either
net the ponds or turn them over to the predators and not keep fish. If you
have herons you will probably also see frogs and snakes.
--
Carol.... the frugal ponder...
"If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried
before."
~~<~~<~~{@
"They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same."
http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[~ Windsong ~]

"Scott M." > wrote in message
...
> I'll look into finding a fake heron and I don't know what the fishing line
> method is, but I assume it is to string trip wires around the pond using
> invisible fishing line to **** him off. Troube is, I like to sit by the
pond
> and maintain it also, so I don't want to trap myself.
====================================
Keep in mind these triplines will not keep the other predators away, such as
snakes and bullfrogs.
--
Carol.... the frugal ponder...
"If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried
before."
~~<~~<~~{@
"They laugh because I'm different, I laugh because they're all the same."
http://www.heartoftn.net/users/windsong/index.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Ka30P]

Scott wrote >>Should I put up a low electric fence so that he gets shocked when
he approaches the edge?<<

Take a look at this new version of the electric shock option.
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=electric+pond+fence

It is fairly new and so far I haven't run into anyone who has used it. Might
not be as instrusive as netting. But I'm wondering how easy it would be to
install.

If you do try it, let us know how you like it.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Crashj]

"Ka30P" > wrote in message
...
> Scott wrote >>Should I put up a low electric fence so that he gets shocked
when
> he approaches the edge?<<
>
> Take a look at this new version of the electric shock option.
> http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=electric+pond+fence
>
> It is fairly new
<>
> If you do try it, let us know how you like it.

I froogled up the Zareba K-9 Electric Fencer for under $30 which seems a
better deal. Aluminum wire looks to be $5US a foot.
I had operated a fencer for horses for years. The expensive units include
weed burning, the ability to burn off a weed in contact with the line. This
happens when they are dry so they do not short out the fenceline when it
gets wet. You may not need the expensive version in your garden.
--
Crashj

[Roy]

I have been using fake alligators for some time now with quite
effective results.........I had tried the fake heron thing
before..worked for awhile but so far the alligator thing is doing
great.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

[Lieutenant Kizhe Katson]

"Scott M." > wrote in message >...
> I'll look them up. Thanks. I would never kill the bird. They are so
> beautiful. In my neighbourhood we have plenty of deer, black bear,
> porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and other assorted
> critters. I had been suspecting raccoons of getting into the pond and
> knocking over rocks and plants, but now I know about the heron. The raccoon
> goes for easier meals in my garbage cans.
>
> Scott

Hi Scott, if canada411 is correct, you're out in Carp (Good grief:
bears, that close?!). I'm not too far away, in Kanata. We've had a
heron once that we know of, a couple of years back. Then this spring,
*something* knocked over some pots and took a koi, probably during a
Saturday morning. I suspect a heron, although we also frequently get
raccoons -- but never during the day. It's amazing the wildlife that
hangs on, even in deepest darkest suburbia. We got a floating
reflector, and let the hornwort grow over everything, and haven't lost
anything else (that we've noticed). Putting up bird netting would be
a real pain.....

-- Kizhe

> "Ka30P" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Tips for herons, egrets and other fishing birds:
> > - bird netting over the pond, usually the quickest method
> > - put in an pond shock fence, lays out over the water at the edge
> > - a motion activated sprinkler
> > (go to froogle.com to find these products and different vendors
> > and prices)
> > - Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
> > heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)
> >
> > good luck!
> > kathy :-)
> > algae primer
> > http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Scott M.]

Thanks for the idea for the sprinkler. Lee Valley Tools in Ottawa sells
them. I'll go there to check it out.

Scott M.

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
> Herons don't tip over plants, that the raccoons, imo. If neither has
> captured a meal at your pond, repelling will be much easier. I use a
motion
> sprinkler on both my ponds, started using one when a raccoon made a huge
> mess out of mine. It didn't catch any, but scratches were evident on my
> biggest fish sides and shredding of the tail when it got away. The
> sprinkler was hooked up before its return (assuming it did return) and
I've
> never had a problem since.
>
> I had the motion sprinkler on a water timer so only had to worry about it
> if I got up really early or went out really late (a rare thing on both
> counts). Then last summer a neighbor called to tell me a big bird was on
my
> roof. This was around noon, so now it is on 24/7 and we're all trained
> (from wet experience) to turn it off and on (notes on the door in and out
> help) as we come and go.
>
> Your pond is very pretty, amazing how that heron blends right in, except
> around the swimming pool, may need a sprinkler there while the kids are
> swimming if it is as ambitious as my raccoon that thought it could catch a
> 24" butterfly koi. ;o)
>
> http://www.km01.com/index.html has them for $53.95 out of Oregon, no sales
> tax, and very fast shipping (at least to Washington). ;o) ~ jan
>
> >On Thu, 12 Aug 2004 13:03:43 -0400, "Scott M." >
wrote:
>
> >I'll look them up. Thanks. I would never kill the bird. They are so
> >beautiful. In my neighbourhood we have plenty of deer, black bear,
> >porcupines, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and other assorted
> >critters. I had been suspecting raccoons of getting into the pond and
> >knocking over rocks and plants, but now I know about the heron. The
raccoon
> >goes for easier meals in my garbage cans.
> >
> >Scott
> >
> >
> >
> >"Ka30P" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Tips for herons, egrets and other fishing birds:
> >> - bird netting over the pond, usually the quickest method
> >> - put in an pond shock fence, lays out over the water at the edge
> >> - a motion activated sprinkler
> >> (go to froogle.com to find these products and different vendors
> >> and prices)
> >> - Migratory Bird Act forbids lethal methods,
> >> heavy fines and jail time take away from pond time ;-)
> >>
> >> good luck!
> >> kathy :-)
> >> algae primer
> >> http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html
> >
>
> ~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

[Scott M.]

My son took the pictures, so I'll have to ask him. The wildlife is pretty
bold around these parts.

Scott


"Dave and Miss" > wrote in message
...
> Hey Scott...Great photography! Just wonderin how you were able to get so
> close without spookin him. http://photos.yahoo.com/jeepin9557 Dave
> "Scott M." > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Thanks for your comments. My pond is in front of a very old 2 story
barn.
> > The first floor of the barn is set into the ground. At 20 x 15 feet, it
> > makes a great storage shed and is indeed a beautiful and rustic
building.
> I
> > have the filter set up inside the barn.
> >
> > Scott
> >
> > "Pinkpggy" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > He is one bold bird. I love the setting of your pond, its so rustic
> > looking.
> > > Beautiful!!
> > > Jan
> > > "Our Pond" Page
> > > http://hometown.aol.com/pinkpggy/index.html
> >
> >
>
>

[Scott M.]

I've seen these at a Flea Market near my home. I'll take a second look at
them on Sunday!

Scott


"Roy" > wrote in message
...
> I have been using fake alligators for some time now with quite
> effective results.........I had tried the fake heron thing
> before..worked for awhile but so far the alligator thing is doing
> great.
> Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
> Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
> I had no input whatsoever.
> Remove "nospam" from email addy.

[Cookie]

I had the same thing happen about 3 years ago. The heron ate 1/3 of my
fish. I tried many things. The only thing that worked was fishing line put
up around the pond about 12 inches high. It worked...all the best Sofia

[Roy]

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 21:45:21 -0400, "Scott M." >
wrote:

>===<>I've seen these at a Flea Market near my home. I'll take a second look at
>===<>them on Sunday!
>===<>
>===<>Scott
>===<>
>===<>
>===<>"Roy" > wrote in message
...
>===<>> I have been using fake alligators for some time now with quite
>===<>> effective results.........I had tried the fake heron thing
>===<>> before..worked for awhile but so far the alligator thing is doing
>===<>> great.
>===<>> Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
>===<>> Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
>===<>> I had no input whatsoever.
>===<>> Remove "nospam" from email addy.
>===<>

Unless you live in an area that may have gators I do not know if using
a fake gator would work. Herons living in Canada or Maine would
probably knot know what a gator was..........but then again Herons
like to be the only thing feeding so it may be sufficient to deter it
from using your pond as a cafeteria.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.

[Andrew Burgess]

>Unless you live in an area that may have gators I do not know if using
>a fake gator would work. Herons living in Canada or Maine would
>probably not know what a gator was

To me, that's an argument for getting a _real_ gator :-)

Andy the heron hater

[Ka30P]

Andy wrote >>To me, that's an argument for getting a _real_ gator :-)<<

chortle! I can just imagine a gator exiting my pond and wandering down to the
park here in WA state, eating up those irritating Pomeranians.
Hmmmmmm.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html

[Bob Koerber]

Ka30P wrote:

>Andy wrote >>To me, that's an argument for getting a _real_ gator :-)<<
>
>chortle! I can just imagine a gator exiting my pond and wandering down to the
>park here in WA state, eating up those irritating Pomeranians.
>Hmmmmmm.
>
>
>kathy :-)
>algae primer
>http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html
>
>
I was sure suprised to find we have a population of Alligators here in
North Alabama. They are in the Tennessee River back-waters which one
creek is less than a mile from the house. Better keep an eye out for
eyes in the big pond!

Bob

http://home.hiwaay.net/~n4bk/index.htm

[Roy]

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 14:57:44 -0500, Bob Koerber >
wrote:

>===<>Ka30P wrote:
>===<>
>===<>>Andy wrote >>To me, that's an argument for getting a _real_ gator :-)<<
>===<>>
>===<>>chortle! I can just imagine a gator exiting my pond and wandering down to the
>===<>>park here in WA state, eating up those irritating Pomeranians.
>===<>>Hmmmmmm.
>===<>>
>===<>>
>===<>>kathy :-)
>===<>>algae primer
>===<>>http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html
>===<>>
>===<>>
>===<>I was sure suprised to find we have a population of Alligators here in
>===<>North Alabama. They are in the Tennessee River back-waters which one
>===<>creek is less than a mile from the house. Better keep an eye out for
>===<>eyes in the big pond!
>===<>
>===<>Bob
>===<>
>===<>http://home.hiwaay.net/~n4bk/index.htm


More of them in my area of Alabama.......I have a creek that empties
into the Alabama River and its not uncommon to find gators along the
creek and in the wetland areas, and on occasion I have had a few real
ones on the bank of the stream by the field already. No signs of em
ever being in the pond but if they were in the field they could easily
have been in the pond as well. They just are not a problem here. About
4 years ago they got a 10 footer out of a drainage ditch in downtown
Montgomery......and about a month after that episode they caught
another large gator along the interstate exit to the bypass, after it
came up out of a small creek.
Visit my website: http://www.frugalmachinist.com
Opinions expressed are those of my wife,
I had no input whatsoever.
Remove "nospam" from email addy.