At least now I know, what next?

A while back, maybe two or three weeks, I posted about losing a couple of
fish mysteriously, in the Long Beach, CA area. Suspected a bird, but didnt
know for sure.

Well, standing in the front yard today talking to my roofer about an
upcoming project a gigantic gray heron swoops in and lands on the neighbors
garage door. Damn thing didnt even blink when I yelled and clapped from the
front yard. He then slowly walked down the roof of the garage which
overlooks my 800 gallon pond. I quickly ran into the back yard and screamed,
waxed my arms and clapped and he took off.

Definitely at a nearly 4 foot wingspan and 3 feet tall big enough to take my
18" fish that was originally mssing.

So, now to think about countermeasures, as unfortunately I am sure shooting
the damn things is probably illegal. Scarecrow really work for something
that can swoop in from an overlooking height? I dont want to do nets, they
are hideous and will prevent frequent pond cleaning, I just dont want the
hassle. How do the electric fences work anyway?

D

On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 04:01:02 GMT, "Dsybok" wrote:

A while back, maybe two or three weeks, I posted about losing a couple of
fish mysteriously, in the Long Beach, CA area. Suspected a bird, but didnt
know for sure.

Well, standing in the front yard today talking to my roofer about an
upcoming project a gigantic gray heron swoops in and lands on the neighbors
garage door. Damn thing didnt even blink when I yelled and clapped from the
front yard. He then slowly walked down the roof of the garage which
overlooks my 800 gallon pond. I quickly ran into the back yard and screamed,
waxed my arms and clapped and he took off.

Definitely at a nearly 4 foot wingspan and 3 feet tall big enough to take my
18" fish that was originally mssing.

So, now to think about countermeasures, as unfortunately I am sure shooting
the damn things is probably illegal. Scarecrow really work for something
that can swoop in from an overlooking height? I dont want to do nets, they
are hideous and will prevent frequent pond cleaning, I just dont want the
hassle. How do the electric fences work anyway?

Scarecrow motion sprinkler = http://www.km01.com/gardeninghome.html ~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

"Dsybok" wrote in message
ink.net...
So, now to think about countermeasures, as unfortunately I am sure
shooting
the damn things is probably illegal. Scarecrow really work for something
that can swoop in from an overlooking height? I dont want to do nets, they
are hideous and will prevent frequent pond cleaning, I just dont want the
hassle. How do the electric fences work anyway?
========================
Some people claim good luck with the motion sprinklers. They're useless for
Kingfishers. Some herons learn to come up behind them to fish I was told.
The people I know here either gave up on fish or netted their ponds - but
then we have all types of predators after our fish.
--
McKoi.... the frugal ponder...
EVERYONE: "Please check people's headers for forgeries
before flushing." NAMES ARE BEING FORGED.
Do not feed the trolls.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

General Predator Deterrents:

Electric FiShock Fido fence - made to keep dogs
and cats out of flower beds, fence off the pond,
fairly close to the edge.

Pond Guardian Electric Fence - made to attach to
rocks and lay out over the water of the pond

Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler - sometimes two
are needed. Can be dialed to different settings and put on a timer.
Shock of water coming on startles predators.
Attach to something solid if raccoons push it over.

Netting - sold as bird netting for fruit trees

String Fishing Line - works with some herons

Fish Decoy - works with kingfishers, will give resident fish time to
hide (build a rock cave, or sink a chimney flue or black pipe)

Heron decoy, alligator decoy - must be moved often, works for some
ponders.

Humane traps - for raccoons, for rent or to borrow from many animal
control facilities

You can go to www.froogle.com, enter in the product and find more
information and price information.

* Note - do not attempt to harm herons or any birds of prey. They are
protected by federal law. Fines and jail time will ensue, cutting into
pond dollars and pond time.

kathy :-)
www.blogfromthebog.com

Oh so no machine gunning then. Too bad.

My main concern about the Scarecrow is the water supply. Does it take a
standard garden hose? and if so, I will have to leave my hose on all the
time? Could I just use a modified 5 gallon bucket with hose outlet gravity
fed or does the line have to be pressurized. I dont figure it to go off much
, I could top off the bucket when needed.

Anyone with practical experience on either the Scarecrow or the electric
fences, chime in please. I am probably going to get a Heron decoy at the LFS
today as a first step.

D

"kathy" wrote in message
oups.com...
General Predator Deterrents:

Electric FiShock Fido fence - made to keep dogs
and cats out of flower beds, fence off the pond,
fairly close to the edge.

Pond Guardian Electric Fence - made to attach to
rocks and lay out over the water of the pond

Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler - sometimes two
are needed. Can be dialed to different settings and put on a timer.
Shock of water coming on startles predators.
Attach to something solid if raccoons push it over.

Netting - sold as bird netting for fruit trees

String Fishing Line - works with some herons

Fish Decoy - works with kingfishers, will give resident fish time to
hide (build a rock cave, or sink a chimney flue or black pipe)

Heron decoy, alligator decoy - must be moved often, works for some
ponders.

Humane traps - for raccoons, for rent or to borrow from many animal
control facilities

You can go to www.froogle.com, enter in the product and find more
information and price information.

* Note - do not attempt to harm herons or any birds of prey. They are
protected by federal law. Fines and jail time will ensue, cutting into
pond dollars and pond time.

kathy :-)
www.blogfromthebog.com

My main concern about the Scarecrow is the water supply. Does it take a
standard garden hose? and if so, I will have to leave my hose on all the
time? Could I just use a modified 5 gallon bucket with hose outlet gravity
fed or does the line have to be pressurized.

They need a standard garden hose under pressure to work - a bucket won't
work
Gale :~)

"Dsybok" wrote:

Oh so no machine gunning then. Too bad.

My main concern about the Scarecrow is the water supply. Does it take a
standard garden hose? and if so, I will have to leave my hose on all the
time? Could I just use a modified 5 gallon bucket with hose outlet gravity
fed or does the line have to be pressurized. I dont figure it to go off much
, I could top off the bucket when needed.

Anyone with practical experience on either the Scarecrow or the electric
fences, chime in please. I am probably going to get a Heron decoy at the LFS
today as a first step.

D

It has to be pressurized. Do NOT use a standard garden hose. I have a water
supply near my scarecrow and used a washing machine hose. If you do need to
use a hose, turn the volume down far enough that the scarecrow can "recycle"
between bursts but doesn't apply too much pressure on the hose.

The problem with a Heron decoy, is that Herons get used to it and ignore it.

San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Goldfish, a RES named Colombo and an Oscar.

"We need to make a sacrifice to the pond gods, find me a young virgin... oh,
and bring something to kill"

On Thu, 02 Jun 2005 17:23:55 GMT, "Dsybok" wrote:

Oh so no machine gunning then. Too bad.

My main concern about the Scarecrow is the water supply. Does it take a
standard garden hose? and if so, I will have to leave my hose on all the
time? Could I just use a modified 5 gallon bucket with hose outlet gravity
fed or does the line have to be pressurized. I dont figure it to go off much
, I could top off the bucket when needed.

Pressurized as already stated. It can use a standard (good quality) garden
hose, mine did for 5 years with no problems. Originally I got it for a
raccoon so had the hose on a timer dusk to dawn, until a neighbor called me
at noon one day that there was a heron on my roof. So now it is on 24/7
except when I have the fall/winter covers on them. Last year my guys
decided to hard pipe them, so no more moving and switching of the hoses.

I am probably going to get a Heron decoy at the LFS
today as a first step.

Serious waste of money, an alligator decoy would be money better spent.
~ jan

~Power to the Porg, Flow On!~

I quickly ran into the back yard and screamed,
waxed my arms and clapped and he took off.


Did you scream before you waxed your arms or after?
Looks pretty painful to me...

Ron

I was waiting for someone to say something....

D


" Ron Lawrence KC4YOY" wrote in message
...
I quickly ran into the back yard and screamed,
waxed my arms and clapped and he took off.


Did you scream before you waxed your arms or after?
Looks pretty painful to me...

Ron