Well it has certainly been a long, snowy, cold and dreary winter here in eastern Massachusetts with no end in sight. Last Friday brought snow again! It's cloudy, cold and raining now.
I noticed some string algae in the pond. Also, I was planning on a new system to try and avoid my pump from getting clogged so I gave the pump some earlier than planned attention. Well I guess I got a burst of energy and ended up addressing the clogging issue (I hope) and putting the pump in the pond and starting it up along with the UV light.The water was very cold...The water is slowly clearing up and I hope the filter and UV light stay ahead of the algae. Placing my duel discharge pump into 2 large plastic plant containers I hope will keep out the debris. I do not have a skimmer so I am out there everyday using a pool skimmer to stay ahead of leaves and other debris.
While I sat back and patted myself on the back for getting the pump in so early compared to past years I noticed the largest freaking Giant Egret lining up my fish. I ran out and tried to scare the bird away but he was not impressed and I was within 5 feet before the Egret flew about 10 yards away. I approached it again with arms waving until he finally flew away. However, later that afternoon this brazen bird returned to try and have a meal of my
fish once again. Scared him away again with more arm waving. I think I scared him the second time he came back and thought he would never return. However I was wrong and he tried again the next day. We are now as vigilant as Sam Spade on a stakeout (without the coffee and donuts.
Yet to be accomplished for my spring clean out is a water change. I'm waiting for the water to get up to that 50 degree mark. When I empty about 50% of the water I'll get in there and make sure there is no debris on the bottom. For the first time I will not have a pro come by and power wash. I'm a little leery about not power washing but I'm taking the advice I got on this site ...Also I'll remove some of my goldfish to avoid too many fish. That's hard to do as there is no one to give these fish to...except maybe as a peace offering to that Egret...
In four seasons my pond has been visited by a Blue Herron , two Mallards, Northern ( Baltimore) Oriole and the Giant Egret along with a host of other more common birds like Gold finches and sparrows who use the upper portion of the stream as a bird bath. Great to watch while sitting out back. The birds were not in the mix when we decided to have this Koi Pond and are a real added bonus.
Good luck everyone as we start a new season.
I noticed some string algae in the pond. Also, I was planning on a new system to try and avoid my pump from getting clogged so I gave the pump some earlier than planned attention. Well I guess I got a burst of energy and ended up addressing the clogging issue (I hope) and putting the pump in the pond and starting it up along with the UV light.The water was very cold...The water is slowly clearing up and I hope the filter and UV light stay ahead of the algae. Placing my duel discharge pump into 2 large plastic plant containers I hope will keep out the debris. I do not have a skimmer so I am out there everyday using a pool skimmer to stay ahead of leaves and other debris.
While I sat back and patted myself on the back for getting the pump in so early compared to past years I noticed the largest freaking Giant Egret lining up my fish. I ran out and tried to scare the bird away but he was not impressed and I was within 5 feet before the Egret flew about 10 yards away. I approached it again with arms waving until he finally flew away. However, later that afternoon this brazen bird returned to try and have a meal of my
fish once again. Scared him away again with more arm waving. I think I scared him the second time he came back and thought he would never return. However I was wrong and he tried again the next day. We are now as vigilant as Sam Spade on a stakeout (without the coffee and donuts.
Yet to be accomplished for my spring clean out is a water change. I'm waiting for the water to get up to that 50 degree mark. When I empty about 50% of the water I'll get in there and make sure there is no debris on the bottom. For the first time I will not have a pro come by and power wash. I'm a little leery about not power washing but I'm taking the advice I got on this site ...Also I'll remove some of my goldfish to avoid too many fish. That's hard to do as there is no one to give these fish to...except maybe as a peace offering to that Egret...
In four seasons my pond has been visited by a Blue Herron , two Mallards, Northern ( Baltimore) Oriole and the Giant Egret along with a host of other more common birds like Gold finches and sparrows who use the upper portion of the stream as a bird bath. Great to watch while sitting out back. The birds were not in the mix when we decided to have this Koi Pond and are a real added bonus.
Good luck everyone as we start a new season.
