Help! Many dead birds in my pond!

[Lisak1]

Got any big bullfrogs around? We had this guy/gal in our pond one year and he took down a couple of birds a day. I guess he never figured out that he couldn't swallow them, so he kept catching, killing, and spitting them out.

 

[Mmathis]

@Lisak1 I wonder if the poor guy starved to death…..

 

[Lisak1]

Well judging by the size of him, I don't think he missed any meals.

 

[combatwombat]

Well judging by the size of him, I don't think he missed any meals.

Sounds like he missed lots of them… but still managed to get his 12 per day.

 

[lindaleroux]

I have a very small preformed garden pond (about 90 gallons) with a small waterfall/fountain. No fish or any plantlife in the water. I do have some perennial hostas planted up around the waterfall area. The pond is surrounded by slate rock.
I am almost ready to throw in the towel on this pond after 5 years and heres why......
I am getting several dead birds a day in my pond! I have no idea how this is happening and this is not the first season this has happened. Last year was the same, just not to this extent. I have had aprrox. 6-7 dead birds in the last week that I have taken out of my little pond. There are no windows around this area of my yard so thats not it, and they are all different types of birds.
Does anyone have any suggestions before i just fill the whole pond in with dirt and call it quits? This is no fun and is certainly not beautiful to look at! And I dont want to kill all of these birds that I love to watch......

Hi I have a small pond too and I had the same thing. I rebuilt my waterfalls so the birds had more ledges to stand on.

 

[lindaleroux]

Hi I have a small pond too and I had the same thing. I rebuilt my waterfalls so the birds had more ledges to stand on.

 

[lynda]

I have a very small preformed garden pond (about 90 gallons) with a small waterfall/fountain. No fish or any plantlife in the water. I do have some perennial hostas planted up around the waterfall area. The pond is surrounded by slate rock.
I am almost ready to throw in the towel on this pond after 5 years and heres why......
I am getting several dead birds a day in my pond! I have no idea how this is happening and this is not the first season this has happened. Last year was the same, just not to this extent. I have had aprrox. 6-7 dead birds in the last week that I have taken out of my little pond. There are no windows around this area of my yard so thats not it, and they are all different types of birds.
Does anyone have any suggestions before i just fill the whole pond in with dirt and call it quits? This is no fun and is certainly not beautiful to look at! And I dont want to kill all of these birds that I love to watch......

Same thing has just started at my pond. Been there for years with no problem now 4 birds in 2 days. I feel heartsick, have emptied pond. I have no explanation, so frustrating. Will let you know if I can figure it out.

 

[j.w]

and welcome @lynda
You just need to make a way out for them. Pile up rocks to the edge or floating wood or anything like a slanted floating walkway or a rubber door mat:

 

[GBBUDD]

If you want that to work stuff a noodle behind it to force it out from behind as it swims along the outside

 

[jaybird5]

I have a very small preformed garden pond (about 90 gallons) with a small waterfall/fountain. No fish or any plantlife in the water. I do have some perennial hostas planted up around the waterfall area. The pond is surrounded by slate rock.
I am almost ready to throw in the towel on this pond after 5 years and heres why......
I am getting several dead birds a day in my pond! I have no idea how this is happening and this is not the first season this has happened. Last year was the same, just not to this extent. I have had aprrox. 6-7 dead birds in the last week that I have taken out of my little pond. There are no windows around this area of my yard so thats not it, and they are all different types of birds.
Does anyone have any suggestions before i just fill the whole pond in with dirt and call it quits? This is no fun and is certainly not beautiful to look at! And I dont want to kill all of these birds that I love to watch......

I have been having this problem for three years and finally figured it out.
I watched a large from drown and eat a baby bluebird. Then saw two dead baby birds from larger species. My guess is the frog drowned them but was unable to consume them. Brutal but part of nature.

 

[jaybird5]

I have been having this problem for three years and finally figured it out.
I watched a large from drown and eat a baby bluebird. Then saw two dead baby birds from larger species. My guess is the frog drowned them but was unable to consume them. Brutal but part of nature.

Large Frog!

 

[j.w]

Large Frog!

Sad and I've heard people say that has happened in their ponds. No bullfrogs ever come to my pond, only regular small types fortunately.

I guess I put these floating fakes in there just for the frogs..............oh but the snake likes them also. No big snakes in our area either to gobble the fish or birds up:

 

[Debi]

No, there are no toxins in the water. I have just cleaned and filled my pond for the first time in the last 2 weeks and have not put anything in the water yet because of this bird problem which started right away. I usually like to use some aquatic plants. I only used water from the tap and elbow grease to clean with and there is no spraying of fertilizers or pesticides around my property.

I have the had same issue and I had a few water Lillie's and fish. That was ten years ago. Now I want to put in another and trying to figure out how to prevent this.

 

[Mmathis]

@Debi Hello and welcome!

This is an older thread. You might want to start a new thread (under this, or a different topic) that is specific to your situation. That way, your questions won’t get lost in a tangle of other comments. Also, gives you a chance to introduce yourself and tell us about your pond. We love pictures, too!

 

[j.w]

@Debi