Holy Herons Batman!

[CliffandJoann]

Lots of people have luck with the water scarecrows. However, I would imagine
in the winter they don't work, due to the water line freezing..
Other people string fishing line back and forth (several inches above the water)
throughout the pond. It's more invasive than a scarecrow, but you've got to do
everything you can to protect your fish. I think the fishing line is still better
than looking at a netted pond all summer.
One other option is electric wireing around the pond. That will keep all critters away.
I imagine the wireing would have to be very close to the pond edge, so that the
herons/egrets can't just fly over it to the ponds edge.

 

[spangs]

i hit one that lived by my house it was really foggy in the morning and i know it was around there because it was always there when i drove by well this morning i couldn’t see but like 10 feet in front of me and as soon as i could see it crouched down then started to take off and smack right into the windshield right in front of my face i thought it was coming threw the window for sure checked it out on the way back from work that nigh and it was deader than disco

 

[koikeepr]

... and it was deader than disco

LOL! Yes, they do take quite some time to get off the ground to fly. They're big'uns.