New fish

[fishin4cars]

I used pvc and attached the netting to them for easy removal. Dr. Dave did the same thing. easy to remove if you need to do maintance or if you have company coming over. but sure saves on those late nights when your up watching for predators. after being hit by two herons and a owl and just catching a raccoon a little over a week ago at the pond, I'm sure it was a good idea now, so far this year I haven't lost single fish:bouncycig:
none have jumped out either and have a pretty good mix of Koi, shubunkins, and sarrasa comets.

 

[steve s]

Yes pvc is probably better than the wood I was thinking about.

Now on the predatory list:

Racoons ( not in the uk, maybe foxes instead)
owls ( wow never thought of them)
herons
Elizabeth :regular_waving_emot

 

[fishin4cars]

Yes pvc is probably better than the wood I was thinking about.

Now on the predatory list:

Racoons ( not in the uk, maybe foxes instead)
owls ( wow never thought of them)
herons
Elizabeth :regular_waving_emot

otters
minks,
feral cats,
egrets
hawks
eagles
and little boys with fish nets are high on the list too. LOL
[ame]

[ame]

 

[j.w]

I watched every second of the heron video on utube and the poster said the bird swam in his pond. Can they actually swim cuz I thought they just waded in? I could not tell if he was swimming in that first part where he finally made it in the water or just wading. If they can swim then that is a bigger problem than I first thought. That bird is cunning and clever and patient as all get out. These video's really help you see how the bird acts and moves and is very helpful for us in how we try to protect our ponds w/ the proper techniques.

 

[blessedfamily]

Hopefully your fish is hiding..when mine get scared they all hide so good that I think my pond is empty but they are good at hiding.

 

[fishin4cars]

Herons, don't really swim, however they will wade out to the pont where their bodies will allow them to float. Down here you will never see a Heron do that! That deep of water could have a alligator hidden. They will walk on the netting , lilit pads, or anything that will support their weight first and they will wade in water up to about 2-2.5 feet deep but tha'ts about it, Now if they are in areas' where predators are minimal they will get in deeper water.
I just found out that I now have these to deal with too! Great Black Cormorant or something very similar Oh, and they do swim to catch fish! I've seen them before here but had no idea they were another predator I would have to be on the watch for! Honestly I didn't even know what they were.

 

[j.w]

Oh great so they can float. But let me get this straight, they must wade into the water and not jump to float? So if you have a plant ledge say 17" deep and then it goes down to 3ft deep to your pond bottom from the plant ledge they could step down to the plant ledge and then lean down some to float. What I'm wondering is if when they are floating they can fish or do they have to find a stable spot to stand in to do the fishing?

 

[addy1]

darn steve sorry about your fish, hope it is just hiding

 

[fishin4cars]

Oh great so they can float. But let me get this straight, they must wade into the water and not jump to float? So if you have a plant ledge say 17" deep and then it goes down to 3ft deep to your pond bottom from the plant ledge they could step down to the plant ledge and then lean down some to float. What I'm wondering is if when they are floating they can fish or do they have to find a stable spot to stand in to do the fishing?

Not 100% sure JW but I think your correct. To actually attack and fish if we want to call it that, I call it murder but I think they need to be standing. egrets the same way. but they will not get fully in the water like a heron might. Someone else said on another forum that they only get directly in the water to appear bigger and therefore herd the fish to one end. Knowing how smart them buggers can be, It makes some sense! LOL

 

[addy1]

Here ya go jw and fishin

The Great Blue Heron has two principal fishing techniques. The first consists of standing motionless, its neck extended at an angle of about 45 degrees to the water’s surface. Only the head and eyes move to locate the prey. If no fish comes within range after a few minutes, the heron gradually moves a short distance away and takes up a similar position. When a potential meal comes close enough, the heron slowly folds its neck back and moves one leg in the direction of the prey. Suddenly, its entire body unbends, its head plunges into the water, it catches the prey in its bill, and it swallows it outside the water, using a deft movement of the head to drop the prey headfirst into its gullet.

Using the second technique, the heron slowly wades around in about 15 to 25 cm of water until it drives a fish out from a hiding place. The heron then stops and slowly stretches its neck. When the prey is within range, the bird uncoils its body and thrusts its head into the water in pursuit. When it has eaten the catch, the heron resumes its walk. Should the bird fail to find sufficient fish in an area, it flies a short distance away and resumes fishing.

When captured prey is too large to be gulped down immediately or has dangerous spines, the heron drops the prey back into the water and grabs hold of it repeatedly and violently with its beak until the catch is dazed or the spines snap. Then it can be swallowed more easily. Sometimes two fish are caught simultaneously.

Other techniques are observed, but more rarely: for example, Great Blue Herons in flight sometimes dive underwater to catch fish; others hover over the water and submerge their heads to catch fish; and some swim in deep water and feed on fish found near the surface.



this guy is swimming..............sort of

http://birdcinema.com/view_video.php?viewkey=e7e35240afed70f34166

 

[steve s]

Great videos uploaded. Herons design perfect for hunting fish. The power of evolution. But seriously that owl!!! Ruthless dont think it left anything in that pond. Bet the owner bought a gun after seeing that? You cant help but appreciate owls, they are a beutiful creature. Just a shame koi's on the menu.

 

[j.w]

Well that does not make me happy addy. So seems he can fly right in the pond from a perch and then just flap his wings a bit to get out onto rocks or to whatever is close and do it all over again and again and the bugger can swim and eat the fish on the surface also. I've got the radio blasting out there now during the day. Hope it keeps working and he doesn't figure out how to turn it off :lol:

 

[fishin4cars]

That is very rare JW, An owl yes but a heron would probably not dive in a backyard pond, they are so small to them and highly stocked with such easy tagets that they will hunt thme their most natural way, Being sneaky.
On the owl video, It has been talked about before, Almost like they were put there for it to eat as lang and as many attacks as were video'd, It even has it's own pond side perch. I thought the raccoon just put topping on the cake, HEY GUYS CLEAN-UP CREW IS HERE!:yikesu:

 

[addy1]

Well that does not make me happy addy. So seems he can fly right in the pond from a perch and then just flap his wings a bit to get out onto rocks or to whatever is close and do it all over again and again and the bugger can swim and eat the fish on the surface also. I've got the radio blasting out there now during the day. Hope it keeps working and he doesn't figure out how to turn it off :yikesu:

says the heron had a hurt wing, I think normally they will attempt to walk up to the pond. It looked real awkward jumping in the water and attempting to fish.