preditors and protecting your pond

[addy1]

We watch the gbh fly over every day now, yesterday am, right at tree level over the pond. Still have not landed, maybe the gators are working who knows only time will tell

 

[j.w]

I haven't seen the heron in ages now but my friend up the road is having problems w/ him! She thinks he may have stabbed a hole in her liner trying to get a fish as her water level is going down. Either that or her new pup who loves to terrorize things has done something.

 

[jenn.]

After we had a few heron attacks, we decided to make our upgraded pond too deep for a water bird or raccoon to reach. I didn't want to have to worry and since we have marsh lands so close to use I figured better safe than shooting a bird!

 

[j.w]

My friends pond is 8' deep and the darn bird just stands and waits by the side of the pond till a koi surfaces near the edge and then takes a stab. He has wounded 2 of them. She put her dogs house near that end where the bird comes and seems to be working so far. She had had a fake heron statue there and that did no good at all. The bird stood right next to it and laughed!

 

[addy1]

After we had a few heron attacks, we decided to make our upgraded pond too deep for a water bird or raccoon to reach. I didn't want to have to worry and since we have marsh lands so close to use I figured better safe than shooting a bird!

If is nice and deep the bird can't fly in and land in the pond to fish, just hang out on the side. You could then do like some of us have done, protect the edge, fishing line, chicken wire etc. Electric wire ........lil dangerous near a pond.

 

[jenn.]

We did a semi-raised pond with no shelves on the sides so while the birds can still be clever and get lucky, their chances are greatly reduces. Haven't had an attack since the new pond went in :.)

 

[callingcolleen1]

I tied the twine with ribbons from an old pillow case and they blow gently high above the pond, plus the twine is tied from the tree to the house in a zig zag pattern that keeps the heron away cause they can't land or take off cause there wing span is too big!

 

[buckry]

I realized something about my pond last night. My air conditioner condenser is right next to it, and while that's not the best place for it, if a bird lands near my pond and that son of a gun turns on he will think he's under attack. The only bad thing is it might be on all day long in the summer which gives them a chance to get used to it, and in the spring and fall when it turns on and off, it will be random, it may not fire when a bird is eating my fish. Still, better than nothing, and of course I've got 4' of depth and straight walls so I'm not too terribly worried about it at this point.

 

[addy1]

of course I've got 4' of depth and straight walls so I'm not too terribly worried about it at this point.

my deep end is 5.5 feet deep straight walls, the heron loved that are to stand on the side and fish from, the fish hang out in the deep. Just keep an eye out you might luck out

 

[buckry]

Let me ask you this? Do dogs work as any kind of deterrent? I've got 2 outdoor all the time dogs that are always patrolling the yard. I don't expect them to keep away every robin, but a 5' tall bird should be within their abilities, but who knows.

 

[addy1]

oh yeah they will be a big time deterrent. My little 5 lb yorkie, would do her best, but she is only outside when I am.

 

[j.w]

When the heron used to come to my pond my one big fat black cat would chase the sucker to the back of the house every time she saw it w/ her hair all puffed out like a Halloween cat while she hollered at it! The big bird was flying and she was running along under neath it. Wonder what would have happened had she actually came in contact w/ it.................not a pretty sight I'm thinkin!
Good dogs that react well to small noises and pay attention to the pond will definitely be a great deterrent to the heron!

 

[buckry]

That's good, I don't know their exact daily routine, sometimes I come home at lunch and they're nowhere to be seen, but when it's hot they dig holes under the deck and lay in them, and the edge of the deck that faces the pond is covered in lattice. If a heron lands and starts pecking at the pond they're definitely going to know about it, and my lab will freak out all over that bird. My other dog is a coon hound, she's not super territorial, but she's a killer, her instincts lean towards seek and destroy.

 

[j.w]

Sounds like you will have it covered w/ the pups and when or if the heron comes around it won't take long for him to figure out if your dogs are out to get him and hopefully he won't be back but then his brother might so keep an eye out and hope your dogs aren't snoozing on the job. Those herons are really quiet and slow moving sneaky when they creep upon a pond.

 

[don't ask]

i just put signs up pointing to other neighbors ponds in the community.... well ok i would if i thought it would work but haven't seen our heron since last year...