WELL Mr Heron came back!

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After changing the dynamics of my Pond this year, making it larger, I attracted the attention of two Herons.
I was hit twice in two days but thankfully lost only two fish because I was able to chase them away.

An old Pond Keeper from my Village gave me a solution that is virtually cost free and to date no Herons have returned to attack.

Hang anything Silver, from Spanners to CD's... Using strong fishing line, in as visible a colour as possible, secured from Canes at specific points around your pond or in running lengths from Cane to Cane hang anything Silver so that they dangle down and are free moving...

To date, since hanging, I have had no further intrusions and although they do return they just sit on my roof before flying off.
 
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Sorry for your loss! That was a beautiful fish...but you've got to admire that bird, clever devil.

Does your camera take stills and video simultaneously or are there two cams overlooking the pond?
 

addy1

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Sorry for your loss! That was a beautiful fish...but you've got to admire that bird, clever devil.

Does your camera take stills and video simultaneously or are there two cams overlooking the pond?
I have three cameras watching the pond, from different angles and sides. The cams do stills but also video. I play back the video and pause to catch the shot I want. The cam stills are not always what I want.

Actually 4 cams, but one is at a distance.
Hang anything Silver, from Spanners to CD's..
Maybe the next time the net wears out I will try that. It is brand new. And works well not real intrusive to the eye.

They do that in ponds near airports in Florida, a lot of hanging stuff, to keep the ducks, geese, herons, egrets out of the water.
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To date, since hanging, I have had no further intrusions and although they do return they just sit on my roof before flying off.

I hope this continues to work for you. My experience with the herons is that "sit on the roof" time is them scoping things out, learning about what they see. Eventually they figure it out and are unfazed. Maybe it you move it around a bit now and again, you can keep them guessing.
 

addy1

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Maybe that perch is too handy! Perhaps a little accident with the chainsaw? Then again, you'd miss good photo opportunities :)
Nah I left it that way when the maple died, it is the hawks favorite hang out spot. They come and look for frogs or whatever.

The heron can hang out all it wants, it has also sits on top of our house. Wait and see if it returns, I let them and watch to see if there is a way into pond. I would not even mind letting it fish a bit, but once they visit they will come back until every fish is gone. Would take a while I have way over 100.
And it is my job to protect those little swimming things
 

addy1

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Back Again! Now I see a real problem, for the heron. It flew straight in and landed on the net over the pond, near where it walked in. 5 foot deep area.
In doing that it landed on the net pushed in down into the water, got its feet stuck in the netting. Luckily managed to untangle its foot.
We were going to go down and save the bird.

So now I need to go down and run some rope to tighten up the net so it will not sink when a heron lands on it. The heron walked around for about 30 minutes before it decided my hubby was dangerous, he was out on the deck.
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Back Again! Now I see a real problem, for the heron. It flew straight in and landed on the net over the pond, near where it walked in. 5 foot deep area.
In doing that it landed on the net pushed in down into the water, got its feet stuck in the netting. Luckily managed to untangle its foot.
We were going to go down and save the bird.

So now I need to go down and run some rope to tighten up the net so it will not sink when a heron lands on it. The heron walked around for about 30 minutes before it decided my hubby was dangerous, he was out on the deck.
View attachment 144391View attachment 144392View attachment 144393View attachment 144394View attachment 144395View attachment 144396View attachment 144397View attachment 144398
must be pretty hungry/desperate or stubborn, hey? And I thought your net was like 6' or so above the pond; and it STILL got pushed that low? Maybe your stakes also need attending as perhaps they're bending too easily? I dunno, just some immediate thoughts. You could also start stringing cable (not rope) and maybe that would be less flexible and twice or more as strong. Too, some support lines TO the stakes anchored then behind and in the ground, if you're seeing too much bend/flex.

Never thought you'd get such brazen action from the herons with your setup; thought these birds were too smart to even try but perhaps they've found an 'in' and are trying to exploit it! (heh, maybe you need MORE time perusing my build thread and looking more enviously at the screened structure portion???? :p:p:cool:)

And you KNOW the pondhouse parameters are the REAL reason I can spend so much time and be a pita around here, right? I mean, what's a ponder to do when nothing can get at the pond? ALL SORTS of extra time to watch/read/comment on others and their hobby exploits! mmmmuuuuuuuaaaaahhhhhhhh...gasp, sorry, something got stuck in my throat...and no, I don't play a heron in real life, either!

Hope you get it fixed/solved!

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addy1

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And back again down at other end near loop ponds
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addy1

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Sitting here watching lil bear told me it was here
 

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It was up high had to lower to about 2 feet to cover the water fall entrance. Might get out deer fencing for temp add
 

j.w

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Man that bird is persistent to say the least! I had to weave strong rope crisscross my pond to hold the net up higher. So far never had a heron land on it that I know of and my net is getting old and weak so it would have broke if he did. Maybe adding the sparkly stuff that moves would help? No clue! Hope you can keep him out! as like you have mentioned once they get a taste and can find a way in they will never stop.

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