Heron on the loose....

[CoralGarden]

I am sooo sad..... and a little warning to everyone in the Jackson area...... There is a hungry (well not so much anymore) Heron on the prowl.... I opened my sliding door yesterday and saw this bird (looked like a pterodactyl) gracefully go flying into the sky....... Well after it registered I realized what the heck it was and went running to my pond.... All six of my babies were gone....

So sad.... I think I would have tackled it if I could have run fast enough.....

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot, but not sure where was ok.. ???

 

[dastrader]

Had the same thing happen 2 years ago on my little pond in the Morristown area. He got 4 of my 15 or so Since I have done as much a i can to make it more difficult. It is very frustrating when it happens.

 

[shipwrecked]

Sorry to hear about the fish,I seen the same bird over here on County line...I threw a can of tuna fish at him and he flew off J/K Nice looking bird though,and we also have 2 huge hawks that hang around..spring is a great time

 

[REEFLECTIONS]

i have a solution to your problem. get a couple kinda realistic looking alligators, put them on the edge and near the pond. move them every couple days to new positions. herons migrate anually to warmer climates, and do recognize gators, and when the birds see the gators in different places, it will want to go to a friendlier source of food. i know someone that did this with great results no guarantees, but worth a shot

 

[jerzsky]

to keep them from dive bombing your pond.....

you could get a heron statue and put it next to the pond, just make sure you move it every couple days.

but the sure fire way too keep em out. you wanna get some fishing line...something with a heavy test rating, string a couple lines across the pond up in the air. about ten feet above the water surface. space them abot two feet apart. when the heron flys overhead he looks down and see's the lines which they think are power lines, and will not dive, due to fear of getting tangled in them.

i live five miles from the ocean, and about 1000ft from the barnegat bay. so there are many herons around here lately. this trick has worked for me, and many others around me. ive seen them fly overhead but never have come down to take my koi.

 

[CoralGarden]

Thanks for the suggestions..... I think I may have one lone survivor... If so I almost feel I have to bring him inside and give him a happy safe home after escaping death !! LOL I saw a bit of orange today for a split second..... could have been wishful thinking though..... I will have to pick up a gator statue thing..... Just sux !

 

[njstillwell]

to get them to stay out the off the pond go and get like a dozen flower holders you know the ones with the stick and a round opening at the top and put them around your pond and put string all the way around the pond about 1 to 2 feet high the birds cant land in the pond they are to big they land next to it and walk into the pond by doing this you stop them from walking into your pond and taking the fish away

 

[Baxreefs]

After a heron "visit", the fish are traumatized for some time. You need to provide cover for them in the bottom. It needs to be sufficient to fend off a very tenatious, relentless and smart hunter. Long terra cota pipes, large milk crates with heavy pots on top are good. But the best is deep water with cover, 30" or deeper.

 

[CoralGarden]

I really like the piping idea.... that would be good cover for sure !! Thanks guys !

 

[qwik]

Like said before Herons will not land directly in water ,something about not knowing the depth .. A clear fishing line about 6 - 8 inches high around the edge of the pond will help keep them out . When they try to step into the water they hit the line,get spooked and fly away ,in theory that is .
"DO NOT" waste money on one of those fake owls or hawks . They make great perches for the Herons to sit on top of while deciding on diner .

 

[daveh285]

We had the same problem watched the heron fly away with a 8" fish hanging out of both sides of his mouth. My wife now buys the big yellow Helium smiley faced balloons we put two around all the ponds, the movement seems to be keeping him away. now I'm overloaded with babies.

 

[CoralGarden]

Helium balloons.... that sounds so funny, but I get it...... Anyway now that the pond is up and running again, I am happy to say he only ate 2 for sure..... Four babies still living happily !!!!

Thanks again everyone for all the ideas !