Home  

  Main Index MAIN
INDEX 		Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS 		Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE 		Log in LOG
IN

Home: KOI Talk: General Discussion:
Heron problems, any thoughts?

 





 


ucpondguy
Member


Sep 30, 2004, 11:32 PM

Post #1 of 13 (1335 views)
Shortcut
Heron problems, any thoughts? Can't Post
Hello everyone,
Herons really make me mad. They cleaned out my pond twice last year so what I did was use laguna netting over my pond that is cable tied to 1/2 inch diameter pvc piping. Now the herons do not get a chance to get at my fish. BUT they do come back and scare them so bad that the fish start jumping up and hitting the pipes/cable ties or bump their mouths on the sides of the pond.

I live by a creek so the herons are there all day. Scarecrows will not work in my yard because it is big and there are blind spots. Likewise, fishing line will not work either because of my big yard. How do I keep my koi from panicking and hurting themselves whenever the freaking heron comes around. I don't have a dog and cannot get one.

Any suggestions?


gerry3417
Koi Lover

Oct 5, 2004, 6:13 PM

Post #2 of 13 (1297 views)
Shortcut
Re: [ucpondguy] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
I have seen a device that is a motion activated sprinkler, when the Heron or anything else moves in the line of fire they will get a blast of water. I have never seen it in action but the theory of it sounds good.

I have no idea where you would find one.

Good luck GM


linear
Koi Lover


Oct 5, 2004, 6:50 PM

Post #3 of 13 (1289 views)
Shortcut
Re: [gerry3417] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
try a net over the pond, u can buy these like heron fences that are eletric fences!

Once you start koi you just can't stop.

Smilei love my doitsu sankeSmile


ChoobKoiOwner
Koi Lover


Oct 5, 2004, 7:30 PM

Post #4 of 13 (1288 views)
Shortcut
Re: [linear] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
Motion-activated scarecrows, fake herons, fake crocodiles etc. The heron begins to find out they are fake or wont hurt them and just go by. Net over pond is a better idea.

----Russell-----------
AOL IM: Choob54
MSN IM: Choob54@hotmail.com
YAHOO IM: Ch00bster@yahoo.com
E-MAIL: Ch00bster@yahoo.com


mike c
Koi Kichi


Oct 5, 2004, 8:40 PM

Post #5 of 13 (1285 views)
Shortcut
Re: [ucpondguy] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
id say exterminate them til they are extinct.

traps!! then cut them up and feed them to the koi



____________________________________

If you know how it works, you'll know how to fix it


linear
Koi Lover


Oct 5, 2004, 8:47 PM

Post #6 of 13 (1284 views)
Shortcut
Re: [aragorn] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
i agree, i think they were only put on this earth to make a koi keepers life misery!

Once you start koi you just can't stop.

Smilei love my doitsu sankeSmile


koineedtoknower
Koi Lover

Oct 6, 2004, 3:46 AM

Post #7 of 13 (1273 views)
Shortcut
Re: [linear] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
I have seen motion activated sprinklers at a greenery by me. They do work well, except make sure you turn them off before going out. I was walking to look at there koi selection and got shot in the back, ugh it was coldddddd.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

1 bekko, 1 sanke, 1 showa, 1 yamabuki ogon, 2 platinum ogons, 1 asagi, 1 orenji/yamabuki ogon, 1 buttefly kohaku, 2 kujaku, 2 shubunkins, 3 comets, 1 sarassa comet, 3 feeder fish, 2 kivers, 1 catfish.


dmast
Koi Lover

Oct 8, 2004, 12:28 AM

Post #8 of 13 (1235 views)
Shortcut
Re: [koineedtoknower] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
I just lost a 14" koi and another small one in a raid two nights ago. I am going to try the motion activated sprinkler.

I had a couple of questions of everyone, just to try to figure out what I am up against here. We do have herons and egrets, however this attack occurred at night. I did not think they fished at night. Is that correct? Will a heron take a 14" fish?

We also have racoons. My pond bottom is 16" below ground level at its shallowest point, with overhung edges (ground level is a deck). I have seen racoons pawing around at the water but never get in. What is the deepest water a racoon will actually get in? This kill actually occurred in the pond as evidenced by all of the white fish scales on the bottom of the pond. Also, nothing else was torn up, and there were no stray fish parts left. My racoon kills in the past had everything torn up, and lots of excess fish parts left behind. I am not at all sure it was a racoon.

I am suspicious that the culprit was actually a river otter. We have these here, although the river is at least 1/2 mile away. A river otter would not care about pond depth for sure! Does anyone know about their other habits, ie - the ability to take a bigger fish, and not leave behind any remains? Would an otter get this far from the river looking for food?

I am not sure this sprinkler will stop an otter.
Don Maston

(This post was edited by dmast on Oct 8, 2004, 12:30 AM)


ucpondguy
Member


Oct 8, 2004, 1:33 AM

Post #9 of 13 (1222 views)
Shortcut
Re: [dmast] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
From my experience with them, hunting at night is a misconception. They hunt any time of the day, I see them fly over my house at least once a day, at different times. Depending on the size of the heron, it will take a fish, or drop it from a certain height or merely and cruelly spear it to death (it cant pick it up but it sure can poke it)

Can someone else advice on the other questions?


dmast
Koi Lover

Oct 9, 2004, 12:10 AM

Post #10 of 13 (1192 views)
Shortcut
Re: [ucpondguy] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
I did some research on the internet and found that otters are messy eaters, like racoons, leaving behind the head, fins, etc. So, I didn't have an otter, much to my relief, and must have had a heron or egret. Hopefully, the motion activated sprinkler I ordered will be effective against this type of predator.


ucpondguy
Member


Oct 9, 2004, 12:19 AM

Post #11 of 13 (1190 views)
Shortcut
Re: [dmast] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
Please let me know if it works as I wanted to go that route but since my yard has so many places for the bird to fly and land, I was not sure if it would work.


dmast
Koi Lover

Oct 9, 2004, 2:14 AM

Post #12 of 13 (1187 views)
Shortcut
Re: [ucpondguy] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi UCPONDGUY,

I will make a note to post something to you in the next couple of months. It is going to be much more difficult to prove the lack of something (ie - predators) than the existence of something however. The problem here is compounded in that my area is semi-covered, and birds can't easily spot it from the air. Plus we don't have nearly the quantity of herons you seem to.

However, lets both make a note to contact the other via this forum in the next couple of months to do an update report. My sense is that this product will be ideal for chasing away herons, but will see. Also, my site really lends itself to this product in that my pond footprint is quite small.

Talk to you soon.


Koihuggr
Koi Lover

Oct 9, 2004, 7:46 AM

Post #13 of 13 (1177 views)
Shortcut
Re: [ucpondguy] Heron problems, any thoughts? [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi - You have probably seen my posts before I changed my name from Blueheron to Koihuggr. (Blueheron had a very negative connotation, but I began writing the night of the Blue Heron Massacre and couldn't think well.)

This summer we netted the pond (about 20 X 30') with deer netting placed on fiberglass electric fence posts across and about 12-16" above the water, all the way to the edges. We also have a "bobbing head" owl that we move every 3-4 days. We have seen the heron once on the edge of the pond. (We have stocked with goldfish only for the moment. They started as 3" feeder fish.) We started in April and have not lost a goldfish yet. They are now 6-8" long and fat.

Last year, we had the net at surface level. We believe the heron either walked on the net or found an opening near the big rock fall and got in. Anyway, we could not keep a fish in the pond all last summer. We are hopeful this is working. If the goldfish winter over with a pump, the Koi will go in next year. Probably with an even more carefully placed net. I think the combination of the raised and solid net with the ever vigilant nasty owl has discouraged him.

Believe me, when I saw him this year, I began practicing with a BB gun. Nothing like a rural range woman who's P'O'd at a prehistoric bird that has eaten her fish! However, I hope I never have to do that; I think we can figure out a deterrant that works for all of us. They really do look like pterydactyls, don't they? Especially when they are 5 feet over your head with a mouthful of your fish and a 6 foot wingspan. Pretty darn impressive.

P.S. my father has stocked trout and raised babies in a pond for many years with Staties. He recommended that I use tomato stakes around the pond with fish line between. He said the heron will not cross the fish line. He should know.




Frosty the Snowman likes skating on our pond - "watch out for the hole!!"

 
 
 



Search for (options) Back to Koi.com.my Main Page

  Disclaimer  Privacy Statement     
Copyright 2001~ 2002 Hileytech Sdn Bhd , All Rights Reserved.  
No part of the forum postings can be copied without prior permission from Hileytech Sdn Bhd and the Author of the Posting.
For comments and Suggestion, Please contact the Webmaster at koi@hileytech.com