MONSTER bird.. fish gone.. turtlemike do we have....

[tinkster]

heron??? never seen them here before..  Heard the dogs this morning and looked out there was this massive bird, 3ft tall maybe?? with my fish in its huge mouth.  It got one of the smaller fish, probably 12 inches or so.  My 3 koi or 20 inches or better.. can it eat fish that big?

Out to net the pond with my netting to see if that helps.

Any info appreciated

tink

[mascot]

bummer, Tink!   I know the feeling...finding my favorite Wakin in the skimmer basket with two gaping holes poked in it's lifeless body was heart wrenching.  This is the heron I've had around here....look anything like it?  My neighbor's son called it a stork!

[Sunbeam56]

Here we have great blues and great whites. Beautiful birds. Death to koi.
My dogs chase them.
And I was lucky enough to find a statue of a great blue. They are largely solitary birds - so if you have a decoy of another great blue, they will tend to not land.

[PondmaninAL]

Hmmm, I've not seen any herons around here. Poor Tink.

 

[Julles]

So sorry, Tink.

There are a lot of things you can do, but nothing works 100%.  There are people who wind fishing line around upright posts along the banks, to make it hard for the bird to walk.  You can suspend some of the fishing line, too, so the bird can't fly down because its wings get tangled in the line.

There are fake snakes, fake owls, fake things that move, water spitting things activated by the bird's motion, all sorts of stuff. 

I think your dogs are your best bet.

[Ky Kim]

Tink, I'm sure you prob get them in your area. I have seen them fly over here a few times, but so far been lucky none have stopped in for a snack.

[OldMarine]

I like using the fishing line criss crossed and suspended in and around the pond area overhead. It really screws with a large birds intentions, especially if they can't see the fish line. They fly right into it, it freaks them out as they hit the ground and they leave in a hurry wondering what just hit'em. It'll make any bird think twice about coming back.

On the other hand, if you have bird feeders for smaller birds this is not a good idea.

Happy ponding,

[marla]

Oh I'm sorry Tink, I've lost more then my share of fish to the Great Blues.....I now keep my ponds netted from thaw to freeze.  I've tried all the top pics, from water scarecrows to decoys of herons (which you need to keep moving around or they will realize it's a fake) alligator decoys, shiny spinning moving things etc. etc. etc. I don't like the nets but they work.

[Shawn]

Tink... we definitely have them... I have seen 2 or 3 in Bellefonte... Anytime I am close to them I yell, scream, honk the horn, etc. They leave, but who knows how far they go... (not far enough I am sure...)  Sorry to hear they paid you a visit.. 

[miguynmkoi]

Sorry you had to see such a horrible scene.  It can be a shock to see a big big in your yard but even eye-popping to see it with a fishy pet.  I have visitors too but they don't get past the netting I set up over the ponds.

[turtlemike]

   Yes we do have herons Tinkster.  One almost landed on my head once.  I have know idea how big a fish they will kill. They could sure hurt a big one trying.

[OldMarine]

Would it help to have a one of those driveway motion sensors to alarm you when something is near or approaching your pond? I suppose that the lay of the land around your pond would have a lot to do with how well something like that might work. Especially if you don't have a killer gurad dog handy. This alarm might give you enough time to load your 257 magnum.

[tinkster]

not sure I could shoot one   they are so pretty.. except for that gold ya see hanging out of their mouths .  I would have thought the lay of my pond would have made it very difficult for them to get my fish but evidently not. so far the netting is working... either that or he was migrating somewhere and we were his hotel for the night.  my GUARD dogs are doxies..   he coudl carry one away if he wanted.

blind.. YEP!  except mine was monster hehehe

tink

[OldMarine]

Combination of dixie's and netting, I think you got it together. I'm not into shooting animals anyway, as it is I wouldn't be able discharge a weopon here without a visit from the Tacoma Police Department. From all of the reading I have done here so far, I think the netting must be the most effective deturent from Mr. big bird and his merroding band of racoon's.

Happy ponding,
Rich 

[tinkster]

old marine.. I would be afriad I would put a hole in my liner.. which woudl be just my luck. miss the bird, ruin the pond .... you have a very nice pond. just looking at your photos.

tink

[OldMarine]

Thanks for the compliment Tink,

My pond is not as big as I wanted, but it's paid for and I'll continue to improve it as time goes on.

Happy ponding,
Rich