What is this fish stealing bird?

[nmpondguy]

Over the past month, my fish have been disappearing and the fish have been acting strange (not coming to eat when they know there's food).  Two weeks ago, I put up some fishing line - not knowing what was stealing my wakin.  5:45 this morning I looked out the window and saw this bird.  He was inside the fishing line at the edge of the pond.  i guess I spooked him, so he flew into the yard.  I went to get the camera and caught him walking back to a different spot.  I went out and scared him off before he got close enought to steal another fish (his feet snagged the fishing line when he took off).

It has two totally different looks (small - sitting on the wall and tall -  walking towards the pond).  What is it.

[Loritx]

WOW!! He is beautiful!!!  That beats my White Egress!!

[Loritx]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_birds_of_New_Mexico

Maybe a Bittern - its in the list with herons and egrets.
 
Hard to match up with the photos.

[Loritx]

Ok looked some more - same website - Black Crowned Night Heron??

[Lynda]

It's clearly a heron, and does look a lot like a Black-crowned Night Heron - we had a protected breeding colony in Long Beach, CA.  That's what they looked like.

[Indiana Karen]

Sorry he is eating your fish...........but I sure enjoyed the pictures!

[Kat]

Sad news about your fish but the bird is interesting looking.  Will have to look up the black crowned night heron.  Looks like you'll have to string more fishing line.  Do you have cinder blocks, pipes, or something like that for the fish to hide in?

[Reedman]

Sure looks like a black-crowned night heron to me.    Can't think of any other medium-sized heron with a black beak.

[nmpondguy]

Thanks for the ID Loritx.  I've seen pictures of herons but none that look like this one.

Now that I know what it is, I'm at a loss for what to do.  I guess I can try putting up more fishing line, but now I'm wondering what's the point.  The bird was already on the other side of the fishing line that was there.  That means he flew over it despite the fact that conventional wisdom says herons don't fly that close to the pond so that they don't scare the fish. What gives?

The fish have plenty of places to hide, but they only know to hide after one has been eaten.  Only four left, of the seven (or nine - depending on when I started counting them).  So it may be just a matter of time before they're all gone.  I had 8 heron free years to enjoy my pond.  Now the fun seems to be over...

 

[2vetts]

nice bird but i feel your frustration . we lost all 22 comets to a blue heron this year . i'd be curious to see pix of the ''white egress'' in texas . . .peace

[SueSTx]

   I understand.  I had 10 heron free summers before a big blue showed up and began eating my fish.   I live miles and miles from any natural water source.  I hope he just stumbled by looking for better hunting grounds.

I haven't a clue how many he has gotten because the unfiltered tanks are so green I can't see the fish.  I do hear them splash when I feed though.

[Loritx]

Maybe try one of the motion sensor water sprayer set for early morning hours. 

[Vickie]

Would netting the pond work?

[miguynmkoi]

Sorry you have to deal with this bird.  I almost keeled over learning that there is one more heron type bird to mess with! 

But we got to see your beautiful pond garden and the new to me bird.

[LouAnn]

You can try a Gator head, It worked for me in a watergarden. But they sure are persistent.