Bloody Heron

[Diabalo]

I built a number of fish houses- a couple of bricks supporting a couple of paving slabs, the fish can hide from the heron under them.

That's a cracking idea, thank you.

 

[Paddywack]

That's a cracking idea, thank you.

You can set them at different heights and use them as stands for plants - match the depth to particular plants requirements.

 

[scally]

I did exactly the same a couple of weeks ago and then saw a heron. We only had 6 fish and I didn’t see any for almost a week. I’ve now counted 4 fish so looks like we lost 2. It seems they go go into hiding so fingers crossed you have some left.
shame it’s illegal to shoot herons

Beautiful birds,, just cover you pond with net

 

[scally]

You can set them at different heights and use them as stands for plants - match the depth to particular plants requirements.

That's another good idea.

 

[Spanner]

I ran a 8000 volt electric cattle fencer tape around the perimeter of our pond but the bugger managed to get it’s head under the tape, next step 3 lines of tape, that worked for a while until I spotted a new ornament perched on the Lilly pad in the middle eating it’s breakfast

Next step I added a couple of diagonal fencer strings from corner to corner, the evil thing still wasn’t put off, eventually I added more electrified strings 3ft apart along the length of the pond, not very nice to look at but we still have some fish.

I’m told heron tastes a bit like koi carp ?

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[tonyidle]

I did exactly the same a couple of weeks ago and then saw a heron. We only had 6 fish and I didn’t see any for almost a week. I’ve now counted 4 fish so looks like we lost 2. It seems they go go into hiding so fingers crossed you have some left.
shame it’s illegal to shoot herons

Shame it isn't illegal to provide them with a pond full of food? In every case where wild animals cause problems for the human population it's because we provide the means, or because we destroy their normal food sources. It's true of pigeons, seagulls, foxes, and rats. But it's easier to call them vermin and kill them.

 

[Paddywack]

Shame it isn't illegal to provide them with a pond full of food? In every case where wild animals cause problems for the human population it's because we provide the means, or because we destroy their normal food sources. It's true of pigeons, seagulls, foxes, and rats. But it's easier to call them vermin and kill them.

I live next to the river Tees and when out paddling on it I frequently see the happy herons enjoying their plentiful food supply. I think they view their normal river fish as pub grub and the exotic fish they get from domestic ponds as Michelin restaurant fayre.

I'm not a fan of netting as I think it detracts from the aesthetic - one of the reasons I built the ponds in the first place. Some of my fish are fifteen years old and bought "3 for a £10" when tiny, over the years I've lost a few to the herons, but these have been replaced naturally as the fry are swept over the waterfall into the lower pond so the bigger fish can't eat them.

 

[Rockcrawler]

Shame it isn't illegal to provide them with a pond full of food? In every case where wild animals cause problems for the human population it's because we provide the means, or because we destroy their normal food sources. It's true of pigeons, seagulls, foxes, and rats. But it's easier to call them vermin and kill them.

Yep

 

[Diabalo]

Sitrep, we've just seen some fish, so Hermon the Heron didn't eat them all after all. I bet you're all relieved now.

 

[dryad]

didn't realise that herons were cannibals..
watched a bit of jimmys farm yesterday evening and a heron there was taking the baby ducklings..

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[tonyidle]

didn't realise that herons were cannibals..
watched a bit of jimmys farm yesterday evening and a heron there was taking the baby ducklings..

No more cannibals than us eating baby cows ?.

 

[dryad]

No more cannibals than us eating baby cows ?.

except i'm not a cow..
or a cannibal..
but i am a carnivore now and again..

 

[chaser]

except i'm not a cow..
or a cannibal..
but i am a carnivore now and again..

And an heron isn't a duck

 

[suavecarve]

At work last week and spotted a magpie nest which needs removing but they have 3 chicks. On the basis they are pests but causing no real harm as there is nobody here, i left the decision with the powers that be.

They are still mulling over their response til i sent them an email this morning.

A black bird. Could have been a crow, could have been a rook, could have been a raven, could have been anything really going by my knowledge. I heard the commotion at 0510 hrs and saw the 2 magpies going at something and as luck would have it i had my really decent camera 10 yards away as I was just going to take some photos of the deer that are nesting in our grounds !!!! 10 yards away from a building which normally holds 1,000 people and 30 yards away from the exit to a car park for 2,500 cars !!! And the place is called "Stag Hill", Anyway I digress.
In short i caught the hole thing on video. One murder and one attempted kidnap and I presume he has already had the 3rd chick. The attempted kidnap was one of the chicks that fell out of the nest and cant fly and it waddled off, but I dont think it is going to last long with the foxes that are about.

 

[tonyidle]

except i'm not a cow..
or a cannibal..
but i am a carnivore now and again..

Me too.

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[dryad]

And an heron isn't a duck

but aren't herons and ducks both birds?

i really thought that herons diet was just fish, guess every day is still a schoolday and we're never too old to learn..

.

 

[Chris51]

Seen a few ponds with a "wire" single strand around it so Heron cant "walk" in ( told they need to walk in ).Don't know if it works though .

 

[Spanner]

Seen a few ponds with a "wire" single strand around it so Heron cant "walk" in ( told they need to walk in ).Don't know if it works though .

The wire I put around our pond was set about 6 inches out from the edge of the slabs at 18 inches height connected to an electric fencer but the Herons were still able to reach under the wire and spear or eat the fish.
In dry summer conditions the concrete slabs don’t provide a particularly good earth so a narrow earthed strip of chicken wire laid flat around the perimeter where they stand will complete the circuit ? perhaps the Herons will then be able to perform vertical takeoffs !

 

[Wildbill]

On our local canal all the duckling's have been eaten by three herons that have taken up living in the aria
bill

 

[KiwiKampers]

I live next to the river Tees and when out paddling on it I frequently see the happy herons enjoying their plentiful food supply. I think they view their normal river fish as pub grub and the exotic fish they get from domestic ponds as Michelin restaurant fayre.

I'm not a fan of netting as I think it detracts from the aesthetic - one of the reasons I built the ponds in the first place. Some of my fish are fifteen years old and bought "3 for a £10" when tiny, over the years I've lost a few to the herons, but these have been replaced naturally as the fry are swept over the waterfall into the lower pond so the bigger fish can't eat them.

View attachment 387809

Don't worry about the herons - did you know you've got a giraffe in your house?

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[PaulyP]

Tried a set of wires around the pond, didn’t work the heron had all the fish, restocked and built this instead, the fish are now quite big, needs re roofing though.

 

[MitchandJenny]

Heron !! Little Heron !!!
Next door but one woke up yesterday to find 10 PEACOCKS in his garden !!!!
OK, they don't eat fish, but it took all morning to scrape up the piles of Poop !!!
Mitch

 

[Diabalo]

They make a right old racket

 

[scally]

Don't understand all this fuss over fish when loads of people dangles hooks in the water and hook them. Yes they put them back but it's gotta be painful hooked by your cheek. Perhaps it just money after all cos koi do cost a lot