Heron visit to pond
 

A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

Many thanks

Gill Hall

Heron visit to pond
 

In message , Gill Hall
writes
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

A lot of pond retail companies sell plastic herons - based on the theory
that herons are territorial, or for a more expensive alternative there's
a device which shoots water. Examples are at http://tinyurl.com/399ze

--
dave @ stejonda

Heron visit to pond
 

"Gill Hall" wrote in message
...
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected
the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

Many thanks

Gill Hall
I believe that you can run a piece of fishing line around the pond at about
4-6 inches off the ground. I am led to believe that the herons like to wade
into the water and this stops them. I have never tried this, as we have a
heronry close by when I built my pond I made it formal with steep sides a
metre deep and have never had a problem. The herons come and look but can't
get at the fish.
Diane

Heron visit to pond
 

Diane Epps wrote:

"Gill Hall" wrote in message
...
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected
the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

Many thanks

Gill Hall
I believe that you can run a piece of fishing line around the pond at about
4-6 inches off the ground. I am led to believe that the herons like to wade
into the water and this stops them. I have never tried this, as we have a
heronry close by when I built my pond I made it formal with steep sides a
metre deep and have never had a problem. The herons come and look but can't
get at the fish.
Diane

I was speaking to a pond-owner recently and he confirmed that this
method appears to work effectively.
--
Larry Stoter

Heron visit to pond
 

"Gill Hall" wrote in message
...
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected
the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

Many thanks

Gill Hall

My neighbours have placed a huge Heron garden ornament next to their pond
.....still have the netting just to make sure but I don't think they have
had any more visits from real one ..

Heron visit to pond
 

On Sun, 2 May 2004 08:33:03 +0000 (UTC), "Gloxinia"
wrote:


"Gill Hall" wrote in message
...
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected
the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

Many thanks

Gill Hall

My neighbours have placed a huge Heron garden ornament next to their pond
....still have the netting just to make sure but I don't think they have
had any more visits from real one ..

I don't think herons take any notice of garden ornaments or plastic
imitation herons, anymore than strings of CDs frighten away birds. I
frequently see herons standing alongside fisherman, waiting for
rejects. I saw two herons standing patiently on either side of a
fisherman last week.

Heron visit to pond
 

Subject: Heron visit to pond
From: ojunk (Gill Hall)
Date: 01/05/2004 23:01 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net
the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

I saw a report on last year's Beechgrove garden about black, metal grates that
could be fitted just below the surface. These were produced for child
protection in ponds, but would that be any good for Heron prevention?
According to the report the grates were practically invisible and could be
raised as needed for pond maintenece.

http://www.pondguardonline.co.uk/

I think is the website
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Heron visit to pond
 

"dave wrote in message after
Gill Hall
writes
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid
and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected
the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

A lot of pond retail companies sell plastic herons - based on the theory
that herons are territorial, or for a more expensive alternative there's
a device which shoots water. Examples are at http://tinyurl.com/399ze


They do work provided they are moved each day, the real Herons aren't
stupid.

--
Regards
Bob

Use a useful Screen Saver...
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
and find intelligent life amongst the stars

Heron visit to pond
 

In article , Diane Epps
writes
I made it formal with steep sides a
metre deep and have never had a problem. The herons come and look but can't
get at the fish.

You did put a bit of a ramp in it somewhere, didn't you, so that any
animals that climb in it can climb out again?

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

Heron visit to pond
 

In article , dave @ stejonda
writes
In message , Gill Hall
writes
A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

A lot of pond retail companies sell plastic herons - based on the theory
that herons are territorial,

They don't work. A friend of mine had one and a randy male tried to mate
with it and broke it :(((((

--
Jane Ransom in Lancaster.
I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg
but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms
at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see

Heron visit to pond
 

On 02 May 2004 12:22:51 GMT, emon (Rhiannon S)
wrote:

Subject: Heron visit to pond
From: ojunk (Gill Hall)
Date: 01/05/2004 23:01 GMT Daylight Time
Message-id:

A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and
are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net
the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

I saw a report on last year's Beechgrove garden about black, metal grates that
could be fitted just below the surface. These were produced for child
protection in ponds, but would that be any good for Heron prevention?

I'd guess that the heron would stand on the grate and catch any fish
near the surface.

According to the report the grates were practically invisible and could be
raised as needed for pond maintenece.

http://www.pondguardonline.co.uk/

I think is the website
--
Rhiannon
http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhiannon_s/
"The trick is to commit crimes so confusing that police feel too stupid to even
write a crime report about them."
Aubrey on remaining at liberty
www.somethingpositive.net

Heron visit to pond
 

On Sun, 2 May 2004 08:44:19 +0100, Jane Ransom
wrote:


A lot of pond retail companies sell plastic herons - based on the theory
that herons are territorial,

They don't work. A friend of mine had one and a randy male tried to mate
with it and broke it :(((((

Serves the dirty beats right!
Oh! I see what you mean :-)

Heron visit to pond
 

On Sun, 2 May 2004 08:43:30 +0100, Jane Ransom
wrote:

In article , Diane Epps
writes
I made it formal with steep sides a
metre deep and have never had a problem. The herons come and look but can't
get at the fish.

You did put a bit of a ramp in it somewhere, didn't you, so that any
animals that climb in it can climb out again?

If you put a ramp in it the herons will use it.

Heron visit to pond
 

Gill Hall1/5/04 11:01

A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to net
the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

I used to have a pond near a heronry and put fishing line at low level all
around the perimeter of the pond - I'd guess it was about 6" or 8" high.
The herons couldn't wade in and the fish are still there 6 years later.
Some 'cover' such as water plants helps the fish to hide, too.

--

Sacha
(remove the weeds to email me)

Heron visit to pond
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
. uk...
Gill Hall1/5/04 11:01

A heron visited our pond last week and ate half the fish. The rest hid
and are
still looking very nervous. I had just removed the netting that
protected the
pond from falling leaves all winter. I would much prefer not to have to
net
the
pond all year round. Does anyone know of other, less unsightly but still
effective deterrents against herons?

I used to have a pond near a heronry and put fishing line at low level all
around the perimeter of the pond - I'd guess it was about 6" or 8" high.
The herons couldn't wade in and the fish are still there 6 years later.
Some 'cover' such as water plants helps the fish to hide, too.


I have used the same trick, but I used string, not fishing line, which is
much finer, more difficult to see, and very much stronger, since I wouldn't
want any birds to come to grief from getting it wrapped around them. I
*think* it worked, since visits from passing herons seemed to reduce, but,
of course, one can't be sure that the string was the real cause.

Heron visit to pond
 

Thank you all for the helpful advice. I think I'll plump for Sacha's advice -
that of the string round the edge. This is the second time we've had a
devastating clearout, and I now remember that there is a heronry at Englefield,
just a couple of miles away. Bother. Not that I don't like herons - they're
beautiful birds.

Gill

Heron visit to pond
 

On 05 May 2004 18:31:42 GMT, ojunk (Gill Hall) wrote:

Thank you all for the helpful advice. I think I'll plump for Sacha's advice -
that of the string round the edge. This is the second time we've had a
devastating clearout, and I now remember that there is a heronry at Englefield,
just a couple of miles away. Bother. Not that I don't like herons - they're
beautiful birds.

How about replacing the fish with plastic fish. Who would the
difference? :-)

Heron visit to pond
 

The way I prevented herons getting the fish was to have the pond at least
three feet deep at the margins and with a wall around the pond about six
inches higher that the water level. This works for me. I am a keen angler
and have spent may hours watching herons and it occoured to me that they
never fish anywhere where they have to put their head below the level of
their feet. They mostly stand in the water to fish.

Bob

Heron visit to pond
 

"Bob" wrote in message
...
The way I prevented herons getting the fish was to have the pond at least
three feet deep at the margins and with a wall around the pond about six
inches higher that the water level. This works for me. I am a keen
angler
and have spent may hours watching herons and it occoured to me that they
never fish anywhere where they have to put their head below the level of
their feet. They mostly stand in the water to fish.


Mostly, perhaps, but I have seen herons fishing from timber landing stages
into water too deep for them to stand up in.

Heron visit to pond
 

On Fri, 7 May 2004 08:35:22 +0100, "BAC"
wrote:


"Bob" wrote in message
...
The way I prevented herons getting the fish was to have the pond at least
three feet deep at the margins and with a wall around the pond about six
inches higher that the water level. This works for me. I am a keen
angler
and have spent may hours watching herons and it occoured to me that they
never fish anywhere where they have to put their head below the level of
their feet. They mostly stand in the water to fish.


Mostly, perhaps, but I have seen herons fishing from timber landing stages
into water too deep for them to stand up in.

and catch things whilst gliding just above the surface.

Heron visit to pond
 

On Fri, 7 May 2004 08:35:22 +0100, "BAC"
wrote:

Mostly, perhaps, but I have seen herons fishing from timber landing stages
into water too deep for them to stand up in.

Having followed this thread for a couple of days, I tried the 'fishing
wire round the edge of the pond' routine yesterday. Today, when
looking out of the bathroom window first thing, I saw the heron
standing on the fountain in the middle of the pond! And yes, the
fountain was working! Admittedly it only throws the water into a
shape about 2'6" high and similar diameter and is more of a sprinkler
really (the fountain, not the heron). I didn't think herons could land
that accurately? (the water round the fountain's about 2' deep, and
I've only ever seen the heron in the margin of the pond before.

Do I need a more powerful pump/fountain?

Tim

Heron visit to pond
 

On Fri, 07 May 2004 13:36:49 +0100, Tim Nicholson
wrote:

On Fri, 7 May 2004 08:35:22 +0100, "BAC"
wrote:

Mostly, perhaps, but I have seen herons fishing from timber landing stages
into water too deep for them to stand up in.

Having followed this thread for a couple of days, I tried the 'fishing
wire round the edge of the pond' routine yesterday. Today, when
looking out of the bathroom window first thing, I saw the heron
standing on the fountain in the middle of the pond! And yes, the
fountain was working! Admittedly it only throws the water into a
shape about 2'6" high and similar diameter and is more of a sprinkler
really (the fountain, not the heron). I didn't think herons could land
that accurately? (the water round the fountain's about 2' deep, and
I've only ever seen the heron in the margin of the pond before.

Do I need a more powerful pump/fountain?

or 20,000 volts?

There's a coot nesting on top of an active fountain in a canal in
Leiden, the nest is built around the bit that the water comes out of.
In the photo in the local paper, the bird on the nest is half obscured
by the spray falling all around it.

Heron visit to pond
 

"Tim Nicholson" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 7 May 2004 08:35:22 +0100, "BAC"
wrote:

Mostly, perhaps, but I have seen herons fishing from timber landing
stages
into water too deep for them to stand up in.

Having followed this thread for a couple of days, I tried the 'fishing
wire round the edge of the pond' routine yesterday. Today, when
looking out of the bathroom window first thing, I saw the heron
standing on the fountain in the middle of the pond! And yes, the
fountain was working! Admittedly it only throws the water into a
shape about 2'6" high and similar diameter and is more of a sprinkler
really (the fountain, not the heron). I didn't think herons could land
that accurately? (the water round the fountain's about 2' deep, and
I've only ever seen the heron in the margin of the pond before.

Do I need a more powerful pump/fountain?


No, you need more easily fooled herons :-)