Heron after the Fish

[weecalf]

Im nearly 40 and have never seen it before .Today a friend told me he was chasing a heron away from his fish pond all morning .The heron has eaten about 330 quids worth of fish this week .He has put a net over the pond but the crafty heron will not be beaten .Is the heron a protected species is there many of the about ? What else can he do ?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes Herons are protected in Britain, we have them here but is more a natural habitat and not a garden pond. The fisherman understand that they stock the lodge and the Heron gets a few.

Not sure what else he could try.

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.rspb.org.u...itors/heronsandponds/

[Buenchico]

From the RSPB:
http://www.rspb.org.u...sandponds/herons.aspx

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.primrose-l...-repeller-p-1907.html

One of these - fun if the kids don't know about it as well. There is a bigger one made in Canada which is really effective and covers 360 degrees with a heck of a wallop over 40 ft - uses pressure and a god sensor.Can't remember the brand though.

[DTCwordfan]

http://www.squirrelco...uirrel-Repeller/2.htm

[andycappy]

quiet a few around here

[hc4361]

I live in the built up Midlands are there are several heronries along the canals and rivers. I see herons every day.
I have seen them steal the koi from next door's pond several times, it's amazing just how big a fish they can swallow.

[Giggsie]

we had this problem awhile back. Now we have two life size heron ornamental (bought from a garden shop) one at each side of pond never seen heron since.

[bimbo123456]

Apparently they like to approach on flat land. My dad has no trouble with his pond which is at the top of a rockery. May be a myth mind you.

[Twirls]

We had the same problem but our fish were cheaper! We have a wire fence around the perimeter of the pond - about knee height to a heron. They apparently like to be able to wade into a pond so when their knees touch the fence they stop. We have also criss-crossed wires over the top of the pond to try and confuse him if he wants to land on the fountain etc. Seems to have worked so far. Good luck.

[JonnyBoy12]

Oh no, 330 quids worth of fish in one week? Poor you! Were they insured against loss by herons? I would suggest a bird scarer, or strips of metal foil hung on poles, or failing that a model of a black cat like they use on veggie patches.

Can any of you other readers vouch for these methods?

[Eve]

I'm originally from Shopshire and see herons about there. My dad made a wire mesh cover which goes over his pond (just a wooden square frame with the mesh in the middle). Not the most attractive pond feature but if he is losing that many fish then it might be worth it!

[MichaelZZ]

My neighbour had a similar problem. He went back to the garden centre where he bought the fish and asked them for advice. They sold him a life-size plastic heron which he duly stationed by the side of his pond. Next day the (real) heron came back and gobbled a few more fish. Neighbour returned to garden centre with plastic heron and complained that it wasn't "fit for purpose". The garden centre bloke asked, "Did the real heron try to jump it?" "Actually, yes" replied neighbour. "Oh sorry, pal. I should've sold you a male. Try this one!"
Neighbour, ever gullible, took the replacement and set it up by his pond. No further trouble from visiting herons helping themselves to a free lunch!


I should perhaps mention that by this time there weren't any fish left in the pond anyway.

[woofgang]

DTcrosswordfan
http://www.primrose-l...-repeller-p-1907.html

One of these - fun if the kids don't know about it as well. There is a bigger one made in Canada which is really effective and covers 360 degrees with a heck of a wallop over 40 ft - uses pressure and a god sensor.Can't remember the brand though.
Golly I suppose that's one way of proving that He or She exists lol

[Barmaid]

Try leaving a couple of toy snakes round the edge of the pond.

[webbo3]

Try this, we sell them where i work, but you do need to move it around the pond every now and then otherwise the heron will get use to it and figure out its not real.


Dave.

[webbo3]

try this, we sell them where i work, and they work quite well but you do need to move them occasionally as the herons work out they are fake.

http://www.amazon.co....qid=1311530975&sr=1-3




Dave.