Heron Question
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About this time of year one of the local Herons will land next to my garden pond and lick his beak.
So far my anti-Heron wires seemed to have worked but I'd hate to lose any fish. I cleared out all the smaller fish last season and am left with a couple of dozen decent sized Koi, 22" plus.
So my question is - will a Heron try and injure, stab, a large fish that it knows it cannot carry away? dl
So far my anti-Heron wires seemed to have worked but I'd hate to lose any fish. I cleared out all the smaller fish last season and am left with a couple of dozen decent sized Koi, 22" plus.
So my question is - will a Heron try and injure, stab, a large fish that it knows it cannot carry away? dl
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Possibly.
The missus was rounding up the chooks last week, and found a big fish in the woods at the bottom of the garden- about 12" without it's head- and a big hole where it's fishy bits should have been.
Something obviously couldn't be shagged to carry it any further. The nearest lake is about 1/4 mile away.
The chickens were loving it!
The missus was rounding up the chooks last week, and found a big fish in the woods at the bottom of the garden- about 12" without it's head- and a big hole where it's fishy bits should have been.
Something obviously couldn't be shagged to carry it any further. The nearest lake is about 1/4 mile away.
The chickens were loving it!
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David I have kept koi for many years, and although I have never (yet) lost a fish to a heron, I have heard many tales of people who have had fish of all sizes disappear, sometimes complete ponds emptied over a number of days.
I also know of one or two keepers who have had mesh screens of one kind or another placed over their ponds either for heron prevention or as a safety measure to prevent young children falling in. These people have both had instances of large koi being stabbed by herons through the mesh (wrought iron in one case). There was no chance of any fish being pulled through the covers in either case, but the birds don't see the problem they face.
Herons can't bite pieces off a fish as far as I know, but they will stab anything that takes their fancy, almost regardless of the size. Up to a point they appear to have no recognition of size/weight of a fish. It's all food and if they can't carry it they'll just turn on another one until they get what they want.
Steve
BTW it wasn't me that negged the post by SunnySideUp
I also know of one or two keepers who have had mesh screens of one kind or another placed over their ponds either for heron prevention or as a safety measure to prevent young children falling in. These people have both had instances of large koi being stabbed by herons through the mesh (wrought iron in one case). There was no chance of any fish being pulled through the covers in either case, but the birds don't see the problem they face.
Herons can't bite pieces off a fish as far as I know, but they will stab anything that takes their fancy, almost regardless of the size. Up to a point they appear to have no recognition of size/weight of a fish. It's all food and if they can't carry it they'll just turn on another one until they get what they want.
Steve
BTW it wasn't me that negged the post by SunnySideUp
Last edited by Blue by You; 01 December 2008 at 06:12 PM.
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David I have kept koi for many years, and although I have never (yet) lost a fish to a heron, I have heard many tales of people who have had fish of all sizes disappear, sometimes complete ponds emptied over a number of days.
I also know of one or two keepers who have had mesh screens of one kind or another placed over their ponds either for heron prevention or as a safety measure to prevent young children falling in. These people have both had instances of large koi being stabbed by herons through the mesh (wrought iron in one case). There was no chance of any fish being pulled through the covers in either case, but the birds don't see the problem they face.
Herons can't bite pieces off a fish as far as I know, but they will stab anything that takes their fancy, almost regardless of the size. Up to a point they appear to have no recognition of size/weight of a fish. It's all food and if they can't carry it they'll just turn on another one until they get what they want.
Steve
BTW it wasn't me that negged the post by SunnySideUp
I also know of one or two keepers who have had mesh screens of one kind or another placed over their ponds either for heron prevention or as a safety measure to prevent young children falling in. These people have both had instances of large koi being stabbed by herons through the mesh (wrought iron in one case). There was no chance of any fish being pulled through the covers in either case, but the birds don't see the problem they face.
Herons can't bite pieces off a fish as far as I know, but they will stab anything that takes their fancy, almost regardless of the size. Up to a point they appear to have no recognition of size/weight of a fish. It's all food and if they can't carry it they'll just turn on another one until they get what they want.
Steve
BTW it wasn't me that negged the post by SunnySideUp
How do you tell if a post is negged - I've always wondered? It's only Lewis getting bored
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Thanks for input.
d
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Aren't bird of prey statues meant to scare off herons. ![Ponder2](https://www.scoobynet.com/images/smilies/ponder2.gif)
Nope apparently you use a fake heron or aligator/snake but none are really very effective.
But they hate large dogs.
i did find this motion activated scarecrow that fires water at said target.
The Scarecrow - Motion-Activated Scarecrow for Predator Control for Garden Ponds
![Ponder2](https://www.scoobynet.com/images/smilies/ponder2.gif)
Nope apparently you use a fake heron or aligator/snake but none are really very effective.
But they hate large dogs.
i did find this motion activated scarecrow that fires water at said target.
The Scarecrow - Motion-Activated Scarecrow for Predator Control for Garden Ponds
Last edited by hux309; 01 December 2008 at 06:57 PM.
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