absolutely gutted!

Discussion in 'Water Gardening' started by Walter Wallcarpet, Aug 29, 2012.

  1. Walter Wallcarpet

    Walter Wallcarpet Gardener

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    Opened my back door this morning to be startled by the sight of a Heron taking off! Anyway, ran up to to my pond only to find all 8 fish had gone!
    My garden is enclosed with quite a few shrubs as cover for the pond so I'm surprised the thing chanced its arm (or wing)
    Anyway don't think I'm going to buy anymore as I'm not keen on that mesh stuff, its too unsightly. Unless anyone knows of another effective deterrent.....?
     
    Walter Wallcarpet, Aug 29, 2012
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  2. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

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    Hi Walter.

    My mates dad had a problem with Herons taking his fish and he put strong fishing line about 10 foot high in the Herons landing zone. This apparently stops the heron landing so cannot eat the fish. It worked for him.

    Rusty
     
    rustyroots, Aug 29, 2012
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  3. Freddy

    Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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    What a sickener! I have a Koi pond, and I sometimes worry about getting a 'visit'. As for deterrents, you'll hear different views. Some will say try this or that, others will say nothing (except netting) works. I've heard that Herons like to have their feet in the water to fish, and although I've seen a Heron flying over, I've not yet been visited, which I put down to my pond being straight sided and 5ft deep. Dunno:dunno:
     
    Freddy, Aug 29, 2012
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  4. hans

    hans Gardener

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    My neighbour had the same prob...killed quite a few and left many laying around the pool. They call early on daybreak. Lovely creatures but they do like a change from river fish.
     
    hans, Aug 29, 2012
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  5. Walter Wallcarpet

    Walter Wallcarpet Gardener

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    I believe those plastic herons are useless....
     
    Walter Wallcarpet, Aug 29, 2012
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  6. "M"

    "M" Total Gardener

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    Argh! I feel your pain, only its a herring gull that is taking mine. Cheeky blighter even flew in and took one right in front of us!! :th scifD36: :mad: :mute:
    Mr Mum has decreed "No more fish!" :nonofinger: (to me, not the herring gull :gaah: )

    No expert tips, sorry; but I will watch the thread, on the off chance a solution crops up.
     
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  7. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    Ah ha you are having the same problem as a friend of mine.. this is the stuff we looked at & he has decoys now & fishing line crossed over the pond & that seem to have solved it for him..
    Get a decoy of an Owl or of a Heron & position prominently by your pond so it id visible to the heron when he is scouting..... Heron's like to hunt alone so if they see another one at the pond they should move on... Don't forget to move the decoy around from time to time though as Herons are very smart birds..
    There is an artificial koi, called “de-koi”, these life size and realistic looking koi fish can be tethered in your pond to float just below water surface. When a heron is hunting your pond it will try to work as little as possible for its meal, and when it sees that big juicy koi just hovering there like easy pickins’, the heron will likely attack the de-koi which creates an alert to the real fish that can go into hiding...
    30-50lb clear fishing line stretched in a criss cross effect will deter them & of course last but not least, grow tallish plants around the edge so they don't have easy access...
     
    Marley Farley, Aug 29, 2012
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  8. Walter Wallcarpet

    Walter Wallcarpet Gardener

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    Hi, the fishing line thing seems to have cropped up a few times, how is it affixed ie distance from the water etc and would the heron not get get snagged up in it when landing as its virtually invisible?
     
    Walter Wallcarpet, Aug 30, 2012
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  9. Lolimac

    Lolimac Guest

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    On my pond i've just put it around the edge ....i fasten it to short canes around 2ft high...:dbgrtmb:....i did startle Mr Heron one morning and he ended up on his back after tripping over the fishing line.....he looked quite shocked ....but wasn't injured and off he went:dbgrtmb:
     
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      Lolimac, Aug 31, 2012
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    • Walter Wallcarpet

      Walter Wallcarpet Gardener

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      oh right, get yer....I presumed you would criss cross it over the top of the pond....it looks like the way forward if I want to restock the pond. Mmmm never had Heron for Christmas dinner before anyway.....

       
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        Walter Wallcarpet, Sep 2, 2012
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      • sal73

        sal73 Total Gardener

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        Has anyone ever noticed that professianal Koi grower in UK , have pergola builded over the pond , protect from frost and heron ?
        [​IMG]
         
        sal73, Sep 2, 2012
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        I thought that was to stop the fish getting wet from the rain, Sal:heehee:
         
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          ARMANDII, Sep 2, 2012
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        • Walter Wallcarpet

          Walter Wallcarpet Gardener

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          I thought it was so the fish could go outside for a cigarette :biggrin:
           
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            Walter Wallcarpet, Sep 2, 2012
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          • sal73

            sal73 Total Gardener

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            sal73, Sep 2, 2012
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          • Freddy

            Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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              Freddy, Sep 2, 2012
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