Posted on 09/03/2004 5:48:01 PM PDT by Pukin Dog
I hate to break up this big news day with a personal request, but I need some advice from anyone who knows about how to prevent a Blue Heron from attacking my Koi pond?
I just arrived home to find this HUGE Blue Heron standing in the middle of my pond, swallowing what I discovered to be the last of my (very expensive) Koi. All my fish, some costing me between $100 and $300 are gone.
The Heron just lifted off with a belly full of fish; an amazing site, as this thing had to have a 6'ft wing span, and is now sitting on the roof of my house. My guess is that the Frogs are next?
I live in Mira Mesa, jogging distance to MCAS Miramar. What the hell is a bird like that doing out here anyway? Suggestions are welcome.
I know a Jack Russel Terrier that can watch a pool full of Koi with intense interest for hours on end.
Getta good dog... a fast one. Bigbird will find another meal somewhere else.
Hey, are you a Marine aviator?
Be glad it's a heron and not fairy shrimp. You'd have to let them eat everything in your back yard.
My neighbors know me as "the crazy lady with the birds."
Excellent! My husband is retired Marine pilot (retired from Miramar), heading to NetJets next week for his new job.
Find a noise maker or similiar with a motion detector. Like that silly singing fish that was popular a few years ago.
Tastes like chicken. (Or is it gold fish?)
Mud-bottomed (natural) or liner (man-made) pond?
There was a blue heron in the green belt behind our house when we had all those rains. Those are big birds but really pretty. First one I had ever seen outside a zoo!
The netting works pretty well to keep seabirds out of fisheries ponds here.... of course.... then you have to look at netting instead of your pretty pond.
If your pond is more than a foot deep, the heron can't get to them at the bottom. They are shallow water feeders. I am wondering if it isn't the hand feeding that did your fish in.... Normally, fish would dive from a large shadow looming over the water. Your fish might have swam right up to this heron.
Course, if you stopped hand feeding the fish, maybe they aren't as fun to have.
i FORGOT to mention positioning the plastic coated metal mesh just under the surface for esthetic reasons. a bit tricky to do but doable.
But loud enough to deal with the bird would annoy the neighbors, probably.
When he went for his interview at NetJets there was a Delta pilot there and he said the same thing! We have a friend who's furloughed from Delta (working the C-130 simulator at Miramar.)
He thinks he'll be recalled. We think he's toast.
We have a pair here on our lakefront. The are so gawky to look at since they walk like flamingos. They are the best fisherman on the lake and quite a sight when they fly about 12" over the water!
I wonder if all the rain is driving them out to different areas?
The Trumpeter Swan is the largest waterfowl species native to North America. Most Trumpeters weigh 21-30 pounds, although large males may exceed 35 pounds. With a wingspan over 7 feet, these snow-white birds are truly spectacular. Standing on the ground, an adult Trumpeter stands about 4 feet high.
We have had trumpeters and herons in our back yard. But it's a natural pond. (More like a little lake.) You know, Minnesota has a few lakes, eh? LOL Good luck trying to keep your fish safe. What I might do is call your local DNR and ask suggestions. The wildlife guys/gals would be more than helpful I'd guess.
How big are the pellets that you feed them? I think if it is a tight mesh as many are suggesting they won't be able to get to their food. That, and they are nice to pet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.