I suspect a water scarecrow might work on herons. Bit easier and less unsightly than netting.
Herons are resident along the local streams here and often to be seen hunting along the one that borders our paddock. In winter we get Great Egrets too so there's an odd territorial clash but generally there's enough space for them all and they like fossicking in the fields as well as the streams.
They don't investigate our pond anymore as it has no fish. Built for drainage and home now to frogs, toads and newts but we have a Wheaten terrier who is a demon huntress and chases anything that moves so herons stay away now. The Lab now gives chase too but they never catch anything.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Supposedly, an ornamental heron, placed about 8 inches from the edge into the pond helps. Also, a fine 'wire' of twine placed around the pond, again about 8 inches in is harmless but the herons don't understand how to step over it. All hearsay, but friends have advocated both methods.
Over the 25+ yrs I've had a pond I've lost loads of fish to herons.
I've now got just 3 huge koi - the heron doesn't even try his luck any more with them.
To keep the buggers at bay here are some that have worked for me. The water scarer does work, but also works on anyone walking up the garden too. But mine didn't last more than a year or so, and frequently leaked. I planted a spikey low-growing conifer (some sort of juniper I think) all around the edge of the pond which now gives me about 3ft of spikey surface around the pond. The herons wont attempt to step onto it. Use black fishing line attached to little stakes. One at about 9" above ground and the other about 12" with about 18" between them. Or - get an air-gun
The ornamental heron won't work during the breeding season (now) - they're looking for mates. It can help at other times, but you'll need to keep moving it about every couple of days - they soon wise-up
I tried to upload a pic of my pond but for some reason I just get a blank box if I click on the 'add photo' icon.... I'll try later
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Over the 25+ yrs I've had a pond I've lost loads of fish to herons.
I've now got just 3 huge koi - the heron doesn't even try his luck any more with them.
To keep the buggers at bay here are some that have worked for me. The water scarer does work, but also works on anyone walking up the garden too. But mine didn't last more than a year or so, and frequently leaked. I planted a spikey low-growing conifer (some sort of juniper I think) all around the edge of the pond which now gives me about 3ft of spikey surface around the pond. The herons wont attempt to step onto it. Use black fishing line attached to little stakes. One at about 9" above ground and the other about 12" with about 18" between them. Or - get an air-gun
The ornamental heron won't work during the breeding season (now) - they're looking for mates. It can help at other times, but you'll need to keep moving it about every couple of days - they soon wise-up
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When I had a large garden pond, the only deterrent that really, really worked was the use of Netfloats (you can find them on Google). From a distance they are all but invisible. Close up you are more aware of them, but gradually plants grow through them and minimise any visible intrusion.
They consist of a series of interlinking plastic grids which prevent the heron from getting at the fish. If they (the heron) try to step into the pond, the grid prevents them. If they try to stab at the fish, the grid prevents that, too.
After a while, the birds learn that there are easier ways of getting lunch, an b*gger off. Well - until the fledglings/young adults come a-calling. And I don't suggest that it's a cheap option if you have a large pond. But I can honestly say that it worked!
In the summer, when the heron had stopped breeding and food was more plentiful elsewhere, we had virtually no problem from their visits - and that despite being geographically located mid-way between two heronries.
A friend of mine had a load of coy carp killed from a heron attack and was totally devastated by this
He visit this local GC and they recommend a heron decoy
Basically, it was 2 foot heron statue and was recommended to place at the ride of the pond. The GC staff advised him heron are territorial birds and well not normally attack an area where they know another heron is near. He has not had a heron attack on his pond ever since and his last attack was 12 months ago
Tetley - I think that you either didn't have enough of the floats, or hadn't clipped them together securely since, once in place, they can't be caught by the wind, they can't skid off in the way you describe, and perhaps you hadn't had enough to cover the whole of the pond. A few round the edges will be worse than useless - the whole of the pond covered will mean that the netfloats are secure and the heron are deterred. Well, that's what happened for us. And our pond was pretty large, and our fish (not Koi but 12"+) were pretty well protected.
Thankyou Pansy. It was lovely but getting too large for me to cope with. We have moved, downsized the house and the garden. Looking at my old photos brings mixed feelings - it was lovely, and I put my heart and soul into it. But - being realistic, as age creeps up on me, I know it would become a burden rather than a pleasure.
I was a guardian of that space for 17 years. I just hope that the new owners love it as much as I did, and develop it (or keep it!)
Posts
I suspect a water scarecrow might work on herons. Bit easier and less unsightly than netting.
Herons are resident along the local streams here and often to be seen hunting along the one that borders our paddock. In winter we get Great Egrets too so there's an odd territorial clash but generally there's enough space for them all and they like fossicking in the fields as well as the streams.
They don't investigate our pond anymore as it has no fish. Built for drainage and home now to frogs, toads and newts but we have a Wheaten terrier who is a demon huntress and chases anything that moves so herons stay away now. The Lab now gives chase too but they never catch anything.
Supposedly, an ornamental heron, placed about 8 inches from the edge into the pond helps. Also, a fine 'wire' of twine placed around the pond, again about 8 inches in is harmless but the herons don't understand how to step over it. All hearsay, but friends have advocated both methods.
Over the 25+ yrs I've had a pond I've lost loads of fish to herons.
I've now got just 3 huge koi - the heron doesn't even try his luck any more with them.
To keep the buggers at bay here are some that have worked for me.
The water scarer does work, but also works on anyone walking up the garden too. But mine didn't last more than a year or so, and frequently leaked.
I planted a spikey low-growing conifer (some sort of juniper I think) all around the edge of the pond which now gives me about 3ft of spikey surface around the pond. The herons wont attempt to step onto it.
Use black fishing line attached to little stakes. One at about 9" above ground and the other about 12" with about 18" between them.
Or - get an air-gun
The ornamental heron won't work during the breeding season (now) - they're looking for mates. It can help at other times, but you'll need to keep moving it about every couple of days - they soon wise-up
I tried to upload a pic of my pond but for some reason I just get a blank box if I click on the 'add photo' icon.... I'll try later
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Over the 25+ yrs I've had a pond I've lost loads of fish to herons.
I've now got just 3 huge koi - the heron doesn't even try his luck any more with them.
To keep the buggers at bay here are some that have worked for me.
The water scarer does work, but also works on anyone walking up the garden too. But mine didn't last more than a year or so, and frequently leaked.
I planted a spikey low-growing conifer (some sort of juniper I think) all around the edge of the pond which now gives me about 3ft of spikey surface around the pond. The herons wont attempt to step onto it.
Use black fishing line attached to little stakes. One at about 9" above ground and the other about 12" with about 18" between them.
Or - get an air-gun
The ornamental heron won't work during the breeding season (now) - they're looking for mates. It can help at other times, but you'll need to keep moving it about every couple of days - they soon wise-up
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Thanks Tetley - a lovely spot to sit and think - with a cuppa of course
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When I had a large garden pond, the only deterrent that really, really worked was the use of Netfloats (you can find them on Google). From a distance they are all but invisible. Close up you are more aware of them, but gradually plants grow through them and minimise any visible intrusion.
They consist of a series of interlinking plastic grids which prevent the heron from getting at the fish. If they (the heron) try to step into the pond, the grid prevents them. If they try to stab at the fish, the grid prevents that, too.
After a while, the birds learn that there are easier ways of getting lunch, an b*gger off. Well - until the fledglings/young adults come a-calling. And I don't suggest that it's a cheap option if you have a large pond. But I can honestly say that it worked!
In the summer, when the heron had stopped breeding and food was more plentiful elsewhere, we had virtually no problem from their visits - and that despite being geographically located mid-way between two heronries.
He visit this local GC and they recommend a heron decoy
Basically, it was 2 foot heron statue and was recommended to place at the ride of the pond. The GC staff advised him heron are territorial birds and well not normally attack an area where they know another heron is near. He has not had a heron attack on his pond ever since and his last attack was 12 months ago
Tetley - I think that you either didn't have enough of the floats, or hadn't clipped them together securely since, once in place, they can't be caught by the wind, they can't skid off in the way you describe, and perhaps you hadn't had enough to cover the whole of the pond. A few round the edges will be worse than useless - the whole of the pond covered will mean that the netfloats are secure and the heron are deterred. Well, that's what happened for us. And our pond was pretty large, and our fish (not Koi but 12"+) were pretty well protected.
Can you see the netfloats
Thankyou Pansy. It was lovely but getting too large for me to cope with. We have moved, downsized the house and the garden. Looking at my old photos brings mixed feelings - it was lovely, and I put my heart and soul into it. But - being realistic, as age creeps up on me, I know it would become a burden rather than a pleasure.
I was a guardian of that space for 17 years. I just hope that the new owners love it as much as I did, and develop it (or keep it!)