Koi Fish Information Centre

Hi Brenda,
That sounds like it might just work if at the correct height to keep it from going under or over which I guess would be about 2.5 feet. This guy is particularly sneaky and obnoxious and croaks at me angrily when I disturb him. I actually wouldn’t mind it taking some of the goldfish which had about 100 babies last year which are now growing up. I’ve been putting some in the local lake to reduce the overpopulation. But I’ve head that herons sometimes kill larger fish they can’t eat. (My koi are all too large for them to swallow), CAn anyone confirm that? Also concerned about them possibly puncturing the pond liner, though not sure that would actually happen.
Thanks for the tip, I may have to try it. He was just there again as I write this.
I currently have about a dozen large plastic tub lids floating in the pond and that makes it more difficult for him and easier for fish to hide but he still comes back every day.
Edgar

On Jun 3, 2008, at 5:03 PM, Brenda Rose wrote:
> Hi Edgar. We lost several koi to our local heron population a few > years ago and I tried a few anti-heron devices before I developed a > system that works (touch wood) for me. First off, I purchased some > nylon fishing line, something that would hold up under a weighty fish > (or bird). I then created a perimeter fence approximately 2 - 3 feet > off the ground using attractive long metal garden stakes pounded into > the area around the pond, and I wound the fishing line tightly enough > around each stake so that it would trip up anything attempting to walk > toward the water. Then I pounded some ordinary plastic tent pegs in > flush to the ground and created an additional over-the-pond zigzag > pattern which would trip up anything attempting to land in the pond. > > I have watched herons attempt to get through this unobtrusive design > and they are either very stupid herons or I just happened to have > created the perfect heron deterrent imaginable. You see, they approach > the pond after having landed on the lawn and walk into the perimeter > fence, but they never think to step OVER it. The line, you see, is > about 2 - 3 feet off the ground. They feel the tautness against their > wiry legs, back off and try another approach, and the same thing > happens. I’ve watched the same heron walk into the fishing line, > ruminate for a spell and then re-approach the pond six to eight times > before flying off, presumably still hungry. > > Do I expect my luck to hold? It’s hard to say, but this is year three > (although it’s early days yet) with no heron losses, whereas my > neighbours, who have fancy goldfish, see herons almost every week. > I’ll keep my fingers crossed that this system will continue to work > for > me. Oh, by the way, the first year we had heron losses we got a very > realistic-looking heron decoy. That was the same year I started > experimenting with my fishing line fence. One summer afternoon when I > was sitting quietly by the pond a heron landed on the lawn and > proceeded to advance toward the water. I sat very still and watched as > he (she?) moved in once, twice, three times, and each time couldn’t > get > past the fence. After the fourth unsuccessful approach it turned > around, swatted the plastic decoy heron several times with its wings > and then flew off. I think that was a heron hissy fit. > > Sincerely, > Brenda > > On 3-Jun-08, at 6:32 AM, Edgar Owen wrote: > > > I’m having a heron problem and wonder if anyone has any tips. He > > flies off when I go outside but eventually always comes back. I want > > to put a good scare into him without harming him and wonder if > anyone > > has any suggestions on how to do that? Last year I”d run outside and > > throw a couple of light white plastic fish food containers at him as > > he flew off and that worked after about a week as he didn’t come > > back, but this one is more alert and is gone before I get close > > enough to throw anything. > > > > Thanks, > > Edgar > > > > ———————————— > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > >

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Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society