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How to deter herons from feasting at your pond table
There is no human so protective of anything in the world than the
Koi-keeping fish enthusiast of his prize Koi carp. A Koi keeper will have
nurtured his precious pisces through bitter winters and stifling summers, in
conditions that would make an average swimming pool look like a sceptic tank.
This would have meant no mean expense, and so when it comes to keeping away
predators, a further capital outlay ‘to preserve the investment’ has got to be
included in the costs.
If there are any ponds, lakes or long established pools in your area, herons
probably have them sussed and as they do their routine round of them, even in
urban areas, it will be inevitable that your bit of water will be added to the
itinerary of at least one heron very soon.
The pressures on them to find new feeding grounds are increasing all the time as
their numbers slowly increase - the national population has risen 5% since 1998.
As the bird notices your presence, as it spreads its wings ready for flight it
is a surprise to see it 2 metre wing span.
Next comes the bubbling fury that comes with having caught an intruder and thief
in the act, followed by a feeling of desperation to see what damage has been
done.
It can stand motionless for hours in or near water waiting for fish to pass
within stabbing distance of its extending neck and beak.
When it strikes, the fish not always held, but often stabbed and may escape with
a gaping hole in its side.
Many times I have found fish that have proved too big to manage despite being
stabbed and lifted from the pool, only left to flounder and suffocate on the
lawn.
Even if the heron is totally unsuccessful, the stress that the visit will have
caused will make the fish immediately more timid, making them very much more
prone to disease at a time when their resistance to disease may be low anyway.
DISCOURAGING THE HERON Many people are at first persuaded to adopt their own
plastic or concrete version of a heron, this public enemy number one, in the
belief they are so territorial, its presence may discourage a real one from
landing.
Through the winter and spring the heron is looking for new territory and may
often be looking for a mate, so a plastic heron at these times may actually work
as a lure.
Throwing back the curtains first thing in the morning or arriving home early
from work, the wily bird will have been caught unawares.
Technology and ingenuity offer a number of variations on the theme of trip wires
that can be invisible, electrified, infrared and ultrasonic, which can hum, emit
terrifying bangs, ear piercing shrieks or chatter and squirt a spray of water.
Simple and made from bamboo it worked for the deer in Japanese gardens and could
easily work for you against herons and makes a perfect water feature.
Available at most water garden retailers THE PONDGUARD HERON AND CAT SCARER:
This device consists of a trip wire that triggers such a mighty bang that bird
is never likely to return.
THE POND PROTECTION KIT: This is an invention by Wilf Starsmore and is
effectively an electric fence suspended around the pool.
Not only is it a very effective frightener to all intrusive beasties, it waters
the lawn at the same time!
heron fish pool bird water gardens round routine "trip
wire" discouraging distance feeding pond frightener emit click to read full
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