I hate birds.

[techmike]

Got home from some errands this afternoon, went out back and discovered a heron in my pond with my favorite pure white koi it it's freaking beak. Appears we are missing about 5 fish. Tell me again why birds like that are protected?????

TM >:(

[Microgunner]

Hey, when you decide to raise sheep in a little fenced corral in the Serengeti don't blame the lions. Just saying. My sister lost all her koi to birds. Sorry about your koi.

[imschur]

That sucks.

I have never heard of that happening around here

[Longitude Zero]

Hey, when you decide to raise sheep in a little fenced corral in the Serengeti don't blame the lions. Just saying. My sister lost all her koi to birds. Sorry about your koi.

Sheepishly I have to agree here.

[lmao_37]

Sorry about your Koi. I know how you feel. i lost a couple of fish from a fish pond in the UK and i wanted to kill the neighbors cat as it would try fishing from our pond  :grin:

[techmike]

Hey, when you decide to raise sheep in a little fenced corral in the Serengeti don't blame the lions. Just saying. My sister lost all her koi to birds. Sorry about your koi.

Yup - got that, except I could shoot the lions. These predator birds number in the millions world wide, tax dollars are spent on them like no tomorrow, and I have somehow lost my property rights because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.  :confused: Repeat my question: why are they still protected?

TM :sniper:

PS - Thinking of a full auto air soft gun as pond interdiction. There are actually motorized air soft mini guns for sale!!! That would be a HOOT!

[techmike]

Oh yeah - and to top it off, the darned bird crapped a load in my pond. Grrrrrr.

TM :o

[rodent.22]

Honest truth the national bird counts are down like 70% since the late 60's. Some species that are able to adapt to catastrophic changes in their environment still do well, such as starlings,etc. Most songbirds and waterbirds don't adapt well, hence their forced use of your pond to fish in. Get some fine chickenwire from Lowes and make a wire cover for your pond. It will soon be not noticed by you and will keep your fish and the birds seperated. We do this with all our plants here in the woods because of the large deer population. We've counted as many as 15 deer in the yard at one time....    try to work with the situation as the bird population worldwide is at a critical point. The thousands of birds in the oil spill is a species CATASTROPHY....

[imschur]

So thats why my neighbors have a net over the pond. I thought it was to keep leaves out or something. We recently lost a cat to Coyotes. She was real nice, very pretty.

[techmike]

Honest truth the national bird counts are down like 70% since the late 60's. Some species that are able to adapt to catastrophic changes in their environment still do well, such as starlings,etc. Most songbirds and waterbirds don't adapt well, hence their forced use of your pond to fish in.

I know the songbird population in California is way down - that is due to the voter approved ban on rodent trapping. Really, it is illegal to trap rats. I had roof rats  - they run the power lines and get into your house via the roofs - they also eat bird eggs. However - there is no shortage of Herons. BTW - starlings are not indigenous to the USA - they were brought over from England. Dislike them also. Only birds I like are pheasants and quail. Like them alot!! On the barbie and in the oven.

TM

[rodent.22]

:laugh:

[techmike]

Scene of the crime. Friends and neighbors have suggested solutions... They range from shooing away the heron, adding more fish to feed the heron, having a heron-size hole pre-dug in the back yard, capturing the heron and duct-taping it's beak shut and releasing... I am still looking at air soft mini guns. Pond Interdiction. - I can SO see this pedestal mounted on my deck above the pond!!!!!

TM :auto:

[lmao_37]

you back yard looks fantastic looks like you have spent alot of time on it get the dam bird  :thumb:

[imschur]

You need our Dexter cat. He chases deer and turkeys from his yard.

[techmike]

you back yard looks fantastic looks like you have spent alot of time on it get the dam bird  :thumb:

Thanks man! It is our relaxing place.

TM

[techmike]

You need our Dexter cat. He chases deer and turkeys from his yard.

We have Roadie-the-dog who chases everything - but he is not always outside.

[Microgunner]

Your pond / garden is beautiful.  :thumb:

[imschur]

yep looks like a little oasis  :thumb:

[techmike]

Thanks!

[techmike]

What a weekend. (Mine is Thur/Fri) I drained the pond, put all the fish into 30 gallon cans with aeration, ripped the liner out of the pond, and dug it deeper and wider. Especially deeper - anything over 2.5 feet seems to discourage herons, (may they become extinct soon), from fishing. installed a new liner, refilled the pond and returned the fish to their new digs. I think I moved about 15 - 20 cubic feet of dirt. Clay. Heavy stuff. I could barely move this am.....  :o

TM

PS - I have introduced 2 perch and 2 bluegill to the pond.....

[lmao_37]

Sounds like you worked hard on your pond but worth it i would have a garden pond we just have aquarium at the moment  >:(

[techmike]

Tanks are fun! I had 11 going at one time long ago. My favorite one was full of bluegill.

TM

[lmao_37]

we have a couple of angel fish and a cat fish we did have others but the cat fish ate everything as is now huge

[Mr. Jones]

The most effective way to keep herons at bay is to place a Heron statue near your pond.  They are extremely territorial and will not land if they see another "heron" already there.

To stop nearly everything else, a floating alligator decoy does the trick.  Most animals can spot their predators more easily than they can spot prey.  Even a toy alligator will work as long as it is shaped somewhat realistically. 

Another way to keep almost any bird or small animal at bay is to play recorded owl, hawk, falcon, or eagle screeching.  While it's hell on your own ears, it scares the crap out of every animal that hears it as well.

Dont try to use airsoft or BB guns, thrown rocks, firecrackers, or anything that will anger or frighten a heron.  They are on of the few birds that will attack you at the drop of a hat; an they can potentially blind or even kill you.  If you plan to use such a method, make sure you kill it- they will wait for you to come back out of your house and swoop in for revenge. They're very mean birds.

I'm sure it's not politically correct or environmentally friendly,  but most people I know just shoot the damn things and be done with them.  Maybe it's illegal or objectionable, but they regularly attack and blind household pets and even children. 

Personally, I call a spade a spade- they are dangerous, troublesome, nuisance creatures, just like many of the other aggressive and troublesome animals on the endangered list.  I never saw the purpose of preserving an animal that poses a threat to humans.  Sure, save the ecosystem; but telling a person they cannot defend their property, livelihood, and their own body simply because the offending creature is endangered.. well, bubba, it's possible they are endangered because they are dangerous.

[techmike]

Well, I am going a bit more techy than heron statues. I have collected most of my needed parts. Motion detector, 24 v transformer, 24vac sonalert, and and a 24 v motor that will spin something to startle the beast if it returns. I figure the noise and motion will keep it away.

TM

PS Agree with Mr. Jones about these evil creatures.