protecting koi from herons
Here are some tricks to try: Use a heron decoy. A decoy like the Blue Heron Decoy, in your pond.
Create obstacles around the pond. Herons land around the perimeter of a pond and walk up to the water.
Startle them with water. Provide hiding places for your fish
What is the best heron deterrent?
.1) Pond Netting. …
2) Koi and Goldfish Shelter. …
3) Electric Pond Fencing. …
4) Automatic Heron Sprinkler. …
6) Blue Heron Decoy. …
7) Alligator Decoy. …
8) Mirrors or reflective surfaces.
How do I keep herons away from my pond?
Use a heron decoy. A decoy like the Pond Logic® Blue Heron Decoy, in your pond. …
Create obstacles around the pond. Herons land around the perimeter of a pond and walk up to the water. …
Startle them with water. …
Provide hiding places for your fish. full article here from Pond Guy
Protecting koi from Herons. Herons are beautiful, majestic birds that have one major flaw.
Herons love to feast on Koi, and where better than to find Koi fish then an unattended Koi pond or garden?
When you first notice a Heron in your garden, you may not even think of these birds as a danger.
Herons are 2 or 3 feet tall, with an extremely large wingspan.
They appear to be extremely graceful until you realize that the
beautiful sight you were just looking at could have potentially been a thief caught in the act.
If you noticed that your fish are missing in action, chances are a Heron is to blame.
You may even notice large gaping holes in the sides of your Koi.
This happens when a Heron attempts to catch one of your Koi fish, but does not get a good grip on it.
The other will notice their Koi laying on the lawn several feet away
from the pond, which is the result of a Heron dropping the Koi after removing it from the pond.
While nothing can completely stop this from happening, you can
do a few things to detour Herons from eating your pride stock of Koi.
While there are many types of technical equipment available to
attempt to detour Herons, you will quickly find that these types of
detours will only work for a small amount of time.
Protecting koi Some pond owners place a fake plastic Heron into their garden.
This is supposed to detour another Heron from landing there.
This works for parts of the season until the mating season comes.
Herons will be more likely to land near your plastic Heron when they are looking for a mate.
Various other types of equipment attempt to detour Herons by causing them discomfort.
This only works until the Heron get used to it, or just finds a way around it.
The only way to protect your Koi is by watching out for them.
A few simple things will not prevent Heron from visiting your
pond, but it will greatly reduce the presence of them.
Constantly change your routine. Herons are smart and know when you will typically be present.
Visiting your pond frequently at various times during the day will
greatly increase the chance that you will catch the Heron in action.
If you are unable to vary your routine, you may consider enlisting others to visit your pond as well.
Older, trustworthy children in the neighborhood may delight in
visiting your pond at various times of the day.
Giving them permission to visit whenever they want will allow
others to visit when you are unable too.
If you catch a Heron in the act, make as much noise and frighten the Heron as much as you physically can.
Shout, yell, throw things, or whatever you feel will scare the Heron.
The more frightened the Heron is, the less chance he is to return anytime soon.
Protecting koi Create a hiding place in your pond for your Koi fish.
More natural Koi pond owners have noticed that after a Heron
attacks a pond, it may seem that the Heron has got all the fish, only
to notice that the Koi start appearing from strange hiding places once the scare is over.
If you purposely provide a place for your Koi to hide in the event of
an attack, you greatly reduce the amount of fish that a Heron will leave with.
Do not worry about your Koi hiding from you, as they should know and trust that you will not hurt (or eat) them.
Do not restock your pond right away in the event of a Heron attack. Waiting to restock may send the Heron searching for new feeding grounds
Check out also koi art for koi fish paintings