Heron

[myvision]

I saw a large heron being harassed by two gulls and a crow last night over my garden but not too high, they were making a huge racket and the wingspan on the heron was bigger than I expected. I have only seen them on the ground before. My problem is I believe he was coming to my koi pond what's the chances of him coming back?
He can't wade into the pond as at the edges its six foot deep so I don't think he could fish from the coping stones could he?
How can I ensure he doesn't come back?
(they are a protected species).

[pk500]

It will come back once its seen the fish ! put some cain sticks around the pond with string on so it cant get near the pond ! i lost a koi to a heron a few years back ! and it kept coming back !

[Tonsko]

We used to net our pond, using the sundial in the middle as a high point so that he couldn't snipe the fish.

[RichB]

Yes he'll take the fish if the come not reach, in my experience the old thought hey need to wade isn't true. They're devious bds.

[pk500]

I have put clip on frames with netting on now that keep every thing out !

[BlackVanDyke]

A decoy heron seems to be a popular tactic - heron sees fishing spot is already taken and looks elsewhere - maybe easier than trying to net some ponds?

[highflyer]

blackvandike plastic heron does NOT work we have had a heron come and clean us out only a couple of weeks ago, we have a plastic heron and the ba5t4rd was stood next to it pinching my fish, so don't waste your money, the wife even moved it around the pond every day, ran out to chase it off, we now watch the pond and he has been back at 6am 1.30pm and 7pm so it doesnt matter what time of day he will be back some time, I always thought it would be early am or late pm but it doesn't seem to matter, have netted the pond now for the 2 remaining fish left, doesnt seem to have been back since we netted the pond but who knows, going to get a motion senser when we restock the pond, he won't get away with it again !!

[pk500]

plastic heron`s seem to attract a mate!

[Steve_W]

I remember one of the folks at the Andover birds of prey centre saying that the plastic heron's have exactly the opposite effect from the one you want. That is, heron flying over sees the plastic one and thinks "aha - good fishing there then" and will come to see if there's room for another!

[BlackVanDyke]

Steve_W said:

I remember one of the folks at the Andover birds of prey centre saying that the plastic heron's have exactly the opposite effect from the one you want. That is, heron flying over sees the plastic one and thinks "aha - good fishing there then" and will come to see if there's room for another!

That makes a horrible kind of sense. Sorry OP!

I can just imagine the heron sitting there getting progressively more confused as it trys to chat up the decoy... "so, what's a nice bird like you doing in a place like this?"

[RizzoTheRat]

I use one of these to keep cats off my lawn, should work for herons if positioned right
http://www.deteracat.co.uk/scarecrow_water_jet_pac...

[blueheron]

Will find somewhere else to fish, my apologies