Ponds - a fishy tale

[Pete Thomas]

Anyone into ponds? I have two, a wildlife pond at the bottom of the garden with frogs , newts and little wiggly waterbugs.

I also have a small ornamental pond which for years (at least 15) had a lovely Golden Orfe. Over the years he became like one of the family this Orfe, so much so he had a name. ("Fishy").

We got to know and love him. Sadly it seems so did a heron (or maybe it was a seagull).

But here is something also sad. The pond had a pump which fed the water up to a waterfall. Soon after Fishy went to fishy heaven, we saw a newt in the pond.

Then we didn't

Then the pump stopped working.

Then, when dismantling the pump, I found the newt (wrapped around the impellor )

The dilemma now is:

• Do we get a new fish, knowing Mr Heron is just waiting.
• No new fish but worry about newts gmeeting a grisly death (hmmm is the pump impellor worse then being eaten?)
• Newt-proof the pump?

Pond owners, what would you do?

 

[Vetinari]

Newt proof the pump and heron proof the pond.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Newt proof the pump and heron proof the pond.

Yes, I've ordered some fine mesh for the pump.

I don't kinow how to heron proof though, apart from covering the pond in chicken wire (like we do to deter autumn leaves) but that looks horrible in place all summer so negates much value in having a pond.

 

[Targa]

@Curtis, I told you he'd blame the local birdlife.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I don't think Curtis has the skill to catch a fish that has survived 15 years.

 

[Vetinari]

Always sad when this happens. I lost 10 in a day. Then a fox got 2 of my chicks. Was a bad week.

 

[Ivan]

Do herons avoid each other when feeding?

If so you could plant a plastic heron in the pond

 

[Pete Thomas]

If so you could plant a plastic heron in the pond

Maybe a good idea. Unless it encourages real heron to attempt lovemaking witn fake heron. Normally the offer of a dinner date would come first but who knows with herons?

 

[Colin the Bear]

I remember reading somewhere that some one did install a plastic heron and woke to several in the garden.
However a plastic crocodile worked a treat.
A cucumber will keep the cat away.

 

[nigeld]

You need to set up a heron watch:

 

[Targa]

Either that lady has not been trained in the use of binoculars or she's checking no one has put shoe polish on the eyepieces.
What happens if she shouts 'Duck'?

 

[Pete Thomas]

What happens if she shouts 'Duck'?

We all duck.

Or that big gun goes off and it's time for industrial quantities of orange sauce.

The ack-ack gets the quack-quack

 

[spike]

My missus is the pond keeper and she does frogs and snails with her lilies and assorted water weeds.
The birds of prey can often be seen circling with drooling beaks but up to now no aquatic beasts have gone missing.

 

[Sunray]

How to Heron Proof a Pond

Ponds can be made heron proof through barriers, such as electric fences and tripwires, and fish tiles or netting that all prevent access. Alternatively try jet spray repellers that startle herons with powerful bursts of water.

blog.primrose.co.uk

 

[Leecarp]

You can buy dark pond netting which is pretty unobtrusive. I had si
E covering a large pond. Don’t leave ANY gaps round the edges tho. Herons will wait at the smallest gaps and hook out the next “Fishy”. Good luck.